The Cape weekly tribune. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1914, 1914-03-27
WINTER EGGS.

nearly as large as it could be il the
average poultry raiser would only
give little more attention to feed
ing and general poultry management.
We need more eggs during winter
when prices are generally high, and
right at the beginning of the winter
season the egg yield begins to de-
crease, due principally to impropercarc.
The most important thing to be
considered for egg production is the
proper kind of feed, and right here
is where there is the most neglect
Another serious mistake commonly
made, is in not giving the proper
quantity. The truth OF the whole
matter is, that the farmers hens
usually do not get enough food dur
ing thcwinter months to much more
than sustain life, and not enough to
produce eggs. So the principal ques-
tion that confronts the poultry raiser
is not better and more varieties of
food but the kind we generally have
bn MANU- leu NulNn III
Cludes corn, wheat and oats.
Now, remember, | am not advocat-
ing the feeding of too much corn, as
| find one feed of corn each day is
sufficient, but both wheat and oats
can be fed more literally, and are
ideal egg producers. Some contend
that these grains are too fattening,
and that fat hen never lays well,
but find this to be mistaken
idea, | have alsway noticed that a
poor, dull looking hen produces
but few eggs, if any, while the fat,
more healthy lookin cones always in
crease the yield in the egg basket.
Am not right? And it is but natur-
ally supposed that they should, ]
will take my chances cvcrytimc with
la hen in preference to poor one,
OF course most Of this prepared
hen food will do well enough, such
as cut bone, beef scraps, oyster
shells, etc But it must be rcmcm-
bcrcd that a good many of us haven't
always the extra change to spare to
buy such stuff, and have to be con-
tented with such as we have on hand;
and nine times out of ten il we feed
literally with the above grains and
regularly rs We should, with plenty
OF grit where they can get at it
when desired those hens will lay
equally MS well, if not better than
those fed on so much of this already
prepared food.
1t is well known fact that the
average poultry raiser on the farm
does not become interested in egg
production until high prices are being
obtained; and they generally miss
such prices simply because their hens
haven't had the proper care and feed
ing at this season 50 much required
for securing eggs. find the hens
that lay well during late fall and win
ter are the fat. healthy looking ones,
and they must be fed quite literally
ii We dci,rc them to keep at it, OF
course the kind of breed often has a
good deal to do with the cgg yield;
but no matter what kind of stock we
have, if they are not fed and cared
for properly, very few eggs will bc
the result, especially during the winter
which | am writing mainly about,
To be successful in getting winter
eggs there are several requirements,
but all must work together, and fail
ing to supply any one may mean that
the egg yield will not come to en-
pcctations. The stock, proper care
and feeding, all are important and
must be borne in mond. Always keep
the carly Matched pullcts and the one
year old hens that are strong and
vigorous and got through the mott
in August or early in September for
winter layers | find that the early
Matched chickens always make the
best winter layers; and hens to make
good winter layers must mott early.
In order to have good layers We
must have the stock bred from hens
which proved to be good layers them
selves. If the hen was a good layer
it is very probable that her young
will also prove to be good layers
Another very important object is to
provide good dry houses for them and
so constructed as to admit no drafts
As stated above, the proper kind Of
food has a good cdal to do with the
egg yield. 1t is my idea that entire
ly too much corn is fed, even in cold
weather. Some feed more because
their buildings arc cold, with the
idea that more heating food must be
provided. To a certain extent they
are right. But would it not be more
profitable in several ways to have
properly built houses, then feed the
proper kind of food for egg produc-
tion. a light feed Of corn once a
day in winter is all right and should |
be fed at night, but wheat, barley,