Milford chronicle., 1914-11-13

.
willing and anxious to perform their par
of the function of egg production, bu
they are greatly handicapped in man
instances by their owners, in that the
refuse or neglect to supply them IN
proper foods that contain the necessar,
egg making properties.
If you are not getting eggs, and indeed
if your egg basket is not well filed duIinl
the coming months, it lie your duty to fine
out the cause, and when found, remedy
it, There is little use in your trying t,
locate the trouble causing a poor egl
yield unless you are determined to rem
edy it and thus have the hens get on the
job once more
In almost nine cases out OF ten wher
/ hens fail to produce it is the fault of the
feeding, Notwithstanding the fact that all
other conditions surrounding the birds
may be favorable for a good yield.
In order that you might obtain eggs
and thus secure from your fowls that,
which after all, is most desirable, il is
absolutely necessary that you supply them
with the proper foods required TO create
or manufacture eggs.
Almost every person who raises poul
try, even those who only keep limited
few, has his or her own peculiar method
Of feeding, and it is indeed a hard mat
ter to convince them that they are not
feeding along proper and beneficial lines.
Each one naturally believes bis way the
best, and the average breeder is either
satisfied with the yield Of bis hens or else
the reverse is true He is disguised and
will not even take the trouble 10 give
another method trial.
Both of these attitudes are wrong and
the person who adheIes to them certainly
does not deserve any thing but failure and
he generally gets it.
Again, there are methods OF feeding for
egg production in vogue at the present
time which have been productive OF good
results, but many of these are rather ex-
pensive and require much work and at
tention on the part of the attendant.
While many may, and possibly will,
differ with me in the matter Of feeding
for egg production, yet there are those
who may be benefited by what I have
to say. In giving this simple formula
for feeding for eggs / might add that it
has been used with success by many
persons who have made a profit out of
the business.
After the fowls have gone to roost for
night, place in trOughs or hoppers, in the
coops, a dry mash consisting Of two parts
bran, one part middlings, one part corn
chops or yellow corn meal, one part beef
scrap, two parts alfalfa meal, to which add
about two per cent linseed meal This
should be thoroughly mixed before being
placed in the hoppers.
On arising in the early morning, the
fowls will partake OF this literally, and
as it contains all Of the necessary egg
making qualities it is highly bent ticial.
Many persons, however, feed this mash
in the middle of the day instead of in the
early morning. The benefits derived, are
the same, but in the later case, one is re
quired to be home, when by placing it in
the coop at night and allowing the fowls
access to it in the early morning, it less
ems the burden Of the breeder
Don't get the idea that the mash is
sufficient food for the birds during the
entire day. They must be given their
regular morning grain food. By feeding
the mash in the early morning, the grain
feeding may be delayed until about eight
o'clock 1t should always be- scattered ln
a gOod light litter and a scant handful al
lowed for each bird Corn, wheat aud
oats form the basis for the grain ration,
but many add other grains, such as kafiiT
corn, millet, sunfloWer seed, buck wheat
and other grains.
The grain ration fed in litter say about
eight O'Clock, will keep the hens busy for
several hours. This will give them the
exercise necessary for them to retain
their healthy condition. Noon is a good
time to give them their daily portion of
green food but if this is not convenient,
it also may be fed in the morning. By
scattering the grain food in the litter, 1t
not only furnishes exercise but will allow
each bird an equal chance of getting its
share without being molested by the more
bold members of the flock continually
chasing the timid away. The bold bird
has to attend strictly to his own business
in order that it may not get left.
The evening ration should in no wise
be neglected as it is just as important,
particularly in the winter months, as any
other feeding. If bird is allowed to go
to rOost with an empty crop, il will soon
undermine the health Ofthe fowl. Chick.
ems are like persons to a great extent.
When they go to bed at night their bod
les must be kept reasonably warm. This
1an BCoN 0I aAl0ul AllaAAEA III Alt AEEuluks
Many persons feed the same ration in the
evening as they do in the morning, and
while this may answer the purpose, the
best results are obtained by feeding corn
at the close of the day.
If the balanced grain ration is desired
for the evening meal, it would be well to
increase the quantity OF corn in it, in
order that heat might be furnished the
fowls Corn is the greatest OF all foods
for heating, and for this reason / advocate
an entire corn ration for the last meal of
the day. Feed it from a hopper in or
der that the fowls might get as much as
they need TO carry them over the night.
Don't think they will eat too much. It
is better to have bird go to roost with
a full croD, than with only limited por-
ton and be uncomfortable, only to be
sluggish during the next day.
If this method Of feeding is followed,
you will find as l have, that the hens will
be happy, active, and on the whole, anx
ious aud willing to lay-thus repaying you
for your trouble.
The mash food may be fed wet, but in
this case care must be exercised so as to
prevent getting it too sloppy, as this very
often causes bowel trouble II fed wet,
it should be in q erumbly state and only
enough fed at time that the fowls will