The Spectator. (Ozark, Ark.) 1911-1916, 1914-09-18
Barred plymouth Hem

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
The proper care of hens during the
summer is not greatly different from
that of the rest of the year, but some
changes may be made in the ration
with good results, while careful sani-
tation In poultry houses is very essen
tial. The growing rations for chickens
should be adapted to their age and a
fattening ration should be fed to the
cockerels which are to be sold either
as broilers or roasters. The quality
of eggs deterioriates rapidly in hot
weather which can be greatly lessened
by producing infertile eggs and by
using proper methods Of caring for and
marketing this product.
Feeding Hens.
A good laying ration for summer use
may be made Of equal parts by weight
Of corn, wheat and oats, fed twice
daily, scattered on the ground or in
the litter in the poultry house, with a
dry or wet mash made of equal parts
of corn meal, wheat bran, middlings
and beef scrap. Regulate the feed so
that the hens eat about one-half mash
and onehalf scratch feed. The wet
mash may be fed once daily at any
time during the day, giving only what
the hens will eat up within few min
utes. If dry mash is used it should
be kept before the hens all of the time
In a hopper.
The amount Of feed eaten by fowls
varies almost directly with the egg
yield, so that it is very essential to re-
and fall months when the egg yield is
small. Hens of the general purpose
and meat breeds (such as Plymouth
Rocks or Brahmas) are apt to become
100 fat during this non-productive
period. The lighter breeds, such as
the Leghorns, may be fed more freely
during the summer and fall, without
detrimental effects. Hens moult for
several weeks during the late summer
and early fall and lay few If any eggs
during that period. They should be in
good hard breeding condition during
X,
cent? of linseed meal may be added to
the mash at this time with fair sue
cess, although good results in moult-
Ing are secured without using linseed
meal. There does not appear to be any
real advantage in forcing the moult
by abnormal feeding methods. such as
are sometimes practised. Allowing the
birds free range and giving skim milk.
either to drink or added to their feed,
In addition to a well balanced ration,
are good ways to assist nature during
the moulting period.
Feeding Chickens.
After the chickens are ten days old
a growing mash composed of two parts
by weight of bran, two parts mid
ilings, one part corn meal, one part
low-grade wheat flour or red dog flour,
md ten per cent sifted beef scrap may
be fed either as a wet or dry mash. AS
soon as the chickens will eat whole
wheat, cracked corn and other grains
the small size chick feed can be
dropped from the ration. Skim or but
termilk is very good for chickens
either in the mash or given as drink
Growing chickens kept on a good
range may be given all their feed In
a hopper. mixing two parts by weight
Of cracked corn and one part OF wheat
or equal parts of cracked corn, wheat
and hulled oats in one hopper and the
dry mash in the other.
Fine charcoal. grit and oyster shell
should be kept before them all OF the
time and green feed should be sup
piled IL 1t Is not available In their
yards or range. The chickens should
have an abundance Of room In their
oops. especially in hot weather. The
,ockerels should be separated from
he pullets az soon as their sex can be
EASILY determined, fattened and mar
seted, unless they are to be saved fol
breeders.
Green feed In some form, such as
,prouted oats, vegetables. cut fodder
,r grass. alfalfa or clover. should DC
ed to hens confined to Small bare
ards. Such yards should be renewed
frequently by planting oats and wheat
IT any quick growing grains. using