Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10
CARE Of THE PULLETS
FOR BIG EGG YIELD
First Weeks in Laying Houses In
fuence Production During
Entire Season..
Proper Feeding and Attention Neces-
sary Until Fowls Become Used
to Change From Range.

Proper methods Of feeding and car
| ing for the pullets when they are
| taken from the range and confined in
the laying houses are necessary If egg
| production during the season is to be
on a profitable scale The change
from free. or practically free. range
i to the necessarily smaller quarters in
the houses has an effect on the pullets
| and the hens as well-that unless
overcome by careful attention to the
feeding and general care of the fowls
will continue during the entire laying
season and reduce the production of
eggs until profits are converted into
loss.
On the range-out In the fields, or
made free of large yards--the chick
ems pick UP myriads of worms and
bugs. thousands OF bits OF grit and
gravel, and pounds of green feed. Their
diet is almost entirely natural one
during the time they range at Will: but
conditions change when they are put
into their winter quarters, and I'M
less human ingenuity, backed by the
experience of many practical poultry
men. is brought into play the change
Will produce an unfavorable effect that
will continue during the winter
Judgment in Feeding.
Deficiencies in the ration, due to the
change from natural to artificial con-
ditions. must be made up by judicious
combinations OF food elements, such
combinations supplying the lack of
| materials gathered for themselves by
| the fowls when ranging unconfined.
Every poultryman knows that the
old method-stilI followed by many
farmers who have not learned better
I nr W hS, will tai bn frnt hi -
! feed properly-of giving the hens
nothing but corn during the winter in
variabiy results in no eggs The av-
erage farm flock, given nothing but
ration, quits laying from the time cold
weather sets in until spring brings
: back the grass ana the worms. bugs
and insects which form the meat por-
, ton of the natural diet of fowls.
The modern poultryman, therefore,
uses his own judgment, based on his
own experience and the combined ex-
perience of others, and gives the pull
let's in his laying houses a broad and
varied ration. 1t contains corn, to be
heat. is in the proportion, usually, of
one part to three to five parts of other
grains.
The absolutely necessary meat ele-
ment is supplied in the form of COM
mercial beef scrap. which constitutes
la portion of the dry mash, usually
from 10 TO Is per cent of the mash
III xture. When the pullets are lay
ing well this meat ration is often
added to by feeding a small quantity
OF cut green bone. This is usually
fed about twice a week, and never
oftener than every other day. and each
fowl should have not more than half
an ounce. of cut green bone at a feed
ing Used too literally or too often.
the cut green bone is likely to set up
intestinal disorders, as will also be
the case if it is not absolutely fresh
and wholesome.
Mixed grains fed night and morning,
dry mash containing the proper pro-
portion of beef scrap. cut green bone
fed in the right quantities and at
proper intervals. are the basis of cor
rect feeding for fowls. But the pull
something more if they are to remain
in good condition for heavy laying,
and this Is plenty of green feed.