Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-09-25
Prof. Lewis gives the formulas for ra-
tions which have proved effective in
securing large yields of winter eggs.
TIME number of eggs produced /


securing large yields of winter eggs.
TIME number of eggs produced by
any flock of poultry will be de-
termined by the breeding back
of them, by their environment, and
by their food supply. The latter fac
tor is of greater Importance than the
others, for good birds kept in clean,
we'll ventilated houses cannot lay
eggs If they are not provided with the
raw material needed in producing
them.
The birds body is essentially a ma
chine and the quality and quantity of
raw material supplied will determine
the nature of the resulting product.
The average hen in the backyard
flock lays in a year eggs weighing
more than eight times her body
weight. Is it any wonder then that
We must look carefully to the food
supply?
Animal Feeds Especially Desirable
All animal feed, such as meat scrap,
etc, contain considerable of protein,
in which is found nitrogen. so abun-
dant in the white of the egg. This
protein food material builds up body
flesh or lean meat and acts as tonic,
keeping the hens system tuned up
to high state of efficiency.
Dry ground bone is form of ami
IlldI ISSu WHICH has NdludDlS proper
ties. 1t contains a large percentage
of nitrogenous material and in addi-
ton about 25 per cent of phosphoric
acid. This is essentially a mineral
food nutrient which goes into the for
nation of bone and into the shell of
the eggs. Phosphoric acid increases
the efficiency of the other food ma
terials fed by making them more
available; that is, a ration in phos-
phoric acid is more completely di-
gested by the birds and hence more
production results from a given food
consumption. Every dry mash for
laying hens should contain at least
10 per cent. of meat scrap and 10 per
cent. OF dry bone.
Green Feeds Are Invaluable
The egg contains about 60 per cent.
of water and the birds body more
than so per cent. of water which
makes 1t necessary to supply large
quantities of this material, If the best
performance is to be attained. Every
laying flock should be supplied at all
times with some form of green or
succulent food material, hence some
young tender growing plant must be
provided. Lawn clippings, during the
summer, and cabbage or mangel beets
during the winter are best
Where these field-grown plants are
not available, it is profitable to sprout
oats and feed them to the flock each
day when they have attained a sprout
about three inches in length. This
sprouting requires a moderately warm
room. A rack by the side of the heater
is most excellent place.
These watery feeds are valuable in
regulating body temperature and in
aiding the processes of digestion by
dissolving and transporting the par
ticles of feed after it is eaten. If you
want good egg production, be sure the
birds always have access to plenty of
fresh water to drink and are fed at
least once a day all the greens they
will eat up in half hour. The small
flock which has the table refuse will
get much watery feed from this source.
Grit and Shell Must Be Supplied
The bird has no teeth, like most ami
mails, and some other method must
be used to grind the hard particles of
grain and other feeds which are con-
sumed. This is accomplished in the
gizzard by means of small particles of
grit. When the flock is confined to
the house or a small yard the natural
supply frequently will be limited.
Coarse poultry grit mixed with equal
parts of ground oyster shell should be
kept in box or hopper placed so that
the flock always can have free access