Milford chronicle., 1915-10-15

raising, either from the standpoint {
fancy or utility purposes, aim to g
good production Of eggs in winter, the
is, those who desire to make prof on
of their birds And while this is genel
ally their first thought, it often follow
that they are doomed to disappoint
ment
This disappointment, however, gener
ally comes to the man who gives n,
thought or attention to the matter O
feeding, which is after all, the primary
cause for the lack of eggs.
Of course, we know it is next to i'm,
possible to get as great a production OF
eggs during the winter months as dur
ing the spring and summer, but then the
output can be greatly increased during
the cold weather if the proper method
OF feeding is adopted and followed.
Spring and summer laid eggs are finer
in appearance and larger in size than
those laid by the average hen during cold
weather unless she receives that parti-
cular kind of food calculated to make
fine eggs. This food is what might be
generally termed Living Food" and is
the term most generally applied to that
is picked from mother earth and which
comprises insects, worms and grasses Of
every description. All of these foods
picked from the ground contain a boun-
tifui supply of the most beneficial pro
ten which goes to form the albumen of
which the egg is made up
With the coming on of cold weather
this source of food supply is naturally
cut Off and the result is that the egg
yield falls Off, and with this the super
i0rity of the product diminishes While
we cannot furnish sufficient foods during
the winter to bring the egg yield up to
what it would be if the hens had access
to this class of foods, yet the winter pro- !
duction of eggs may be materially in |
creased by supplying the foods during |
those months which are as near to ma |
ture' supply as it is possible for US to |
get
In order to obtain a full egg produc-
ton. or had we better say, a nearly full
production, during tie cold or winter
season, when eggs are to be had only at
"a premium. it is necessary for us to pro-
vide sufficient food for the hen to sustain
her system and in addition make eggs. l.
No matter how much or how good the
food may be that is supplied. it will |,
avail nothing unless properly assimilated I
and turned into the various portion con
stltuting the egg.
From long and practical experience | )
with poultry, and by men who have not
only made a study of the industry. but
spent large sums Of money in expert
ments, it has been learned that the best
possible food for the hen which provides Z
for all her needs is what is generally
termed a balanced ration.
There are many persons who think l
that by a balanced ration is simply meant d
supplying large quantities of all classes
Of grain, without any regard as to what
they contain. All they know, or care
TO know for that matter, is a conglomer-
alton of various seeds and this usually It
consists Of every kind tits possible to pro- 3
.ure. "
This is not a balanced ration by any g
means, because good balanced ration :
vii contain grain which consists of and .
furnishes the hens with protein, carbo-
and other necessary materials
0 supply their every demand.
Many persons differ widely on the pro- Il
ler rations for hens both for winter and ~,
ummer feeding, and while / will not at r
empt to condemn any particular kind l.
r method of feeding, yet believe many ~
them to be what might be termed *
lightly "off color in so far as their nu- n
-itive value is concerned. .,
One thing is certain, and that is that
roper feeding in winter time will pro-
1ce eggs in greater abundance than
I'll result If haphazard method of w
seding is followed where no particular an
-tention is paid to what kinds of foods tn
e given the hens. A mixture which l pa
I'VE used quite extensively, and one ca
hlch has always procured excellent re- a
Its IN egg production. will be found in frC
e following: ca
The grain ration should consist of wi
heat, cracked corn, hulled oats barley. hO'
illet, buckwheat and sunflower seed. ito
heat and hulled oats should form the ket
-ger part of the mixture, using two in
rts of each of these TO one of the corn. in
riley and millet, while the buckwheatl In
d sunflower seed should consist of one on
If quart In extremely cold weather.
Wever, and particularly at night or for n
evening meal, an additional allotment - !
corn may be added to the ration in
Ter to produce sufficient body heat for
comfort of the fowl during the roost-
period. As the weather moderates
J may be cut down as its need is not T
great. the
ne above balance grain ration should whe
ed twice a day, morning and evening, M
good light litter of wheat straw or one
e other equally as good material, thus near
ng the hens sufficient exercise to M
. them in a healthy condition. In spen
vity in fowls has the same effect up Mob
hem that it has upon persons and is MI
r productive of good In supplying her !
tional quantities of corn to the even levsl
iced let me suggest that whole corn'I G.
lsed instead of the cracked grain. been
IN in this form gives off a greater d. m
ity of heat than is possible from the On
,ed grain. Asitis absolutely essen eomi,
hat the fowl be kept warm during Gr,
light, when they are inactive, the with
will be easier accomplished by the Ma
I the whole corn. day v
ny persons advocate the feeding of Mr.,
, the hens, but in nv opinion that ter. a
ng so they make a great mistake. and d
not good for fowls, and if you will Harri
on its use, then use livery sparing- Maste