Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-01-07

prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agricuiture.)
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 sanl.
tation in poultry houses is very essen
tial. The growing ratiens for chickens
should be adapted to their age and a
f~attening ration should be fed to the
cockerels which are to be sold either
DIS broilers or roasters. The quality
OF eggs deterioriates rapidly in hot
weather. which can be greatly lessened
by producing intertile 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. m!ddlings
and beef scrap. Regulate the feed so
that the hens eat about one-half mash
and one-haif scratch feed. The wet
mash may be fed once daily Mt any
time during the day. giving only what
the hens will eat up within u few min
utes. II a dry mash is used 1t should
be kept before the hens all of the time
in q hopper.
The amount OF feed eaten by fowls
varies almost directly with the egg
yield. so that 1t IL very essential to re-
duce the amount during the summer
and fall months when the egg yield is
small. Hens OF the general purpose
and mea breeds (such as Plymouth
Rocks or Brahmas) are apt to become
too 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 il any eggs
during that period. They should be in
good hard breeding condition during
moulting, and a small amount (ten per
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 llnseed
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
q growing mash composed OF two parts
by weight OF bran, two parts mid
dlings, n part cor meal. one part
low-grade wheat flour or red dog -four,
and 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 a drink.
Growing chickens kept on a good
range may be given all their feed in
q 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 It Is not available In their
yards or range. The chickens should
have an abundance OF room in their
roops,~ especially In hot weather. The
cockerels should be separated from
the pullets as soon as their e can be
easily determined, fattened and mar.
keted, unless they are to be saved for
breeders.
Green feed In some form. such as
s2routed oats, vegetables. cut fodder
or grass, alfalfa or clover, should be
fed to hens confined to small bare
yards. Such yards should be renewed
frequently by planting oats and wheat.
or any quick growing grains, using
two yards for the fowls and rotating
these runs occasionally. A constant
supply OF water Ii very essential in
hot weather and should be- placed in
the shade. Hens should have good
shade during the summer months,
which Is best secured from trees, or by
planting crops such as corn and sun.
flowers, or fast growing trailing vines,
on the fences. Hen houses built on
runners provide u cool shelter for tho
hens. or artificial shelter may DO built
for shade.
Care OF tho House.