The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1915-01-30
POULTRY TALKS
By Elder o. L. Tindall
HOW TO MAKE HENS LAY

the other for fancy birds and for the rib
bons at the shows. This latter class
doesn't care for eggs, except in limited
number, and the prize show birds are not
the fowls that fill the egg basket It is
true that the two may be combined
visited some friends short time ago
who had just returned from one of the
large shows with good number of blue
ribbons. They informed me that they had
sold number of birds at the show for
$4,000 apiece land that the first male bird
was valued at $4,000. They also showed
me an order just received from distance
for eggs at a dollar apiece. This is no
uncommon thing among our expert
breeders.
saw last year the prize laying hen in
the National Laying Contest that sold for
$4,000 She laid 282 eggs in the year.
But | am not writing for that class.
The Editor of last weeks issue, January
23d, made me say that had reduced this
poultry business to quite science. That
was quite slip of the pen, or the type,
for I make no such claim We go on the
principle to fly low till our wings have
grown stronger.
My own experience is quite limited; but
[ try to follow well tried paths and the ex-
perience of reliable men who have tested
these things out. They have given us
some principles that will lead to success if
carefully followed.
[ have spoken of two things in this bust
ness, first the selection of the breed you
wish to raise, and the advantage of stick
ing to it, and getting a good strain of
layers. Second, the buildings and the
care of them. Now comes the question of
how to care~for the flock in order to get
plenty of eggs. This brings in the sub
ject of feeding, which is the most import
ant
A person may ruin a good, well bred
and well housed hen by bad and impropex
feeding. The good poultryman gets
plenty of eggs the year round, but not the
same number at all seasons, Of course This
would be quite contrary to nature. 1t is
quite difficult to say just what nature, So
called, would do if left to itself The
wild prairie hen and birds of various
kinds when left to themselves do not lay
in the winter. Our 200 to 286 egg hen is
the product of man s manipulation and in
genuity, breeding, care, and feeding, etc.
Many things enter into this work. The
old farm hen does not do much work in
winter, except to eat. She declares a
truce and goes into winter quarters"
when the snow begins to fly.
WHAT EFFECT HAS FEED UPON
EGG PRODUCTION?
Much every way. This has been dem
onstrated quite clearly in these laying
contests at the Experimental Stations. For
example, pen Of ten hens was deprived
of any meat food, or any green food and
the yield Of eggs was materially lessened
in comparison with the hens that had
these foods in proper proportion.
eggs, but simply develops them. A hen
is born with the possibility Of so many
eggs, and no more In other words, so
many eggs are born, shall we say? in her.
None can be added, though many may be
taken away, or fail to materialize.
This may be disputed question. There
are two things to consider in feeding
chickens for laying. The hen must be
kept in good strength. 1t takes so much
feed to maintain her body and life and
growth. This requires certain kind and
a certain amount, then it requires GER
tain amount and certain kind of feed to
form and develop the egg.
Analysis shows that an egg is composed
of certain ingredients The food and
drink must supply that material or no egg
will be produced. A large part of an egg
is composed of water. A hen requires a
large amount of water and it should al
ways be clean and pure.
Some feeds are far better adapted to
egg production than others. Corn is the
most common in use, and the one perhaps
best liked by hens. It is used by all
poultrymen. 1t furnishes heat and fat
for the body, land is the best of all the foods
for fattening purposes But too much of
it is injurious to laying hens. 1t should
be used sparingly in warm weather.