The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-26
Rations Suggested for Mix ture of Grains and Meals That Will Secure Good Production
Dry Mash Safest and Best Way of Supplying Needs of Laying Fowls; Meat and Greens Necessary
By HARRY R. LEWIS

l
 tHead of the Department of Poultry Husbandry. New Jersey State Agricul- ! tural Experiment Station.)
 | Of all the operations incidental to the management of small flock of laying hens none Is of greater importance than that of providing them with the proper kinds of food materials in a correct pro- portion and in the proper manner. In this article Professor Lewis gives the for mulas for rations which have proved eff fective in securing large yields of winter eggs.
 The number of eggs produced by any flock of poultry will be determined by the breeding back of them, by their en- vironment. and by their food supply. The latter factor 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 ma- terial needed in producing them.
 The birds body Is essentially a ms- chine and the quality and quantity of raw material supplied will determine the nature of the resulting product. The av- craze hen in the back yard flock lays in a year eggs weighing more than eight times her body weight and in order to
 
 nearly 30 times her body weight. Is it lany wonder then that we must look care fully to the food supply?
 Animal Feeds Especially Desirable All animal food. such as meat scrap, etc. contain considerable of protein. in which is found nitrogen, so abundant in the white of the eggs. This protein food material builds up body flesh or lean meat and acts as a tonic, keeping the hens system tuned up to high state of | efficiency.
 Dry ground bone is a form of animal feec which has valuable properties. It contains large percentage of nitrogen ous material and in addition about 20 per cent of phosphoric acid. This is es- sentially mineral food nutrient, which goes into the formation of bone and into the shell of tho eggs Phosporic acid increases the efficiency of the other food materials fed by making them more avail able; that Is, a ration in phosphoric acid Is more completely digested 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
 Tho egg contains about 60 per cent of water and the birds body more than b0 per cent of water. which makes 1t | necessary to supply large quantities of this material, if tho 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 tho summer. and cab bage or mangel beets during the win ter are best
 Where these field grown plants are not available. 1t is profitable to sprout oats and feed them to the flock each | day when they have attained sprout about three inches in length. This sproVting requires a moderately warm room. 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 dissolvink and transporting the par ticles of feed after 1t is eaten. If you want good egg production, be sure the birds always have access to plenty oi fresh water to drink and arc fed al least once day all the greens they will eat up in a half hour. The small flock which has the table refuse will get much watery feed from this source
 Tho bird has no teeth. like most ami mals. and some other method must be used to grind the hard particles oi grain and other feeds which are con- stunned. This Is accomplished In the gizxard by means of small particles oi grit. When the flock is confined tc the house or a small yard the natural
 supply frequently will be limited Coarse poultry grit mixed with equa parts of ground oyster shell should be kept i'll box or hopper placed so that the flock always can have free access to 1t. The grit accomplishes the grind ing of the food through the muscular action of the gisxard, while the oyster -fy dAd n which is largely used in the manufac- turs of the shell of the egg.
 Il Grains Supply Heat and Energy ,l Such grains as corn, wheat and oats IN are among the most economical sources II of body heat and energy. They con- tain much fat and the starchy nu- trients which must be supplied in the proper proportion for the best results II Birds running on an extended range IN which is covered with luxuriant vege- II tation and shade do not require the constant attention to feeding that if necessary where they are confined tc small bare yards in suburban commun. flock gets many grubs and insects II which. In themselves. contain much HI protein, They also get many weed seodi | and particles of grass and grit, whicr supply large part of the required ra' ton. The problem of the feeder Of the
 
 more complicated.
 With clear understanding of ths above uses and needs of common feedi the problem Is to find the economica source of them and to provide them IT manner which will keep the piru' healthy and vigorous. Feeding requires only common sense Anyone who IS wili' ine to study his birds. become acquainted with their bodily needs and observe tho condition of the individuals. will have success assured from the start.
 H Dry Mash Safest and Best When feeding the home flock use thu dry mash system. The birds have thu Cmash before them in self-feeding hopperi l and can then balance their rations to sui their own particular needs. This maBf should be supplemented with goot cracked grain ration. which can be fed twice a day in deep litter on the floor ol the house. Do not use grain hoppers, but visit the pen in person early morning ant late afternoon and when feeding the grain watch the birds and get acquainted | with them. Much can be gained in thii way toward securing practical Knowledge about the management of a flock. \ When planning the ration, use nothing Jbut tho common. wholesome grains, whicf | can be purchased reasonably In the To- | cal markets. It Is impossible to give any ''best' ration for all locations or for al seaeons or all breeds but the following | suegestions will aid the poultry keeper te | plan from available feeds the best com | binAtion.
 X properly planned dry mash should nontain q r,aYr1hAr rf different ingredients