The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1916-12-02
HANDLING PULLETS
FOR EARLY LAYING
By G. E. coNKEY.

Dy ~. ~. OOANhASA.
Are your pullets showing any signs
of starting to lay. and if so, are you
making suitable preparations for their
handling? Many poultry raisers are
alive to the important part that good
housing and care will play in getting
pullets to laying at the proper time,
and still year after year the bad wea-
Their finds them with preparations in
complete. Many times few of the
birds will actually start laying before
anything at all is done.
The first of October is none too
early to get the spring Matched birds
into their winter quarters, and this
would be especially true of Leghorns
and other light weight birds. Neglect
and carelessness with the pullets at
this period may result in the wasting
of weeks of time. or even prove seri-
Gus hindrance to their usefulness
throughout the early winter months.
When handled right, pullets are natu-
rally good winter layers, and there is
nc good reason why they should not
get to laying reasonably early, help
pay the feed bills, and still be none
the worse for it. Birds that are not
forced. will, as rule, keep in better
all around condition while laying, be-
ing far less inclined to take on excess
fat.
First of all, make sure that there is
the necessary house room for your
flock, and have everything up in shape
before moving any birds into their new
quarters. Make any needed repairs,
give the house a good embarrassing,
and also wash the windows to let in
the light and sunshine. If there are
any cloth-covered openings, wash the
cloth, or else replace with new, for the
pores of the goods are sure to be filled
with dust after a seasons use. Have
the floor we'll covered with litter so
that when grain is fed the birds will
be forced to take considerable exer-
else in finding it, for exercise they
must have to keep in good condition.
If there are more birds than it is
possible to house comfortably, it will
be better to dispose of some of the less
desirable ones than to resort to over
crowding, which must always be paid
for dearly. The smaller number, well
cared for and comfortable. will not
only produce more eggs than the lar
ger lot deprived of these essentials,
hut there will also be great saving
en- the feed.
Continue using about the same ra-
ton as they have been getting, I'M
less the pullets have been taken off
thai,- ~, ,xrbinh food
would have to be furnished, and per-
haps animal matter given more freely.
A little variation in the feeding is al
ways appreciated, so try to have as
much range in the grains used as
possible. In the way of green food
there is little danger of giving too
much, and once d day the birds should
have all they will eat of this. Such
things as cabbage and beets are fine
for poultry use, but sprouted oats has
become very popular for poultry feed
ing. and oats can always be sprouted
when other greens fail.
Animal food is no less important
than the green food in arranging a
complete or balanced ration for your
| irds. and it is usually supplied in the
form of beef scrap, fish scrap green
bone. or sour milk.
Keep a good dry mash in hoppers
where the birds can help themselves
at all times, or feed once a day slight
y moiStened. This is almost indis-
rensable in feeding bullets or laying
stock of any kind. For simple for
mula the following should answer very
nicely, and the ingredients are easily
obtained:
100 lbs. Bran.
100 lbs. Ground Oats or Middlings.
100 lbs. Cornmeal.
30 lbs. Beefscrap.
IF de~i"~d you can use so lbs. of
Ground Dat sand 80 lbs. Middlings in
place of 100 lbs of either of these. If
much milk is fed, then % lbs. of the
Beef Scrap will do. To each 100 lbs.
OF mixture there should then be added:
> lbs. Ground Bone.
3 lbs. Fine Charcoal.
- lb. Salt.
In the wav of grain equal parts. by
asuro of Wheat, Oats and Cracked
Corn will answer nicely. though a lit
tic of such Grains as Kaffir Corn. Bar
lev Buckwheat and Millet Seed will
add to the VARIETY and can be included
when the price will allow. Anything
that can be fed in litter should be