The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-10
GUARDING AGAINST ILLNESS

But feeding ana housing are hol eio
only precautions necessary for fitting
pullets to lay successfully 1t is not wise
to let pullets run at large in wet grass or
weeds during the fall months. If the
under feathers about the abdomen get
wet, the pullets soon have bedragSled
appearance. If the abdomen gets wet
and is chilled by the raw fall WINDS,
bowel trouble or some other local ailment
is likely to arise. While sickness of this
nature is not apt to prove fatal, 1t affects
the vigor Of the pullets. Their health Is
likely to become more or less under
mined, and this will delay or prevent
their laying This condition should GER
tainly be avoided If one is striving for
profitable winter egg production.
If pullets are kept off the wet grass
and long weeds, they keep themselves
neat, clean and healthy Cnoer these
conditions pulets are fitted for either
egg production or exhibition purposes. II
the latter is the object OF the poultry
keeper, they need no artificial prepara-
ton for exhibition by washing and -FOUR
Ing. But whatever the object, the rules
for the care and management OF puilets
here outlined will be found very helpful.
To give their feathers a smooth and
glossy appearance, little OIL meal
should be fed occasionally.
During the fall and winter, egg produc-
ton depends largely upon successful
methods of feeding. If pullets are
Every grain the pullets get should
be the result of their activity, which
is possible If the grain is thrown into
deep litter. This keeps them occupied
no matter what the weather may be.
II active pullets are thus made to work
for their grain. there will be little dan
ger of overlooking. Moreover, II such
rations are not properly balanced, the
pullets can eat more corn and other
fattening grains without interrupting
their normal development.
A good scratching pen thus becomes
valuable adjunct to successful feed
ing. The energy expended in scratch
ing for the grain helps to keep the pull
lets healthy, and experience has DEM
onstrated that the active and healthy
pullets make the best layers. In ad-
dition to grain, the pullets should be
supplied with plenty of green feed.
fresh water, charcoal, oyster shell, and
grit. These may be supplied in self
feeding hoppers.
COMPLETE GRAIN RATION
For pullets about to lay, no poultry
man should be without such standard
grains as corn. wheat and oats Other
necessary feeds are meat scraps or
meat meal, bran, middlings. corn meal
and ground oats. A good commercial
scratch feed Is essential, because 1t
furnishes variety Of grains at fair
price. The keeper of few fowls or
small flock will find 1t as cheap to
use scratch feed as to attempt to mix
onc'a own rations.
As rule scratch feeds are scientific
caIly prepared. The object is to supply
a balanced grain ration. They are
valuable for meeting the organic de-
mands of laying fowls. A good scratch
feed usually contains cracked corn.
wheat. oats. kafir. barley. buckwheat.
sunflower seed, and even other grains.
These are all needed by layers. They
form a complete grain ration, since
they contain the proper proportions OF
protein, carbohydrates and fats; they
provide for body wastes, normal
growth. complete development and egg
formation.
Recent tests by the United States
department of agriculture show that
fowls given certain feeds selected 60
per cent of cornmeal 20 per cent OF
beef scrap, and II per cent of bran
and middlings. Such a ration con-
sists Of the essential food elements of
protein. carbohydrates and fats. Pull
lets must have all three forms OF food
substances
II supplied with the necessary feeds,
fowls Will usually balance their own