Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-09

With the advent of July. providing the
chicks have been Matched early enough
and properly brooded. they are IN a
fair way to shift for themselves ana
grow. Not that the poultryman can ar
ford to relax his attention so Tar as
cleanliness. feeding and watering are con-
cerned for the essential conditions are
always important but chick six weeks
old Is safely past the danger period and
fairly Independent. Having weaned me
chicks. it is now time to give the mems me
benefit of any special attention AS
previously mentioned. the egg Weld Is on
the decline. Midsummer is not the natural
laying season. any more than the WINTER
months although 1t is easier to proNlde
ideal conditions in August than in Janu-
airy The price of eggs. by the way, Is
about the same. An attractive landscape.
abundant sunshine and warm breezes Will
not produce eggs by themselves, though
they are the poultrymanS most depend
able allies. The hens must be induced TO
eat large quantities of egg-making foods
and to convert this material into eggs
rather than fat This means that they
must be made to exercise. so as to st1mu-
late their appettes and maintain their
bodies in a healthy vigorous state. On
hot DAYS fowls are 10th to stir themselves
unless they have a shaded yard or range
Like ourselves. they prefer to rest. ana
too much resting will throw them out OF
condition. They will take on fat rather
than produce eggs. Briefly, the hens must
be kept comfortable in hot weather
as in cold weather. Watch the feedlns
the fowls health will be seriously I'M
paired. Remember that they do not re-
ouire so much carbonaceouS food at TINS
time Corn should be fed sparingly. and
great care should be taken that it is fed
sweet. This is the terminating period Tor
corn. and unless it is stored In open. Wen
ventilated bins it is likely TO oecome
heated To feed heated corn to poultry.
especially to young stock. is almost
equivalent to feeding them poison. MANY
poultrynen eliminate corn from the Dill
of fare entirely in hot weather, and there
is wisdom in this practice.
Corn is one of the staple foods. but IT
should never he fed a complete ra-
ton. No one grain is a complete ra-
ton. Always feed corn cracked or on
the cob. never shelled. for in the latter
form the fowls are apt to gorge them
selves very quickly II is claimed tpat
Americans feed too much corn. and
there is a great deal Of truth in the
statement. The general farmer certain
ly feeds too much to his hens: in fact,
corn is frequently the sole diet of the
farmers flock. and Yet he wonders why
he gets so few eggs The cost of wheat
is never so high but that it will pay to
feed it, for il is one of the governing
factors in egg production. fertility,
strong chicks and improved conditions
generally. Wheat should constitute the
principal grain in hot weather. Oats
are excellent for man. beast and fowl
good muscle builder-and upon them
most poultrymen rely for a rapid de-
velopment. There is one objection
however. the bulls contain high per-
centage of fiber and sometimes cause
crop troubles. Hulled oats are there
fore the best, especially for chicks.
Clipped oats are next. and natural
oats last. Kaffir corn and broom corn
seed are relished by poultry, also milo
maize Include these grains in the
scratch feed by way of a little variety.
but not in large quantities, Tor they
are too expensive. A change in the
fowls bill of fare will often stimulate
q poor appetite. but this should ebe done
judiciousIy and only when it is deemed
essential. The healthy. normal fowl is
always hungry. hence the responsible
ity for a poor appetite may lie else
where Changes in fowls rations,
unless they very gradually made,
will upset the egg yield in noticeably
short time
Don't underestimate the importance OF
green food: it contains the mineral nutri-
rnents that stimulate all of the fowls
organs and make it possible for them
to assimilate the more concentrated