Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-09-26
Housing Pullets Early.
(Wm. c. Monahan, Extension Instructor In
Poultry.)

Housing Pullets Early.
Wm. e. Monahan. Extension Instructor Il
| Poultry)
It is profitable practice to put pul
let's into the laying house early in tn,
fall. Pullets hatched in April and earl!
May, II we'll fed. should be matured Il
lay in October and in order that the!
may have ample time to get adjusted t.
their new house, and ready to lay Will,
the price of eggs is still advancing, they
ought to be housed not later than mid
September. Ordinarily pullet, wher
given such an abrupt transition as move
grounds to laying house, requires ap
proximstely month to become read
justed and to begin laying. For thi.
reason 1t is profitable to move them early
enough 80 that their "loaf' will be or
their own time and not at the expense oi
a retarded start in egg production. In
the rush of fall work there is tempta
ton to neglect both the preparation oi
the houses and the transfer of birds into
them; however, there are few things
more profitable that the poultryman can
do even il crops must be neglected.
When first put into the laying house il
is not necessary, 10 fact not advisable,
that they be confined completely to the
house This makes rather too abrupt
transition which may be made more
gradual by allowing the liberty of a yard,
especially If it is one well cropped with
young growing rye, oats and peas, rape,
corn or other green forage. 1t ia also of
decided advantage, in both feeding and
subsequent management, to rather care
fully grade the pullets as they go into
the several pens or houses 80 that all the
birds in each unit will be of uniform
size and degree of maturity.
CLEANING THE HOUSE
Ooce year at least every poultry
house should be thoroughly cleaned.
This is best done just before new stock
is put into it. Not every poultry man
knows how to really clean house. First
all the litter and loose dirt should be
shovelled out and the ceiling, walls
aud floor swept off with broom.
Then the interior of the house should be
washed by water under pressure from
hose or scru bbed with a stiff broom.
Then after drying for day or two II the
house appears clean it is time to make II
really clean by disinfection. Two appli-
cations of spray of so-called liquid lice
killer or of the disinfectants described
in the June letter of this series are CON-
petent to do a thorough job. An excel
lent practice is to make the second ap-
plication coat of thin whitewash TO
each gallon of which is added a pint of
crude carbolic acid.
FEEDING LAYING PULLETs
The following grain rations and meth
ods of feeding poultry established and
now used BY the Maine Agricultural Ex-
peri ment Station are advocated by the
Extension Service. These grain rstions
and methods OF feeding poultry have
gotten results, have actually paid as
shown BY cost records. wherever intelli-
gently applied on Maine farms.
The scratch grain feed as outlined be-
low is given on the basis OF 100 birds.
From it the proper amounts for various
sized flocks may be calculated.
Scratch Grains: quarts cracked or
whole corn, fed early in the morning; 2
quarts wheat and two quarts oats, fed
not later than noon.
These hard grains are scattered in a
deep dry litter of straw or planer shaw
iugs so that the birds will have to work
and exercise themselves in getting them
out.
Dry mash: mixture of dry ground
grains in hopper large enough so that
it will not require too frequent filling
should always be available to the birds.
The composition of this dry mash varies
to meet the requirements of the pullets
as they approach and progress IN egg
production.
First month iu LAYING house (Septem-
ber): 800 bran, 100 cornmeal or hominy,
100 feed -four, 100 meat scraps.
Second month in laying house (Octo-
her): 200 bran, 100 cornmeal or hominy,
100 feed -four, 100 meat scraps, 100 glu-
ten.
Third month in laying house (Novem-
ber): 200 bran, 100 cornmeal, 100 feed
-four, 100 meat scraps, 100 gluten, so
linseed meal.
Fourth month in laying house (Decem-
ber): Same as second month. From
then on the linseed is put in and left out
each alternate month or time the mash
is mixed.
Succulence: In addition to these hard
grains and the dry mash the winter feed
ia supplem msnted by something of a sue
culent nature. Among the best of these
are green cut corn, cabbages, mangels,
beets and other roots and sprouted oats.
There is also before the birds at all
times a supply of clean water, charcoal,
oyster shells and sharp grit. Tho char
coal may we'll be mixed with the mash.
Milk ia splendid feed for all kinds OF
poultry, laying hens as we'll as growing
chicks. Animal food in some form can
not proftably be dispensed with and
skim milk will take the place in whole
or in part of either meat or fish scraps.