Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-29
FEEDING PULLETS
Failure to Lay May he Due to Under
feeding.

feeding.
Every year at the beginning Of winter
| many poultry keepers are disappointed
and puzzled by the failure of apparently
well-grown pullets to lay according to
expectation. They can not understand
why early pullets that seemed to be de-
veloping nicely and show the usual signs
Of being near laying should remain at
that stage for weeks and sometimes for
months.
FULL FEEDING NECESSARY.
Where the conditions are as described.
the most common cause Of deferred laying
is an insufficient ration.
Undertaking In the early fall occurs
oftenest through the failure of the poultry
keeper to increase the food given to pull
let's on range as much as is necessary to
make up for dminution in the supplies
secured by foraging.
Underfeeding after the pullets are put
into winter quarters is usually due to ex-
cess of care to prevent them from becom-
ing too fat to lay.
In either case the remedy is to feed the
birds all that they will cat Of substan-
tial ration furnishing In proper variety
the food elements required, taking care
at the same time to provide for as much
exercise as will keep them In good con-
dition under heavy feeding.
While pullets remain on range the only
changes In diet usually necessary as cool
weather comes on are to increase the
quantities Of food given. especially corn
and corn products. and II green food on
| the range is running short. to supply what
| is required to make up the shortage.
THE CHANGE TO WINTER QUAR-
TIERS.
1t is desirable to have pullets in their
winter quarters about month before
they are expected to begin laying. Nov
ing them at that stage does not retard
laying. while II they are moved shortly
| before or after beginning to lay the
change may set them back several weeks.
Pullets that will not begin laying be-
fore winter sets in may be left in the
coops which they occupied while growing
| as long as the weather permits them to
range.
WINTER RArIONS FOR BULLETS.
| When the pullets are in winter quarters
and are dependent upon the feeder for all
green food and animal food as we'll as for
grain. one OF the following rations will
supply the variety required. The proper
tons indicated are parts by weight.
Ration No. dry mash: Three parts
| orah' TWO parts mtddlings; four parts
corn meal. one part beef scrap or fish
meal. Scratch feed: Two parts cracked
corn. one part wheat. oats. or barley, or
mixture Of the three. Green feed: AS
available. in constant supply.
Ration No. 2.-Dry mash: Five parts
mixed feed (bran and middlings), four
parts corn meal. one part beef scrap or
fish meal. Scratch feed: Cracked corn.
Green feed: Cabbage. in constant supply.
Ration No. 3.-Dry mash: Six parts
corn meal. three parts bran. one part beef
scrap or Ash meal. Scratch feed: Wheat.
Green feed: Sprouted oats. cabbage, or
mangel beets.
Ration No. 4.-Dry mash: Six parts corn
meal. three parts bran, one part beef
; scrap or hsh meal. Scratch feed: Heavy
oats. Green feed: Sprouted oats.
Ration No. b.-Dry mash: Three parts
corn meal. one part beef scrap. Scratch
feed: Two parts cracked corn. one part
oats.
SELECTING A RATION.
In deciding upon a ration poultry
keeper should be governed largely by the
| availability and cost Of foodstuffs In his
locality. The common grains do not diff
fer extremely In composition and food
| value.