Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-26
For More And Better Poultry
Usually a Side Line, But Very Important
Cy j. G. Haney. AgrL Exten. Dept, international Harvester Coz

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with a small flock, and also the larg-
err house is proportionately cheaper
to construct. The amount of space
required per hen is a disputed ques-
ton. and depends upon a lumber Of
things, such as the location; as to
whether it is protected or exposed to
strong winds; as to whether the fowls
are allowed to run out on range q
large part of the time, and also as to
now generally considered that each
fowl should have three to five feet
Of floor space.
Locating the Hen House.
The location Of the poultry house
is very important and the following
factors must be considered. 1t should
face the south il possible, to get the
largest benefit from the sun, and have
plenty of windows; be protected from
prevailing winds by hills. trees or 9TH
or buildings; should be located on
well-drained soil 30 as to insure dry
ness; should be 81 placed a would
be possible to have trees for shade
and good pasturage during the sum-
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in a low place where the cold air set
ties. Such locations are often colder
than high and more exposed places.
AS to the shape and construction OF
the house. there is an almost endless
variety of these to select from. This
is only important in so far as 1t en-
ables the including of the essential
principles of construction. The shed
roof house is most economical. A
rv~Nl horrr, e;-4 {- 1904 < Goat hitch
at the back, and s feet in the front.
A concrete foundation should be put
In, but a good clay dirt floor is salts
factory, If the foundation admits Of
filling In n foot or so to Insure dry
ness. The walls at ends and back as
well as the top should be closely
sheeted with heavy tar paper. used
under shingles and siding. The front
may be largely windows and door. but
methods of ventilation. but usually re-
placing n sash with heavy muslin
will do very we'll. All ventilation
should be on one side-preferably the
front-never so that the hens would
be in a draft.
Roosts and nests should all be in
loose, so that in a few minutes they
car all be taken out for cleaning. This
is essential. Put roosts or a level,
wv law n eSou AINSS So~AA 7 ~ v
hens.
Feeding the Hens.
The feeding Of the flock is perhaps
the most neglected operation in
poultry management. Where they are
allowed to run at large about the
farm, they usually secure more feed
than is necessary. Where they are
kept in pens and fed they are often
not given what is required for best
results. However, there is doubtless
more trouble with overlooking than
undertaking. The ration for the
poultry flock must be varied accord
ing to their needs. 1t must first con-
tain a sufficient amount Of the diges-
tible nutrients for their requirements;
it must be Of such food as Is relish
ed by the fowl. Fowl have a de-
cided preference for certain foods,
which cannot be accounted for by
their composition. The following
grains are preferred by fowl in the
order named: Wheat, corn, oats,
peas, barley, buckwheat and rye.
Habit may play an important part
in determining their preference, for
! certain foods; hence it is not advisa-
bic to make radical changes in the
food given. The ration should pro-
vide a good variety, as they become
tired of eating one kind Of feed con-
I~4IAuVuSAy. LIE lo0u bIIOuIu nave SUI.
fcient bulk to enable digestible Sc
~cretions to act on 1t quickly. When
a large amount Of a single, concen-
trated. ground grain. is fed, the ra-
ton may be so concentrated hat It
will become compact in the crop.
Thus a certain amount of bulk In the
ration is necessary. This may be pro-
vided by feeding wheat bran. chopped
alfalfa or clover. However. the ra-
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kind and quantity of the different
grains fed would be perhaps deter
mined quite largely by what is grown
on the farm. as it should be the prac-
tice to grow what is needed for feed
ing. 1t is Indispensable that a good
supply Of grit in the shape Of sand
or crushed bone or shells be kept on
hand. The quality of meat. and also
Of the eggs can be largely Influenced
sirable to feed in excess any Of the
highly favored crops. The ration
must be varied to suit the require
ments of the flock being fed. If they
are to be fattened for market, the
foods can contain a large percentage
Of the starchy foods. while II it is de-
sirable to stimulate the egg produc-
ton the food must contain more of
the elements that go to make up the
egg.
A well-balanced ration consists of
the proper proportion of protein and
carbohydrates for its purposes, with
the mineral matter, bulk, and palata-
bility that are necessary to give good
feeding results. There is no best ra-
ton, and the practical application of
science in poultry feeding is to know
what proportion of these substances
gives good feeding results, and then
to use roughly this relative proportion
in making rations or in substituting
different feeds. according to their
price and availability.
In securing fall and winter eggs the
first essential is to have pullets well
matured before cold weather, which
means Matching birds Of the general
purpose breeds in March and April.
n average farmer matches his
chickens too late to secure Eggs in the
fall. With well-matured pullets and
improved methods Of feeding, farm
ers could ecure more eggs in winter
than they obtain under present condi-
lions.
A w~ell-balanced simple ration max
be made of equal parts. by weight,
OF cracked corn. wheat, and oats, fed
twice daily. usually in the morning
and at night. The grain may b
either scattered on the range in sum.
mer and in the litter in the poultry
house in winter, or fed in the house
throughout the year. It should be
supplemented with wet or dry mash
of two parts of corr meal and one