The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-18

Poultry owners who wish to obtain
a satisfactory production of eggs dur
ing the winter should plan to give their
birds plenty Of feed. Just what kind
of feed that can be supplied most eco
nomically and which will keep the birds
IN a healthful, laying condition Is one
Of the poultry keepers principal prob
lens. The poultry division Of the Unit
ed states department of agriculture has
for some years been conducting tests
on substitute feeds with laying hens.
The poultry specialists have found, for
example, that by feeding a wheatless
ration there is Il considerable saving
in the cost of feed and the hens will
produce as many eggs as when wheat
is included.
Thirty Leghorn pullets to which this
wheatless ration was fed for Ia years
produced an average of l47.3 eggs a hen
for the pullet year. This compares ia
vorably with egg yields secured with
other rations containing wheat and,
therefore, more expensive. During the
IL weeks Of the second year the hens
which were fed the wheatless ration
averaged 2S5 eggs per hen, l7.5 eggs
per hen being produced in March. The
same wheatless ration fed to a pen of
Buff Orpington pullets produced from
the first Of November to the last OF
March 50 Eggs a hen for the 20 weeks,
making the highest egg record of any
Of the large feeding pens of pullets in
the test. Two other pens, however,
we're less than one egg a hen behind
this pen, The wheatless ration which
was used was as follows:
Scratch MiXtuTe-TWo pounds cracked
corn, one pound oats.
Dry Mash-Three pounds corn meal,
one pound beef scrap.
The scratch mixture was fed spar
ingly, SO that the hens ate about equal
parts Of this mixture and of the dry
mash. The total grain consumption of
feed for the year was So pounds, OF
Throughout the year it took AZ pounds
Of feed to produce two dozen eggs.
II the wheat Is omitted from the ra-
ton 1t Is very essential to feed a con-
siderable proportion Of beef scrap or
fish scrap In the mash. While these
feeds may seem high in price, consid-
ering their high protein content and
their value in egg production, they are
cheap poultry feeds. In other expert
ments conducted by the poultry division
it was found that the first four months
pullet fed a ration containing beef scrap
produced an average of AIS eggs, while
those fed the same ration, with the eX-
ception that the beef scrap was omitted,
produced only 1877 eggs.
These experiments. the poultry spe-
Clalists say, prove that wheat is not
essential in an egg-laying ration and
WAT cAcclleht IeSuitS Sah pc SeCuleu
by using corn and oats as a scratch
mixture, provided this Is fed with a
good mash containing rs per cent of
beef or fish scrap.
While the birds should have plenty
to eat, they should always be eager for
each meal, II one-third Of the scratch
grain furnished them is fed in the
morning and two-thirds at night, the
birds will take more exercise than if
they receive all the grain they desire In
the morning. Good scratch mixtures
may be made of equal parts by weight
Of cracked corn, wheat and oats, or two
parts Of cracked corn and one part each
Of wheat and oats.
vote a little trouble to providing his
birds with the most favorable sur
roundings for the winter.
The house should be thoroughly
cleaned, disinfected, and made tight
before cold weather sets in, II the
house has a dirt floor, it is well to re-
move 8 or 4 inches Of dirt from top and
replace this material with dry gravel
or sand. On cement or wooden floors 4
or 5 inches Of fresh straw or litter may
be thrown down after the floor has
been cleaned. "a
Ventilation Is another important fac
tor to consider. The house should be
tight on three sides, but for the fourth
muslin curtains nay be used for from
one-third to one-half its extent. In Any
case. there should be some ventilation
In the house, ever ON the coolest nights
Fowls viii stand considerable cold air
provided II is dry, and ventilation will
keep The air thoroughly dry in the
house. on tho other hand, drafts are
likely to cause roup and other trouble