The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-20
BY w. /. PERRY.

Last week we asked those interested
to make their wants known to this de-
partment, If Interested in any subject
dealing with the industry that did not
appear plain to poultry raisers.
The first question put was: please
give me the correct method for feeding
| my flock of pulleis, to produce the best
| results for egg production We are
| pleased To be able to give the following
| information. which is strictly reliable,
in that ii is used by many of the com
| mercial poultry plants of the country,
| OF course, 1t cannot be followed strict
| iy to the letter in every detail, but good
Judgment will permit local poultry
| raisers to substitute TO fit the market
supply.
| The following is n standard diet for
| laying hens. In the case of farmers,
many have some soft wheat on hand
that is not for milling purposes, but In
case of town poultrymen II will be
necessary to omit the wheat, The fol-
lowing gives bran and middlings of 100
pounds each but at present locally, you
can give hut bran and short mixed,
which Will answer the purpose.
| Grain.
| 500 pounds crib corn with a variation
of 400 600 pounds.
100 pounds feed wheat. with no va
ration.
200 pounds barley. with variation OF
| 90 400 lbs
200 pounds heavy oats with varia-
ton of 1908 pounds.
| The scratch grain to contain not less
than 10 per cent protein, 6S per cent
carbohydrates and per cent fat. and
not more than per cent fiber.
Mash.
100 pounds wheat bran.
| 100 pounds wheat middlnCs.
100 pounds cornmeai.
100 pounds gluten feed
100 pounds ground heavy oats.
100 pounds meat scrap.
The mash must contain not less than
20 per cent protein. 81 per cent carhu-
hydrates and per cent fat aud not
more than 7 per cent fiber
i Meat scrap should be fed as long a.
1t Is ubtainable or skim milk or butter
milk used as substitute.
Feeding Methods and Practice.
| Amount: Feed according to the ap-
petite Of the birds. no definite rule cal
tie given. Feed sCantily Of grain IN
the morning and give all the grain they
will eat in the afternoon in time I,
find it before dark. There should be
no grain in the litter at noon when
found, it indicates feeding too much in
The morning.
The mash is fed dry in hoppers oper
All day.
In general. feed by weight about
equal parts uf grain and mash.
Litter Induce exercise by feeding
! all grain in dry. clean. straw, litter SIN
T." eight inches deep. The common
straws, III their order Of desrability
are wheat, oats and barley; or leaves
may be used where straw is not avail
, able. All feed and litter should be
, strictly sweet. clean and free from
mustiness, mold or decay Serious
losses frequently occur from thes.
r sources, due 10 the spores which ma,
develop into fungus molds in the lung:
or intestnes.
, Green Feed.
, a green range of alfalfa, clover q
| grass furnishes the ideal condition
When these are not available il is nee
e | essary to give the birds some kind o
Isucculent food. Mangel beets, cabbage
. sprouted oats or green clover are usual
: ly considered the best green feeds.
these are not ohtainable. apples and pc
4 tatoes make a valuable addition to I'll
ration. Feed at noon in such amount
AS the birds will clean up before nigh
This will require about % to so pount
s per week for 100 hens. Deoayed {
frozen feeds should not be used as tbs