The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-17

it is a. mistake to use such to the ex- clusion of better feeds. The safe and sure way is to start the hens laying by feeding good quality feeds, and then partially substitute the cheaper ones, regulating the amounts used by the readiness of the hens to eat the changed mixture and by the continuance of good condition and production. This applies to all classes of feeds-grains, vegetables, and animal feeds. Sufficient supplies of the two last-named determine the whole somenness Of the diet as whole. A formula for combining the three for or dinary winter weather, is to reduce the meat and increase the vegetables in warm weat ther, and reduce the vegetables and increase the meat in extreme cold weather.
 LIBERAL NATIONS
 Only wel-fed hens can lay as they should. The best results are obtained when there is not more than three hours between feeds. Such a system demands too much of the poultry keeper Econ omy of his time and energy without waste of feeds is secured when the feed is kept by the hens at all times under conditions that prevent waste. Dry feed ing, in hoppers, of at least half of the ground grains given, and the feeding of whole and cracked grains in litter ac- ccmplish this.
 Scratching for feed is the natural and favorite exercise of hens. They are not however, inclined to scratch much when no feed rewards their efforts. Feed ing the whole and cracked grain in litter deep enough to conceal it furnishes just the right condition to stimulate exercise by liberal feeding without waste and for congenial exercise that keeps hens fit without carrying exercise so far that it uses energy from feed that ought to be producing eggs.
 SIXTY EGGS IN SIX MONTHS
 Ten eggs a month-sixty during the next six months-should be the mark set by poultry keepers at this season for each hen in their flocks Hens that can not produce to that standard-should not be kept Poultry keepers who cannot reach it with ordinary good stock should quit, and stop using valuable feed and time to little purpose. But no one should admit that he cannot reach it until he is sure that he has failed after doing his part intelligently and conscientiously, and no one who faithfully follows the instructions in this article will fail to reach the very moderate standard of production demanded.
 SOME POULTRY DON'TS
 Don't allow your hens to eat decayed IlGSn Oi dity hlIlu uIlleSS you Wdll L1ttil to get down with limberneck and have many of them die from the effect of it.
 Don't allow filth and dampnesS to abound in and around your poultry roost- ing house. it will cause roup and it's various attending ills
 Don't let the mites and lice get the up- per hand about your place and cause you untold trouble and loss of both old and young stock.
 ba a afrajO tO give fowls abundance of green stuff at all seasons and all times; it is their salvation, wheth- CT they are old or young.
 Don't be afraid to invest few dollars in good stock any more than you would in improved seeds and grain to insure success.
 Don't keep any males with the females unless you intend matching the eggs. Eggs for market will keep much longer if they are not fertile.
 Don't put all sizes, shapes and colors of eggs in one lot for market; learn to grade them so they will look as much like one hen laid them all as possible. Don't allow a dirty stale egg to get into your market basket, no ma|er how high they are or how badly you need the money.
 Don't be afraid to v>>tk with your poul- try the year ro----1 as it is the only road to success, and one must stick to the right track. Keep up interest in your poultry both winter and summer. No matter what other duties you have, they should not be neglected.
 Don't expect every egg to hatch when YOU buy eggs for that purpose from some good breeder. Your own eggs, as rule, will not do that well.
 Don't attempt to raise more than ont kind of good standardized chickens. Learn to specialize.