The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1919-11-20
TELLS LYNDEN HOW TO
FEED FOR EGG MAKING
Prof. George ShOup Describes Ration
Needed To Supply Flock With An
imal Food

George R. Shoup, formerly OF Lyn-
den, but now head of the poultry
department at the Western Wash
ington Experiment Station at Puyal-
lup, sent out this week for the Lyn-
den poultrymen a statement giving
his experience in feeding for egg pro-
| duction.
Says Mr.. Shoop:
The liberal supply of earthworms,
slugs and bugs in the spring and ear
lly summer has long been credited
with the high egg production of farm
focks during this period of the year.
| Unfortunately for the advocate of
free-range conditions, this supply is
| limited to the daily forage range of
the flock. and the quantity obtainable
ed largely to the size of the flock.
After the grasshopper supply has dis
appeared practically the only source
is the contents of the manure pile.
If the manure pile is large and we'll
rotted. of course the amount Of ami
NAL food is proportionately greater.
1t has often been remarked that fifty
to one hundred birds do extremely
well on barnyard range, but that
when the number of birds is doubled
or increased to a size sufficient to
make q livelihood for the caretaker
there is considerable falling off in
the average production per bird and
consequent decrease in the profits.
Probably one hundred birds is about
the maximum number for most farm
fock conditions.
Much successful poultry work has
been accomplished, especially in the
Middle West, by placing small units
Of twenty-five to one hundred birds
in colony houses considerable distanc-
es apart, thus providing sufficient
pasturage, forage and bug-growing
area for each unit. The labor of car
ing for the birds, especially in win
ter, and the difficulty of securing
help during recent years, besides the
value Of the land for crop purposes,
have tended to discourage this me-
thod.
The commercial poultry keeper, as
distinguished from the general farm
er. has been forced to seek other
sources OF animal food. His demand
is that it be reasonable in cost. con-
venient to handle. unfailing in sup
ply, OF good digestibility. and palat-
able II possible. Meat meal, tankage
and similar by-products Of the live
stock packing plants have been the
main dependence of the commercial
poultryman. Our observation has
been that the quality Of the so-called
beef scraps has greatly deteriorated
since the demand for canned meat
due to the war. which possibly ac-
counts for the large amount OF wool,
hoof, hide and bone now contained
in the product. This product sub
scribes to all OF the poultry keeper S
demands except palatibility. Hens
will not eat Vt unless it is mixed with
palatable ground grains or mill by
products.
The Pacific Coast has been fortu-
nate in being close to the salmon
packing industry. The fish offall and
many kinds OF sea fish unsuitable for
human food are used in the manu-,
facture OF fish meal. The oil is first
removed. Often it is the chief con-
sideration Of the manufacturer, the
fish mcal being a by-product. The
extraction of the oil removes all dan
ger of the eggs or flesh of the fow
becoming tainted. as will happen if q
too liberal supply OF fresh fish Ii
used. The salmon fish meal espe
cially is readily eaten by the fowl.
in its commercial form and therefor
) does not detract from the palatibili
ty Of the dry mash. 1t is very pal
atable, and highly digestible, as evi
denced by some recent experiment.
here at the Station where baby chicks
permitted free access to unmixed fish
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