Oxford Democrat., 1919-04-15
Feeding for Egg Production.

(By o. N. Wilbur.)
Within the last two or three years th'
.eeding problem has caused the poultry
m an great deal of worry, because gran
prices have been excessive. This has
in many cases, had q tendency towart
under feeding, or the feeding OF substi
tutes which were low In food value.
1 Under.feeding to save food is pool
economy. Dairy cattle If under-fed vii
produce a small amount Of milk. A her
either lays whole egg or none at all
There 10 no halfway business, or the pro
duction of small eggs.
| Hens must be in good condition before
they will lay. The 6rst function Of fooc
Is to produce energy and rebuild the tis
sues of tho hens body. Any surplus
food goes to the storage of fat and the
production of eggs, provided other con
ditions are right and the food nutrien's
are given in proper proportions. Ii nc
more food is given than ia required fol
the maintenance of the hens body, you
cannot expect to get. eggs.
There are several methods OF feeding
hens, each method having its advocates
The simplest method, and one which bat
been found by experience to be very
successful, is now being used by all up
to-date poultrymen. There may, oi
course, be notifications, depending up
on local conditions.
This method consists chiefly in feed
ing dry mash and scratcb-feed. The
dry mash IL made up of ground grains
by. products and meat or fish scraps, and
1t should be kept by the birds in an open
hopper all the time. The mash is the
most important part of the ration ana Is
In reality, that part OF the ration which
goes to the production OF eggs. II
should not contain too much fiber, YET
should have enough bulk so that The
highly concentrated feeds may be better
digested.
1t is necessary to furnish some form OF
animal protein. Meat scraps or mea'
meal are probably the best, but fish mes
also gives very good results. The dry
mash should be kept by the bens from
the time they are housed 10 The fall. a
mash composed of the following iDgTe
dients has proven very successful and .is
recommended: 800 lbs. bran, 100 lbs
corn meal. 100 lbs. feed -four or mid
dlings, 100 lbs. meat scraps. Feed th's
nash the first month in the layiDg house
During the second month the follow
Jig should be fed: 200 lbs. bran, 100 lbs
coin meal, 100 lbs. feed -four or mid
dlings, 100 lbs. gluten, 100 lbs. meat
scraps.
For the third and each successive
month feed the same as the second
month, but adding 80 lbs. of linseed
meal on the third and alternate months
The scratch grain should consist OF
whole or broken grains and should be
scattered in dry litter, so the birds will
have to scratch to get it. This will
keep them exercised. Equal parts Of
cracked corn and oats give good results
Equal parts of feed wheat, oats and bar
Icy also make good mixture. This
should be fed the first thing in the morn
ing, at a rate of about four quarts for
100 hens, and an equal amount should
be fed in the same way at noon or In the
afternoon. The amount of scratch grain
fed should about equal the amount OF
dry mash eaten.
1t is essential, too, that they have some
kind of green food as q succulence, NOT
so much for its food value as for its con.
dictionary and hygienic effect Mangel
beets, turnips, cabbages and other vege'
tables may be used for this purpose
Sprouted oats are one Of the best green
foods. Silsge may be used, If fed with
care.
Grit, oyster-shell and charcoal are all
necessary ingiedients of the laying
ration. There 10 no food value In them,
but the grit AIDS digestion, the shell be,
comes the foundation OF the egg-sbell
and The charcoal assists in keeping the
digestive tract in good condition.
Wafer, although not food, is abso'
lutely essential If one expects to gel
eggs. Clean, fresh water should be kept
| by the birds all the time, and In cold
weather 1t should be slightly warmed
See that the water bucket Is kept filled,
and the water not allowed to freeze.
1t is necessary for the individual to
use his own judgment, to a certain e1'
tent, In feeding for eggs, but il the
method suggested is followed closely,
one should attain reasonable amount
of success.