Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1920-11-25
FEEDING FOR
EGG PRODUCTION


do not let up on your feeding
and caring for the laying hen at this
time of year" is the advice given by
S. p. Smyth, head Of the poultry
husbandry department, University of
Idaho. Mr.. Smyth says that as the
spring flush of eggs begins to drop
off the farmers are inclined to think
that the profitable egg production is
over and cease feeding the hens.
Such is not the case and although
the summer and fall production may
not be equal to thata Of spring it
may be very profitable as the price
of eggs Begins to raise by the middle
of the summer. The flock should be
culled often during the summer and
the non-producers sold, but the ones
that will produce by feeding should
be given a chance.
In order to give maximum pro-
duction a hen must have plenty OF
good wholesome feed which is prop
erly balanced for egg production.
The thing that many rations lack is
animal protein which is absolutely
essential for egg production and
and which can be supplied only by
worms and bugs, meat scrap or
milk. On most farms the hens will
get worms and bugs for short sea-
son in the spring but in most cases
this supply of protein does not last
through the summer and must be
supplied Where milk is available the
hens should have all the sour milk
or buttermilk they will drink. In
case milk is not to be had, CONNER
cial meat scraps or tankage should
be supplied in the dry mash Hens
need shade, green food and plenty
of fresh water in the summer time.
A ration which has been giving eX-
celIent results at the University and
one which can be recommended as
efficient and easy to provide is as
follows:
Grain ration consisting of so lbs.
of corn, 80 lbs. of wheat and 40 lbs.
of oats is fed as scratch feed in
deep litter of straw. The dry mash
which consists of 35 lbs. bran, 35
lbs. of shorts and 80 lbs. of meat
scraps is fed in a dry mash hopper
which is left open at all times. A
check is kept on the feed fed to
make sure that it is consumed in
about the proportions named which
is lbs. grain to one of mash. II too
much grain is eaten cut down on it
and the hens will consume more
mash. If on the other hand they are
eating too much mash, feed more
grain as they prefer the grain to
the mash and will eat it first. Give
them all they want so long as it is
consumed in the correct proportions.
Oyster shell and grit are also. pro-
vided in an open hopper.
If milk is available the meat scrap
should be left out of the mash and
milk given as a drink. The grain "a
ton may be varied in many ways
and still give good results. If corn is
not available leave it out. If wheat
or oats are not available either may
be left out Barley may be added or
substituted for the oats Gull peas, |
Kaffir corn or sunflower seed may |
be used in the grain mixture with |
good results. The price and availa-
bility of the different grains should |
influence to a certain extent the
grain mixture. Use as many grains
as seem economical but do not buy |
high priced grains to make the ra-
ton conform to some ideal ration.
Corn is very desirable in the ration
especially. in winter as it furnishes
heat and energy in large amounts. 1t
also increases the size of the eggs
when compared to ration of wheat
and oats alone-Bi-Weekly News
Letter.