The Penn's Grove record., 1921-07-22
CONTROLLING THE MOLT OF
YOUR FLOCK
By j. Raymond kessler.
In the Practical Farmer

In the Practical Farmer
Some years back an e%nterprising
p~oultryman, | am not sure TO whom
the credit is due, discovered that by
manipulation Of the rations of the ma
ture flock of hens, kept over the sum-
mer, he could force the flock to mott
their feathers during the summer
months when eggs were cheap instead
OF during the fall of the year when
prices were high. The practice was
very soon adopted by a great many
poultrymen and resulted, as with most
things, in success in some cases and
failure in others.
The idea, of course, was to get the
hens to take their next period earlier
in the year than is natural and at the
time eggs were worth the least. It
was not, as some thought, a scheme to
beat Nature at her own business, but
simply to induce the rest period at an
earlier time. The practice really has
much to recommend it and is a sue
cess where carefully carried out. The
practice has not, however, become as
widespread as expected at the time the
idea was introduced.
Forcing the mott has been practiced
by the writer with success for a num-
Der of years and he has found much
to recommend it. Aside from the
financial benefits of having the flock
start laying early in the fall instead
of starting to mott at that time, we
have the advantage of the flock COM
ing through the mott all at the same
time and thus bringing the fowls into
winter quarters in the very best of
condition. We have found forcing the
mott particularly beneficial where the
flock is somewhat overfat and lazy
from the past season. However, it can
only be successfully practiced where
the flock can be yarded during the
period of short rations required at the
start, for if they are on range the sup
ply of food cannot, of course, be regu-
lated. After the period Of short rations
is over and the rations are increased
to force out the old feathers, free
range is very desirable, and will assist
in conditioning the flock.
The method usually followed is to
have the flock yarded and begin to
reduce the amount of feed allowed, a
little each day, until the flock is re-
ceiving only half the amount they for
merly did. The reduction must be
very gradual and should V a
period of about four weeks. When the
ration has been reduced to the lowest
point the poultry raiser thinks advls-
able, the flock should be kept on that
amount of food for a period of about
two weeks. At the same time the
quantity of feed is reduced, the rich
ness of the ration should also be re-
duced. particularly in the case of the
mash mixture. if one is fed; that is.
the quantities of such things as linseed
meal and beef scrap should be reduced
to very small amounts. During this
part of the operation considerable care
must be taken not to starve the flock
too much, and not to be too radical
in reducing the feed. 1t is best during
the last few weeks of the reduction IN
rations to handle the hens when on
the roost at night so as tol be sure OF
the general condition of the flock.
When a. majority of the flock seems to
have lost the most of their excess fat,
vet are not over-thin, it is time to
begin increasing the food.
The increasing of the ration, like the
reducing, should be done gradually, so
as to not upset the flock and cause
digestive disorders. 1t should be the
idea from now on to increase the
amount and richness of the ration as
fast as possible, consistent with safety,
IN most cases it is safe to bring the
flock back to full rations by the n
of two weeks. Care must be taken,
however, not to overfeed and cause
loss of appetite, for success of the
plan at this time depends upon a
quick increase to full rations without
causing disorders.
AS the amount of feed is increased,
the richness of the mash mixture
should also be increased, so as to give
the hens all the feather-making mate
rial they can use. A rich, moist mash,
once a day, will be found good at this
time. The amounts of beef scrap and
linseed meal should be greatly increas-
ed. especially the latter, as it is one
of the best feeds that can be used to
encourage the growth of new feathers.
Care must be taken, however, not to
make the mash over rich, as to do so
will sicken the.hens. One of the best