The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1921-09-22
Profits Reduced If Laying Does
Not Begin Until Feb
ruary.
FREE RANGE DESIRABLE
Right Kind Of Feed and Care Will
Hasten Maturity-Mash and
Milk Help.


brought to laying in the fall will give
the largest yearly profit. The average
poultry keeper fails either to hatch
early enough in spring, so that the
pullets may reach laying maturity in
October, or he does not keep them
growing rapidly enough to bring this
about. Pullets that do not get to lay
ing well before the arrival of cold
weather and the short days of Decem-
her will seldom start egg production
before February. Thus two or three
months of additional feeding are re-
quired. and the advantage of this Pc
riOd of highest egg prices is lost.
Separate cockerels and PuIlets.
Very few eggs are secured on the
average farm during autumn and early
winter. but experienced poultrymen by
better management secure fair egg
production during these seasons. 1t is
advisable, although not essential, that
the cOckerels and pullets be separated
as early as possible and given sepa-
rate free range.
Avoid overcrowding, especially at
night. A coop that will hold 100 young
chickens will not house properly more
than half as many growing pullets.
Their maturity will be retarded if too
many are kept together, or If they are
annoyed by lice or mites. Frequent
inspection of the houses, especially
after the pullets have gone to roost,
is advisable If mites are seen crawl
ing on the perches or are found by
careful inspection of the house,
prompt measures must be taken to
kill them by spraying the interior of
the house with crude petroleum. kerO-
sene, cresOl solution, cattle dip, or
some other effective solution. Body
lice frequently cause much annoyance
and retard growth and maturity. In
dividual treatment of each pullet with
sodium fluOrid or mercurial ointment
will clean up these pests on the birds
themselves.
Feed freely of a good egg-laying ra-
>tiOn, give plenty of range, and be sure
they get plenty of mash. 1t is help
to keep it in hoppers where they can
have free access to it. light feed
ing of moist mash especially if mixed
with milk, may induce them to eat a
little more If 25 per cent of buck
wheat middlings is added to the allot-
ment of mash to~-he moistened with
milk or water it will be eaten eagerly
by the pullets and force them along
little faster. liberal amount of meat
scrap in the mash is advisable at this
time, particularly if plenty of milk is
not available.
Corn and Wheat Best Grains.
Corn. wheat, oats, and barley are
the principal grains fed. kafr ana
buckwheat also are used, but are not
so generally available and usually cost
more. Corn and wheat are the two
hest grains and are about equal in
value, although wheat can be fed alone
better than corn, which is inclined to
be fattening Oats and barley, on ac-
count of their hulls and higher fiber
content, are not so good as corn or
wheat. Rye is not well relished and
is seldom fed.
aged grains sometimes may be Dought
to advantage, their value depending
entirely upon their quality and condi-
tion. but as a rule only sound grains
in good condition should be fed and
moldy grains should never be used
The locally grown grains which poul-
try will eat freely may generally ne
used to the best advantage. scratch
mixture, consisting of whole or crack
cd grains made of combination OF
any two or more of those mentioned
can he fed to advantage. 1t is not ad'
yisable to feed continuously any single
grain. especially corn, owing to It's
fattening properties.
Corn meal wheat bran, wheat mid'
dlings, and meat scrap form the OASIS
of a good mash, while corn chop, corn
and-cob meal. ground oats, ana low
grade -four also may be added or SUD
stituted to advantage. Just as gooo
results can be obtained from simple
mash containing three or four ground
grains and meat scrap as from hish
" complicated mash containing III OF
IL products.
A large number of commercial mix
tures both of scratch grains ana Of
ground grains are prepared for poultry
feeds. but the value of any mixed com
mercial feed depends upon its compo
sition and the quality of the grains
used in its preparation. If a pouitr!
raiser does not produce any grain ant
Keeps a comparatively small number
of fowls it is often better for MN u
buy commercial mixed feeds. TIT
average farmer. however, should feet
homegrown grains supplemented VIII
mill feeds and meat scrap, ana TN
large poultryman usually can mix nj
own feeds to best advantage.
Fresh Water Essential.
A scratch mixture should he fe
morning and night and light feed Il
the morning. All then will eat at nigh