The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-20
Helping Your Hens Mott
BY JUDGE D. E. Hale


The melting period is an impor-
tant one in a hens life and it is
also one that is of great interest to
every poultry raiser.
AS it requires nearly the same
proteins, minerals, etc, to make
feathers that go to make eggs you
can hardly expect your hens to
grow a new coat of feathers and
lay eggs at the same time. There
are, of course, exceptions and once
in while we hear of a hen that
lays right through her mott.
As rule it takes hen from six
TO eight weeks to mott, that is to
grow her new coat of feathers, and
unless she gets the proper mate
rails for making these new feathers
she will not grow them as quick.
If her mott is delayed or retarded
the cold weather is apt to catch
her half naked and it will then be
delayed that much longer, because
the feed necessary to grow the
feathers will be needed to keep her
body warm. 1t is very essential, in
order to get fall and winter eggs,
that the hen complete her mott be-
lOI6 CClu "SdIlSI SETS H.
The good layer is a late molter
and she is the one we are anxious
to complete her molt and get back
on the nest She should mott even
ly as shown in the picture accom-
panying this article. The hen that
drops and grows a feather or two
at time is going to be longer go
ing through her mott and her peri
cd of egg production will be greatly
shortened.
The good layer needs rest and
the best time to let her take that
rest is during July and August. No
body, or anything, has as much am
bition during these hot, dry weeks,
and it is a good time to let the hen
have her vacation and get in shape
to finish her mott and get back TO
laying by the time fall egg prices
begin to take effect.
Cut down on the amount OF
scratch feeds, as they merely fur
nish the heat and carbohydrates,
Let her take it easy, slack up on
her exercise for week or so and
then feed as much of a good Egg
Mash as she will eat.
This plan of cutting down on the
feed, then feeding heavily of a good
egg mash will have a tendency tC
loosen the old feathers and start
the new and in this manner you car
get a more uniform mott.
In selecting your egg mash select
one that contains a variety of pala
table and easily digested proteins
also minerals and ash. You car
not mix any old mixture of ground
grains and millstuffs and call it {
satisfa Glory mash. 1t should con
tain oil meal to furnish oil and pro
tein for the new feathers, alfalfa
meal for the ash and protein, {
good high grade meat scraps TO,
animal protein. bran for its protein
and laxative effects, middlings TO
its gluten and protein values ant
corn meal for some carbohydrates
heat and protein values to balanc,
the others.
If the writer was asked to men
ton any one particular brand o
prepared feeds that would answe
this purpose he would not hesitat
TO say that Globe Egg Mash was tn
most satisfactory that he had use
and that it was all that could b
asked for either for an egg maxim
feed or one to use as a melting feed
Do not think that because tn
hen drops her feathers all at one
and looks naked, then ragged, etc
that-she is not good hen That
the way she should mott and if yo
can get her to drop her old coat al
at once and start her new feather!
you can, by proper feeding, get he
through her mott quicker tina
where she is doing it few featf
ers at time.
Milk is also great feathe
grower and if you are using a goo
egg mash, as explained above.
should be in front of them so the
can have all they want of it. in DIR
form, but a feed once a day of tn
same mash moistened with mil
will also be great help, or civ
them milk to drink.
CDATAI DACC Enn q