Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-04-08
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
BY DR., ANDREW M SOULE @~--,~:*:

ton which approximates the fol
lowing. These are rations which
have been extensively used by the
federal department of agriculture
and have proven satisfactory when
fed for extended periods Of time
Two pounds corn meal, one pound
bran, one pound middlings, and one
pound meat or fish scrap. Utilize
this as the mash. Feed along with
this a scratch mixture made up OF
two pounds cracked corn, one pound
oats and one pound wheat.
Another good mash may be made
as follows: Three pounds corn meal
and one pound meat scrap. The
scratch mixture should be two
pounds of cracked corn and one
pound of oats.
A third mash may be prepared as
follows: Three pounds corn meal,
one pound middlings, and one-halt
pound meat scrap. The scratch mix
ture should consist of two pounds
cracked corn, one pound wheat, and
one pound oats.
In addition to the above all the
table scraps or cooked vegetables
left over from the family meals
should be fed. There should also
be an abundant supply Of green feed
available at all seasons. There is
nothing better to utilize in Georgia
than an alfalfa patch. 1t provides
a wonderful amount of grazing for a
flock of poultry during the greater
part of the year. In sections where
oil o1f &c 10 hi re he
used as the source Of green food in
winter and spring. Collards may
also be grown for this purpose.
There is a great deal of waste
around the garden which provides a
most acceptable green food for chick.
ems. During the spring and summer
the birds will gather considerable
amount of green food for them
selves, but in the fall and winter this
green food must be provided in arti-
fetal form. -,
A supply Of grit, charcoal and
oyster shell should be kept before
the birds at all times, also an abun-
dant supply of water. This is of
the utmost Importance. A great
many people do not appreciate the
value of a supply of clean water in
the poultry yard, nor do they under
stand the essential and fundamental
character Of the other materials
mentioned. They are necessary, not
only for the health Of the birds, but
in order that the egg shells may be
properly formed. You cannot eX-
pect the hen to lay eggs which pos
sess hard, firm shells unless she is
supplied with materials to use for
this purpose.
The scratch mixture should be fed
twice daily. Give about one-third
in the morning and two-thirds in
the afternoon. During the summer
time the. scratch mixture may be
scattered over the ground in the vi
entity Of the chicken house. The
mash may be fed either dry or
moist. Ground oyster shells should
be kept in a hopper where the
fowls can have access to it at all
times. Moist mashes, may be used
from time to time, but they should
be skillfu1ly handled. Unless this
is done they are not likely to prove
so effective as dry mashes. It will
take about a quart of scratch grains
and a quart and a half of, mash for
each twelve hens Of the larger
breeds, and about sixteen of the
smaller breeds. The average hen, if
enjoying a free range, will eat about
70 pounds of feed q year. Leghorns
and the lighter breeds eat only about
So pounds.
On city lots, or where green feed
is not available in any considerable
fc IAN 10
night in warm water and then
spread out in layers an inch thick
on tables with perforated bottoms.
Water the oats thoroughly and turn
the mass Of grain over once daily
to promote even sprouting. In cold
weather artificial heat will be nee
essary. 1t is desirable that a good
grade Of oats be used. After the
oats have been sprouted for five or
seven days scatter them on the
poultry house floor. The closer the
hens have been confined the more
important it is to supply them with
an abundance of mineral matter,
and to keep the houses in a
thoroughly sanitary condition.
Care should be exercised in pre-
pairing eggs for market. Gather
the eggs daily and keep them in a
cool, dry place. + They should be
sent to market lat least twice a
week. 1t is often better to ship
them more frequently. Unless eggs
are to be used for Matching purposes
1t is better to produce infertile eggs,
as they keep better.
Birds which are to be killed and
marketed should be kept without
iced for at least II hours. Fowls
may be dry picked or scalded. Dry
picking makes. them show up to
netter advantage when marketed
out scalding makes the performance
OF this operation much easier. The
IoWls should be cooled Immediately
aIter they are picked. This may be
accomplished by putting them in a
small refrigerator or by soaking
them in cold Or ice water.