The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-02-09
MAKING THE POUL-
TRY PAY THEIR WAY
C. S. Brewster, Poultry Ex-
pert of Portland, Gives Good
Pointers on Care and Feeding
of Poultry.
By C. S. BREWSTER.

II appears that most Of the farm
ers of this section have had difficulty
this winter in making their chickens
lay, and they wonder why this should
be so. From what have been able
TO learn regarding this situation here
! am led to believe that in most cases
the hens do not lay because they
haven't been given a chance-that
the owners rather than the hens are
to blame.
The essential requirements for the
production of eggs, particularly fall
and winter eggs are as follows:
1. Good stock which has been
bred for high production.
2. Comfortable housing mot nee
essarily expensive.)
3. Early Matching.
4, Use of pullets for winter eggs.
5. Proper feeding.
6. Cleanliness - freedom from
mites and lice.
The breeding is more important
than the breed. White Leghorns,
Barred or White Plymouth Rocks,
and Rhode Island Reds are the most
popular and therefore it is easier to
obtain good stock.
The house should be Is to 20 feet
deep and should provide dry floor,
free from drafts where the birds
can work in comfort. A board or
concrete floor is better than a dirt
floor. Plenty Of sunlight and ventila-
ton are important.
Hens will not lay much in mid-win-
ter as they 60 through a mott at that
time. The pullets will not lay unless
they have been hatched early en-
ough so that they will be mature in
September or October. Plymouth
Rocks or Rhode Island Reds should
be hatched between February 18th
and April lst, Leghorns should be
hatched not later than May 18th, pre-
ferably in April. In best results the
flock should contain at least 60 per
cent pullets.
A good system of feeding is as fol-
lows:
Scratch feed made up of equal
parts cracked corn and wheat fed in
a straw litter at the rate of about
3 pounds per 100 hens in the morn
ing and 8 pounds at night. Keep a
dry mash before them in hoppers at
all times also grit, oyster shell, and
charcoal Supply plenty of clean
water to drink and milk if possible.
Give green feed regularly, all they
will eat. Mangels, carrots, rutabag-
as, or cabbage are very good. If
these are not available use alfalfa
meal soaked in hot water or beet
pulp. For the dry mash the following
mixture will give good results:
100 pounds bran or mill run.
100 pounds middlings.
100 pounds corn meal.
100 pounds ground oats or barley.
100 pounds meat meal or fish
meal.
In most cases a good prepared egg
mash will be found the best and most
economical.
The hens should eat as much mash
as they do grain, If they don't, cut
down on the morning grain feed.
Remember that it is the mash feed
that makes eggs, not the grain. Mash
feed is also very important in feed
ing young chicks.
A hen that is out on the cold, wet
ground or in a cold, drafty house all
day will use most of her feed in
keeping warm. She cant lay we'll
as result.
The County Farm Bureau, through
the county agent, Mr.. c. c. Calkins,
will be glad to secure the college or
government bulletins for anyone who
may wish further information. Pro-
fesSor Brewster will also be glad to
furnish free his bulletins on culling,
feeding chicks, or poultry house plans
or will be glad to answer questions
regarding poultry problems if you
will write to him in care Of Kerr,
Clifford and company. Portland, Ore
con.