Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1929-09-12
TIM Ell Y
FAR M TOPICS
bp the
County Agricultural Agent

Small eggs from pullets and fall
moli in pGllets are two Of the biggest
problems in connection with pullet
egg production. No formula has yet
been devised TO eliminate both. but
much can be done thru management
practices. Pullets frequently start
laying before they are matured,
which means that they have small boz
dies, small reserve of energy, and
they naturally lay small eggs. Such
pallets should not be starved or fed
a low protein ration TO check produc-
ton. because they will frequently lay
at the expense of their bodies for n
time regardless of feed. II is much
better to feed such pullets heavily,
so that they can lay and finish their
growth at the same time.
1t is usually just as undesirable to
house pullets before they are ready
as II is to leave them on range after
they are ready. Once a pullet starts
to lay, she needs increased food sup
ply and she is willing to stand up for
her own right among her mates. This
puts a pu.let not laying at a decided
disadvantage il housed with pullets
that have already started TO lay.
Houses for early-laying pullets
should be well ventilated and as wide
open as possible. The number housed
in each pen should be the minimum
rather than the maximum, as crowd
ing viii do much TO check fall pro-
duetion and may cause colds and
other diseases.
If rations are home-mixed. use the
+ New England ration. which is as fol-
+ lows.
The New England Laying Ration
formulated at a conference of New
ENGLAND Colleges, September and s,
1929
T Dry Mash
Coarse Yellow Corn Meal, 200
pounds
Wheat Bran, 100 pounds
Middlings, white -four. 100 pounds
Ground Oatmeal or CIR 80 TO 40
h. oats, 100 pounds.
Meat Scrap tnot less than 500
proteinl % pounds.
Fish Meal mot less than 500 pro-
.einl 20 pounds.
Alfalfa Leaf Meal (nct over 209t
Fiberl 25 pounds.
Edible Steamed Bone Meal, 25
pounds.
Dried Skinned Milk or Butter
milk, 25 pounds.
Fine Salt, pounds.
Scratch Grain
Cracked Corn or Whole Corn. 500
pounds.
Wheat, $50 pounds.
Bar ey, $50 pounds.
Oats (3S to 40-pound cats), 100
pounds.
The question Of the proportion OF
grain and mash fed is one that calls
for considerable discussion. Mash
should be kept before the pullets at
all times, while grain may be fed
lightly during the day with a heavy
feeding q grain given the last thing
at night. Ordinarily pullets win con
sumo nearly twice as much grain as
mash, but the proportion should be
determined by increasing or decreas-
ing grain until the maximum amount
Of total feed is consumed in a day.
Trough-feeding grain at night
gives very good results. but a small
proportion Of the grain should be fed
in the morning or during the day, in
litter, in order 20 encourage exercise
and keep the litter stirred up. Litter
Of mixed shavings and straw is very
satisfactory for early fall as it does
not make as much dust as some OF the
common litters used
Green food should not be neglected
for fan pullets. Feed literally yet
not TO excess. Green food serves as
a axative. tonic and a nutrient. Fail
ure TO use green food is apt TO en-
courage prclapsus and cannibalism.
Fall mott can be controlled only
thru heavy feeding, which viii keep
the birds in good flesh and allow
them to continue to lay II pullets
lose flesh due 10 heavy production
and insufficient feeding. they are al
most sure &c take time off and mott.
The information in this article is
taken from one by Mr.. Jones, Poultry
Specialist.
RAYMOND f. WING,