Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1891 — THE POULTRY-YARD. [ARTICLE]

THE POULTRY-YARD.

Femttng for Egga, There is much to learn In feeding fowls for egg production in the season when eggs are in demand, for then and only then does the profit justify the extra attention necessary to accomplish this. A good hen should average 120

eggs per year. Some I will admit have laid from 150 to 170, but I am only calculating the average, so as not to scare the inexperienced poultry man, it being nearer the average production. Did you ever stop to consider that 120 eggs represent an aggregate weight of 16ft) of nutriment in its most condensed form, and and 150 eggs an aggregate of 20 lb? Onetenth of this, or perhaps a trifle more, is fat. A surplus of matorial as well as energy in the secretive organs is necessary, so it is a fact that the mere feeding of extra foods will not be sufficient. It should be borne in mind that vitalized productive eggs are one thing and those used for food another. If it were possible to control the production of the hens, the policy to pursue would cause the breeding stock to produce but one or two chickens. They would be more apt to be fertile and the chicks constitutionally more healthy and vigorous. Usually a fowl starts laying at 8 or 10 months old. Nho does not lay as constantly and as well at first as she will the second year, but she will demand more food for development the first season and during the period of molting, say from August until November, she will not lay at all. If the winter is excessively cold, unless very warm and comfortable quarters arc provided as well as good food, she will seldom favor you with an egg. In feeding for eggs we must use proper judgment and not gravitate to either extremes. Wo all know or should know that a hen overfed will not lay well. The fat accumulates about the ovaries, which moans a loss of action in the egg organs. Feed well, avoiding such foods as produco fat. Corn is one food of this kind, aud sometimes warm cooked food without exercise means the building up of a fatty element foreign to the make-up of a good layer. Do not understand that I mean that corn should never bo fed, nor warm feed, but only sparingly. Wheat and bran are egg-producing foods when used in moderation. Rice is also good, as is meat chopped up finely. It matters but little whether the meat contains much fat or not Ground bone and milk in the morning and evening are excellent for old fowls that lay. Egg shells broken up line can bo fed to them and also lime in the form of old mortar. An excellent, mixture for shell material for general digestive properties is mado up of 10 parts of ground new oyster shells, 2 of cayenne pepper and 1 of powdered sulphur. Place two full tablespoonsful in soft feed three times a week, which is sufficient for a dozen hens. J. W. Caugiiky.

JVVhcn Is a Hen Too Tat 7 A hen is too fat whon she is apparently very heavy behind, when she Is lazy and cares nothing for work, seeking only to havo the owner feed her. She cannot easily fly, soon becomes tired from exertion when chased, does not lay, though in good health, and is very heavy when hold in the hands. We do not state that any one of the above causes indicates a fat lien, but to observe her in all of them. Of course, the surest method Is to lift her and the weight will bo there. Examination of the rear of the body will also show tho fat under the skin by its color. As to what should bo the character and quantity of tho food required to keep them in a healthy condition, cannot bo correctly stated, as no two hens are alike. Leghorns and Brahmas (or other largo breeds) should not be kept together. If hens are in good condition, tho best food is chopped clover hay (chopped half an inch in length and scalded), all they will eat, in the morning, a tablespoonful of uround meat mixed with mashed potatoei; and scatter wheat for them to pick up before going to roost.