Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1891 — THIS POULTRY YARD. [ARTICLE]

THIS POULTRY YARD.

Bow to Feed Light Jirnlunn* For Eggs. Over-feeding is injurious to all breeds, but especially so to Light Brahmas. Corn should be excluded from the diet, except m extreme cold weather, when it may be given in a mixture of corn, wheat and oats, as a hot uiash in the morning. Oatmeal scalded and made the consistency of mush, into which a handful of dessicated fish may be mixed, is one of the best egg-producing foods that cau be given. On alternate mornings flaxseed meal may be used in place of the fish. A pint of whole wheat to every twelve fowls is sufficient for an evening meal, and this should be thrown among leaves or chaff to make them scratch for it. Haw meat should be given three times a week. A cabbage fastened by a string and suspended from the center of the hen house, just high enough to make them jump for ail they get, is an excellent thing. In short any means that can be devised to make them work for their feed, with the exception of their morning meal; and even that should be light, simply giving enough for an appetizer, will be found of great benefit to them. From actual experience we have found that pure-bred Brahmas, by careful feeding, can be made far better layers than half-breeds, and if intelligently bred can combine fancy points and eggs. The object to be gained in raising chickens for early market is to have them weigh from one and a half to two pounds in the shortest time possible. They should bo fed upon such food as will cause the least amount of shrinkage. Exclusive use of soft feed will put flesh upon the carcass rapidly, but of such « nature that the shrinkage will beat. least six ounces to a chicken (dressed.) To avoid this, whole wheat should enter largely into their diet. They can be taught to eat it when a few day* old by crushing a portion of it and mixing wltfc the whole grains. The flesh of a chicken raised on soft feed presents a shriveled appearance, especially on the breast after dressing, which never occurs when the birds are fed upon grains as well. Nothing can be more delicious than the flesh of chickens grown to weigh two pounds in eight weeks.