Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1911 — Winter Months on the Farm [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Winter Months on the Farm

How to Improve Them

Feeding Hens for Eggs Winter Feeding nod Cere of Farm Fowls j to Get Eggs When Prions Are High

By PROF. J. G. HALPIN

~ Wiecomeln College of jlfHtultum

Many poultry raisers make radical mistakes in changing their fowls from summer to winter rations. They do Hot appreciate the importance of maintaining the proper proportions of meat and succulent feed in the winter ration and above all of supplying these constituents to the birds immediately at the beginning of cold weather. During summer the birds catch and eat an abundance of grasshoppers and in addition have a large supply of green food constantly available so that all their wants are satis fled. Just as soon as extensive ranging Is prevented by cold weather the feeder should begin to supply succulent teed, such as alfalfa, roots and clover hay and beef scraps in the ration so

that It will correspond as closely as possible to the summer feeding. The feeder should not wait until after Christmas to begin, this system of feeding but should commence it as 6oon as the fowls are off the range. ~ Feeding a Wet Mash. Changes in the system of feeding hens should never be abrupt, but should be very gradual, slowly accustoming the birds to the variation in their ration. Where a wet mash has been fed to the young fowl it is preferable to continue to feed the older birds with this variety of mash. Although a wet mash is more palatable than a dry mash, it is also more trouble to prepare and has to be fed more carefully. There is always a danger of it scouring or freezing. A wet mash should be thoroughly mixed and allowed to swell and expand. This mash should be uniformly spread in the troughs so that each bird receives an equal allowance. Otherwise the stronger birds will gorge themselves while their weaker mates will starve. An excellent wet mash ration consists ojf one part alfalfa meal, one part wheat bran, one part middlings, one part cornmeal and one part beef scraps. If possible these concentrates should be moistened and mixed with skim milk and allbwed to stand for several hours before teeding. Five per cent of oil meal is used advantageously in this ration, due to its value as a laxative and general tonic and stimulator. The wet mash should be fed once daily, in amount never to exceed what the birds will clean up readily in ten minutes, preferably at the noon hour. How to Feed Dry Mash. The dry mash is not so palatable and accordingly can be fed to the hens at any time although the stock usually eat more and thrive more rapidly If allowed access to this feed for three to four hours each afternoon. This

gives the "underlings" plenty of chance to eat and lessens tbe possibility of tho mature fowls stuffing themselves. Tbe" dry mash has the same composition as tbe wet mash the only difference being that It Is fed in a dry form. Where ground oats and barley are plentiful they can be added to the dry mash with excellent results. Green bone la an excellent constituent to use In the ration for egg production. It must be fed in moderation about one ounce per hen three times a week and then gradually Increased until one ounce is supplied dally to each ben. . ~ .' Several prominent ponltrytnen hare recently attained remarkable success by using a combination of wet and dry mas ties. Tb«4r system includes a noon feed of a tight, well-scattered wet mash and then during the afternoon giving lbs birds free access to a dry

mash. The main advantage of this method is the extra labor involved. In a s'ell-arranged house when a dry mash is fed In hoppers one man can feed '2,000 hens In about a half hour As ordinarily fed a wet mash for 2.00 C birds requires at least two hours sot mixing and distributing the feed. Roughage for Hens. Where alfalfa meal is fed the de mand for a succulent roughage is de creased. ip this case, however, the addition of succulent clover or alfalfa hay 1» beneficial. Root crops play an important role In the dietary of poultry. Mangels may be fed entire once a day In troughs. Cabbages are best fed by suspending them by cords to keep them clean. An addi tfonal advantage is obtained here through the extra exercise necessary for the fowl to secure the feed. Where available sprouted “oats can be fed. Carrots in small amounts are very palatable and tempting to the flock. Clover chaff can be fed wet or dry and is a very economical egg producer. Begin to feed the green stuff and mangles as early in the autumn as possible. Clover Good for Poultry. Steaming clover hay Pnlatability greatly. If free from long fiber, clover is an excellent feed to mix with bran, table scraps, or with a reg ular mash. *A convenient way of handling the poultry flock is to thoroughly bed down-the house with straw in the fall and then to add a forkful of clover or alfalfa hay every day until the litter begins to get dirty. The house should .then be cleaned, the straw replaced by clean litter, and the daily forkful of clover or alfalfa continued. The importance of litter cannot be overestimated as a means of compelling the birds to exercise in obtaining their food. A generous allowance of corn mixed with the litter works out excellently for winter feed-

ing. Corn may be fed either shelled or on the ear—broken into small pieces. 'lt is of great Importance that a little grain be left In the litter overnight so that the hens have something to eat Immediately after leaving their perches in the early morning. This accounts for the generous allowance of grain which is absolutelv necessary In the litter. If no grain la left in the litter the birds should receive tbelr first feed by daylight for best returns. A very detrimental practise on the general farm Is to finish all the morning chores before feeding the poultry. The hens as a result remain on their perches too long, so no in eentive urges them to get down and exercise. This common mistake is one of the fundamental errors which results in a diminished egg production. Grit for the flock should be furnished by putting a load of gravel in the bouse each year. Oyster shell should also be. constantly accessible for the flock. It may be placed in an inexpensive hopper where the birds can easily reach It. Charcoal is an other article of indispensable value around the poultry house. Clean, pure water In sanitary dishes should always be available for the fowls. Feed a Generous Ration. An essential factor in poultry feeding is to furnish a liberal, correctly balanced, fattening and growing ration. To merely supply the flock with a maintenance ration is not sufficient Besides maintaining bodily vigor and health the hen must produce eggs and on this account requires an amount of feed in excess of that required for mere maintenance. Where a well balanced ration is supplied in abundance, and where the flock have plenty o» exercise, the birds will not become overfat, but will maintain good thrift and will produce a quantity of good .quality eggs. V

A Hopper for Grit or Dry Math.

Trough for Feeding a Dry Mash. Slatted Front Prevents Waste.

Two Views of a Simple Drinking Vessel for the Small Hen House.