Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1914 — MAKE HENS WORK FOR FOOD [ARTICLE]

MAKE HENS WORK FOR FOOD

Grain Should Be Thrown Into Litter 8o Fowls Will Have to Exercise Themselves to Get It ’ ' Hens, like hobos, ought to be made to work for their food, according to N. E. Chapman, poultry expert at the Minnesota College of Agriculture. J4r. Chapman believes the failure to make hens work is one of the principal reasons why eggs are scarce now. Another reason they do not lay, he said, is because they are often so housed that they have cold feet. “There ought to be lots of straw and litter in the chicken bouse," said Mr. Chapman. “The grain ought to be thrown into the litter so the hens will have to scratch for it The exercise is good for them. It will keep them warm and healthy. Pullets rightly cared for ought to be averaging a dozen eggs a month now. They Will begin to lay before they get their full growth if they are given the right care. They should supply the eggs while the old hens are molting. During November, December anl January, old hens will not lay many eggs. They will hardly average an egg a month." Corn meal, shorts, ground oats, oil meal, beef scraps, skim milk, green food, clover, alfalfa, grit shells and charcoal are recommended* by Mr. Chapman as the best food for chickens this time of year. Reports of a scarcity of eggs are prevalent all over the country, Mr. Chapman said. He believes the price will be unusually high before midwin-, ter. The number of eggs in cold storage, he said, has been attributed to the warm weather during the summer in the southern states, resulting in the production of eggs that were of a poor quality for storing.