Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1918 — FEEDING FOWLS FOR MEAT AND EGGS [ARTICLE]

FEEDING FOWLS FOR MEAT AND EGGS

Tn feeding the flock an effort should be made to do so as cheaply as posconsistent with the production of eggs. To accomplish this all table scraps, kitchen waste, etc., should be utilized. Scraps of meat or leftover vegetables which cannot be utilized in tiny other way make excellent feed. There are also many other waste products, such as beet tops, turnip tops, •carrot tops, potato parings, onion tops, the outside leaves Of cabbages, waste lettuce leaves, bread and cake crumbs, etc., all of which are relished by the, .Jiens-«and 'can be used to the best advantage. In saving the scraps and waste it is well to separate the portions adapted for feeding to the flock and place these in a receptacle or pall of their own. Decomposed waste material or, moldy bread or cake should never be saved to feed to the hens, as ft is harmful to them and may cause serious bowel trouble. Sloppy material, such as dishwater, should not be thrown into their pall. It is also useless to put in such things as banana peels or the skins of .oranges, as these have little or no food value. Any sour milk which is not utilized in the house should be given to the chickens. This should be fed separately, however, either by allowing the hens to drink It or by allowing it to clabber on the back of the stove and then feeding it In that condition. When the family’s table waste is not sufficient for feeding the flock, it is usually possible to get some of thi? neighbors who keep no hens to save material suitable for feeding. Many people are glad to do this if a small pall in which to place the waste is furnished.

Table scraps and kitchen waste are best prepared for feeding by running them through an ordinary meat grinder. After the material has been put through the grinder ft Is usually a rather moist mass, and It Is well to mix with It some cornmeal, bran or other ground grain until the whole mass assumes a crumbly condition. The usual method Is’ to feed the .table scraps at noon or at night, or at both times, as may be desired, in a trough or on a board. All should be] fed that the hens will eat up clean, and If any of the material Is left after one-half or three-quarters of an hour It should be removed. If allowed to lie It may spoil and would be very bad for the hens. With the table scraps It Is well to feed* some grain. Perhaps this may be given best as a light feed in the morning. Four or five handfuls of grain (about one-half pint) scattered In the litter will be sufficient for a flock of twenty or twenty-five hens. By handful is meant as much as can be grasped In the hand, not what can be scooped up In the open hand. By scattering It tn the litter the bens will be compelled to scratch in order to find the grain and In this way, to take exercise, which is decidedly beneficial to them. If the house is too small to feed in, the grain can be scattered on the ground outside. A good grain mixture for this purpose is composed of equal parts by weight of wheat,' cracked corn and oats.. Another suitable grain mixture is composed of two parts by weight of cracked corn and one part oats.