Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1908 — CORN AS A FEED FOR HENS. [ARTICLE]

CORN AS A FEED FOR HENS.

Stimulates Egg Laying and Keeps Hen in Good Condition. On the average farm, the cheapest ration is usually corn, and I know of nothing the average hen will prefer for her mainstay In cold weather. Under ordinary farm conditions, the heh is cheaply wintered when she has just corn enough to keep her in good flesh—-a little fat, but not overfat—and ready to hunt the barnyard over on mild days for any waste grains from other farm stock. In her corn supply should be Included all the moldy and damaged ears, for several reasons. First, she takes it a grain at a time, and so need not eat any which is totally unfit, as other animals may do. Second, some observers have thought that their hens actually did better on damaged corn than on sound grain, probably because of its softness, and since even the damaged grain should be put to some use, the hen which is on a maintenance ration should have a fair trial as to her ability to get more out of it than animals to which it is evidently distasteful. It may sometimes happen that some other grain, or even some nitrogenous substance like skim milk, may be available and even cheaper than corn, and in this case winter eggs may be laid whether or no, and if so, will be had at the greatest possible percentage of profit The point is that the average farmer cannot •afford to buy nitrogenous foods to stimulate egg laying under the conditions which normally surround him in winter. The hen which has had enough corn, but not too much, is usually in good shape to give a large and profitable yield as soon as nature gives the hint by sending up the first blades of grass, Or even before.