2U1 



REPORT OF THE POULTRY MANAGER. 



(A. G. Gilbert.) 



To William Saunders, Esq., 



Director Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa. 



Sir, — I have the honour to submit to you the third annual report of the working 

 of the poultry department of the Central Experimental Farm, since 3rd January, 

 1890, the date of last report. During the winter season of 1889-90 careful notice 

 was taken of the effect, on the various breeds, of the different sorts of ground meal 

 composing the hot or stimulating food, given in the morning as an incentive to 

 winter laying. These warm messes were made more or less stimulating by the 

 addition or omission of ground meat and red pepper, the latter being entirely omitted 

 when egg laying had fairly commenced. This experience, coupled with that of the 

 previous winter, has shown, — 



1. That the stimulating and fattening foods which go to eggs in the Spanish 

 family, such as Leghorns, Minorcas, Andalusians, &c., make the Asiatics, viz. : 

 Brahmas, Cochins, Langshans, &c., so fat as to lay soft shelled eggs or not to lay 

 at all. 



2. That Plymouth Eocks and Wyandottes — breeds of American origin and not 

 to be properly classed with either of the foregoing — are to be treated as Asiatics in 

 the matter of feed. 



3. That it is best, when possible, to keep the pullets of late hatch from the two 

 year old hens, for the reason that the latter are at their best for egg production 

 and the fattening food that is suitable to pullets is likely to make the hens too fat to 

 lay. The importance of having pullets hatched as early as possible will thus be 

 apparent. 



What is the proper treatment of the different breeds in winter ? 



WINTER TREATMENT OF DIFFERENT BREEDS. 



1. Bi-ahmas, Cochins, Langshans, Plymouth Rocks, &c., &c., require more oats, 

 less wheat, little or no Indian corn, soft or stimulating food in moderation and a 

 generous supply of vegetables. Lean meat twice or thrice a week and plenty of 

 exercise. 



2. Leghorns, Minorcas, Andalusians, Hamburgs, &c., &c., will take more soft or 

 stimulating food, more wheat, Indian corn with m^at and vegetables in liberal 

 supply. 



3. It is essential to success that lime, grit, gravel, &c., &c., should be before the 

 layers at all times, and that the hens be kept in activity by throwing the grain fed 

 to them in chaff, straw or dry leaves scalterod on the floo:-. 



Soft or stimulating food is generally led in the mo: ning and is composed as 

 follows: — 



