208 



HOT MORNING PEED. 



A warm morning mess for the heav}' breeds may be made of shorts, ground 

 oats, bran, and lean meat scraps mixed with boiling water. This can be vai-ied by 

 giving cooked vegetables instead of the ground oats or bran. Clover hay cut in 

 small pieces, steamed and mixed with the morning feed, is one of the best of green 

 fuods and cannot be given too often. 



For the Spanish family a more stimulating morning mess may be made of shorts, 

 cornmeal, ground oats or barley with ground meat or meat scraps in judicious 

 quantity every morning, with a modicum of black or led pej^per. Vary b}'' mixing 

 boiled potatoes or other vegetables in lieu of the ground oats or barley. Steamed 

 clover hay at any time. 



In cold weather Indian corn may be fed to the fowls for the last meal. 



It is taken for granted that the fowls have comparatively comfortable quarters, 

 with puie water to drink in regular suppl}^ ; the chill taken off the water ; the grain 

 warmed in cold periods and the other directions, as given in detail in report of last 

 year, carried out. 



Should the foregoing treatment be found too forcing, the soft feed may be cur- 

 tailed and more green stuff and oats fed. It is quite likely thin shelled eggs may 

 be laid and it is a sign that the hens are getting too fat. As a preventative mix fine 

 ground 03'^ster shells, or sand, or both in the morning soft feed. 



A QUESTION AS TO FEED ANSWERED. 



A correspondent in the North-West Territories asks, " What kind of feed am I 

 to use when I want to give my hens a rest after laying all winter and previous to 

 breeding fi'om them ?" In reply it may be stated that a cessation of the stimulat- 

 ing soft feed and a gradual change from wheat to oats will, in most cases, have the 

 effect of stopping production. Care must be taken that grit is regularly supplied, 

 (as it should always be) to aid digestion, or else the change to oats may result in 

 some of the hens becoming crop bound. The change from a generous to a non- 

 stimulating diet, or vice versa, should be gi-adual. Should the hens have a run out, 

 meanwhile, the lattei- is not likely to occur. 



THE FARM LAYERS. 



Owing to lack of room, some of the male birds remained with the laying stock 

 during the winter. When the additional building, in course of erection, is com- 

 pleted it is intended to keep the laying and breeding stock apart. In cases where 

 the hens had laid all winter, and were used as breeders in spring, they were allowed 

 a rest and the eggs for hatching were saved, after laying recommenced. 



BREEDING PENS MADE UP. 



The breeding pens were made up as follows : — 



AVhere no dates a:e given the ninie birds remained in the ]iens all winter, 



