76 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I906. 



trough can then be filled and the roof drawn back into place 

 without lifting it. This arrangement is the best thus far found, 

 for saving food from waste and keeping it in good condition. 

 When dry mash is used in it there may be considerable waste 

 by the finer parts being blown away. When used for that 

 purpose it is necessary to put it in a sheltered place out of the 

 high winds. 



In separate compartments of the troughs, they are given 

 cracked corn, wheat, oats, dry meal mixture, grit, dry cracked 

 boHe, oyster shell and charcoal. The dry meal mixture is of 

 the same composition as that fed to the laying hens, described 

 on page 78. The troughs are located about the field in suffi- 

 cient numbers to fully accommodate all of the birds. 



The results of this method of feeding are satisfactory. The 

 labor of feeding is far less than that required by any other 

 method followed. The birds do not hang around the troughs 

 and over-eat, but help themselves, a little at a time, and range 

 off, hunting, or playing and coming back again, when sa 

 inclined, to the food supply at the troughs. There is no rush- 

 ing, or crowding about the attendant, as is usual at feeding 

 time, where large numbers are kept together. 



For the last 7 years we have gotten the first eggs when the 

 pullets were from 4 months and 10 days, to 4 months and 20 

 days old. There is some danger of the pullets getting devel- 

 oped too early, and commencing laying too soon for best results, 

 under this system of feeding. In order to prevent such condi- 

 tions, the houses should not be located too close to each other,, 

 or to the feed troughs, and a large range should be given them 

 so they may be induced to work, which they will do, if given 

 the opportunity early after their removal to the fields. Should 

 . the birds show too great precocity, and that they are liable to- 

 commence laying in August, the supply of cracked corn in the 

 feeding trough is reduced, or taken away altogether, which 

 causes them to eat the wheat, oats and dry meal instead, and 

 they continue to grow and develop without getting too fat and 

 ripe. 



During the last days of October it is our practice to move the 

 pullets into the laying house. 



