232 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



9-10 EDWARD VII., A. 1910 



We are frequently advised to take our cue from natural conditions in the ^winter- 

 housing and feeding of our birds. It would doubtless be well for both the poultry and 

 the poultry keeper if this good advice were more extensively practised. A hen running 

 at large during the summer season supplies herself with a variety of food. She 

 supplies herself with all that is requisite to make the egg, egg-shell, to grind up the 

 food in her gizzard and to keep herself in robust health. In picking up this variety 

 of diet, she has to make some effort, which means exercise. She keeps her body almost 

 free from lice by vigorously dusting in dry and fine earth, preferably road dust. She 

 exhibits a decided preference for roosting in the branches of trees, where she can have 

 plenty of fresh air, rather than going into a stuffy poultry house. And we should learn 

 our lesson from the foregoing, as to the proper feeding, treatment and housing of our 

 birds. It is evident that the nearer we come to the natural, in the treatment of our 

 fowls, the greater will be our sviccess. The following information is given in response 

 to numerous inquiries for the same : — 



A PROPER RATION FOR USE DURING WINTER, 



A frequent request received is for a suitable ration for use during the winter 

 season. The following will be found to give satisfactory results, whether given by the 

 hopper or by other methods — : 



Morning. — Wheat, or at times buckwheat, in quantities of. 8 to 10 pounds to 100 

 hens. Scatter in the litter on the floor of poultry-house or scratch-shed. 



Noon. — Steamed lawn clippings or clover hay three or four times per week. If 

 thought necessary, give 5 pounds of oats to 100 hens. Scatter in litter on floor of the 

 pen or house. 



Afternoon. — Mash composed of such ground grains as are in most abundance. 

 Mix these with hot water and feed when cool, in quantities of 3 or 4 ounces to each 

 hen. The following ground grains have been found to be effective when mixed into 

 mash, with one part of meat meal : 



Shorts 2 parts. 



Ground oats 1 " 



Cornmeal 1 " 



The above ground grains mixed in the proportions specified, will be found suitable 

 for feeding by the hopper method also. A full description of this method was given 

 in the report of 1906. The usual practice is to intimately mix the ground grains and 

 to put them into one compartment of a hopper, usually divided into three parts. The 

 second division of the hopper is frequently filled with ground oyster shells and grit, 

 and the third with beef scrap, a coarser form of the meat-meal used in the wet mash. 



The following whole-grain ration has been found an effective egg-producer during 

 the past two winters, viz. : One-third wheat, one-third buckwheat, one-third oats. The 

 grains were fed in conjunction with roots, cut bone and grit — at the rate of 3 to 5 

 pounds per day to 24 hens. 



PROPER FOOD AND TREATMENT FOR YOUNG CHICKENS. 



As pointed out in many previous reports, the farmer who hatches out his chickens 

 during the first week in May will get the best results in steady growth and early 

 maturity of the chicks. The following method of feeding will be found suitable for 

 hen or incubator-hatched chickens : — 



For the first thirty-six honrs after hatching, little or no food should be given. 

 The chicks require careful brooding more than anything else. Much depends upon 



