The Question .Box. 177 



pounds of corn meal, 100 pounds of ground oats, 200 pounds of 

 wheat bran, 100 pounds of linseed meal, 25 pounds of buckwheat 

 middlings, and 25 pounds of animal meal, scalded, is best. I find 

 that a laying lien requires one-eighth of animal food in its ration. 

 For whole food, oats and wheat mixed half and half, is the best. 

 At night, if the weather is cold, add some corn. We feed the 

 " warm mash " at noon. 



Mr. Chapman. — The best method of feeding fowl for egg pro- 

 duction, in my estimation, is a light grain ration in the morning, 

 buried in the litter, consisting of equal parts of corn, wheat, 

 barley, oats and buckwheat. At noon a feeding of beets, cabbage 

 or other green food, followed by a warm mash, consisting of boiled 

 potatoes, cut clover bay, meat and ground grain, not exceeding 

 one-half the bulk. The ground grain to be one-quarter corn, one- 

 quarter oats and one-half wheat bran. Skim milk, oil meal or 

 meat in varying quantities as the fowl will stand, watching for 

 indications of bowel trouble and constipation. 



Mr. Van Dreser. — Our ration is: Morning — wheat or oats 

 or buckwheat scattered on the floor in litter. 10 o'clock — Mash, 

 composed of 100 pounds each of corn meal, wheat bran and wheat 

 middlings and 25 pounds beef scrap, all mixed with hot water and 

 fed warm. 



Question. — Is there any way 'to make hens moult in August ? 

 How? 



Mr. Van Dreser. — Yes. Reduce the feed about the first of 

 August so they will stop laying and loose flesh for about 10 days, 

 then start to feed them with a rush, feeding heavy feed and sun- 

 flower seed. The oil in the sunflower seed causes the old feathers 

 to drop off and new ones to grow in their places, so that they are 

 replumed and ready to lay in early winter, when eggs are high. 



Question. — Will cabbage affect the flavor of the eggs? 



Mr. Chapman. — Not if fed in small quantities. I have heard 

 it asserted, however, that it would, but I do not think that cab- 

 bage is affecting the flavor of many eggs this winter. 



Question. — Does Mr. Stevens consider carrots or raw beets a 

 perfect substitute for raw cabbage for winter feeding to the hens? 



Answer. — I should prefer mangels to either of them. In some 

 markets there is objection made to the feeding of cabbage to lay- 

 ing hens, because of the flavor it imparts to their eggs. Sugar 

 beets, however, are not as injurious as is cabbage. 



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