REPORT or TJJi: I'OLLTRY MiyAGER 



261 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Can there he too much Exercise? 



At this point it may fairly be asked if too much importance has not been hereto- 

 fore placed on exercise ? There is no intention to belittle the exercising of the fowls 

 as a factor in the winter production of eggs. There is reason, however, to believe that 

 in certain cases, this practice has been carried to an extreme. An experience of 

 twenty-five years has given opportunity to the writer for extended and close observa- 

 tion of many phases of poultry keeping. Frequently, during this period, has he noted 

 extraordinary results from fowls kept under conditions in defiance of popular and 

 almost cast iron instructions. One or two of these observations may be noted as fol- 

 lows: — (1) Fairly good winter egg productiun, followed by strong gei-ms in early 

 spring eggs, which resulted in 10, 11 and 12 robust chickens, out of a sitting of 13 

 eggs. These results were obtained from eggs laid by hens which were almost over- 

 crowded in a roughly constructed unheated house with thin board walls; there was a 

 scanty supply of litter on the floor wliicli v.-as dry earth. '1 liere was little opportunity 

 for exercise in consequence. But the rations which embraced the waste of table and 

 kitchen, were of the most varied nature. It did- seem as if variety in the rations had 

 more beneficial effect than exercise. 



(2) The ' bunching ' of the birds, in the roosting and laying room led me to 

 mention the incident to an enthusiastic advocate of exercise. I told him that I thought 

 the cold made the fowls disinclined to search in the litter for their whole grain food. 

 ' Oh,' he said, ' the birds have to come to the scratching shed to get their whole grain.' 

 ' But,' I remarked, ' they return to the roosting room as quickly as they can and ap- 

 parently take little time for exercise.' ' That is quite possible,' he said, ' but for all 

 that they layed well during- the winter.' ' Yes,' I remarked, ' in spite of their lack of 

 exercise. Your remark tends to confirm previous experience.' 



A Change in the Manner of Feeding Hens and Chickens. 

 The change which has taken place in the method of feeding hens and chickens is 

 certainly radical in its nature. The methods differ in this way, viz. : — 



1. By the old way the food was given to the fov.-ls. 



2. By the new method the fowls are allowed to help themselves to their food which 

 is always before them in hoppers ; hence the title of the ' Hopper system ' of feeding. 



But what is a hopper? The accompanying illustration will 

 show its manner of construction. 



Hoppers are made of difFerent sizes, but usually of similar 

 pattern. Some are divided into two compartments, while others 

 have three and four. One style of hopper which is vei^y commonly 

 used is that shown by the illustration. Two or more hoppers are 

 put in each pen, according to size of the poultry house, and they 

 are usually placed on the walls of the building. The compartments 

 of the hoppers are filled, from time to time, with whole or ground 

 grain, bran, beef scraps, charcoal, grit and broken oyster shells, 

 etc. There are two ways of using the Ilopiier system, viz., (a) by 

 which the feeding of grain, whole or ground, g.rit, etc., (with the 

 exception of meat and vegetables) is entirely done from the hop- 

 per, (b) A compromise plan by^ which the ground grains, bran, 

 &c., with exceptions as noted in* (a), are given in hoppers, but 

 the whole grain rations are thrown in the litter, always to be 

 found on the floor of a properly equipped poultry house. This is done with the object 

 of affording opportunity for the birds to obtain exercise. Where rats or other vermin 

 are present the ground grains are placed, in the morning, in narrow troughs, and what 

 is not used during the day is taken away at night. But the principle is the same, as 

 free access is allowed to the contents of the trough. Another device to prevent possible 

 waste is to cover the projecting lip of the hopper with a lid of tin or galvanized iron. 

 But the best prevention to the depredations of vermin has been found to be that of a 

 concrete floor. 



