198 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



THE RESULTS HOPED TO BE ATTAINED. 



The results hoped for in having the houses constructed as outlined, briefly 

 summarized are : — 



1. By a southern exposure to secure as much sunlight and warmth as possible. 



2. The sunlight being a great incentive to scratching, dusting in the earth, etc. 



3. To prevent by constant exercise any opportunity to indulge in feather eating. 



4. By having the nests dark and secluded, to prevent egg eating. 



5. By the comparatively low ceiling to keep the layers as comfortable as pos- 



sible during the night, by economizing the heat of their bodies. 



6. By the liberal quantity of sand, fine gravel, grit, &c., &c., placed on the floor 



of scratching-room, or shed, to make the conditions as natural as possible 

 and so afford every inducement to constant activity. 



THE PROPER TREATMENT OP THE LAYING STOCK IN ABOVE QUARTERS AN IMPORTANT 



CONDITION, 



Before going on with the consideration of this subject, it must be insisted that 

 the laying stock be under two years of age, and that they should never be allowed 

 to exceed that age. The winter quarters may be according to the most approved 

 designs; the treatment the very best known, and yet eggs will be few in number if 

 the hens are over the age mentioned. It has been remarked, in previous reports, 

 that in the case of Leghorns, Minorcas or Andalusians another year may be per- 

 mitted, but except in the case of experts, it is best to be on the safe side. And in 

 the case of selecting breeders from the best layers, it may be necessary to keep a 

 hen two and a half or three years of age, but at present we are strictly speaking of 

 how best to secure eggs in paying quantities. It is like going over old ground to 

 repeat the instructions so fully given in 1889 report as to the treatment of the 

 laying stock, but as the conditions as to housing, &c., &c., in the present case are 

 somewhat different, it may be admissible so to do. 



THE EARLY RATION. 



The first essential to success is proper feeding. If a mash is prepared for 

 the morning ration only enough to satisfy should be fed. On page 107 oi 1889 re- 

 port, the following rule is laid down re the early morning ration: "ii'eed only 

 enough soft food to barely satisfy, never so much as to gorge. When a hen has had 

 so much food that she will go into a corner and mope, she has had too much and if 

 the overfeeding is continued, will soon cease to lay." The rule is emphasized on the 

 present occasion. Where opportunity permits the cutting, or breaking up (not 

 grinding) of green bones they might be given for the morning ration and nothing 

 else. There is really no rule as to the quantity of green bones to feed, so much 

 depends upon the breed, but one pound to 15 or 20 hens, may be mentioned as a 

 guide. If the hens are exercising well and laying freely, and the latter generally 

 follows the former, a small quantity of grain may be fed at noon, but it must be 

 so scattered in the straw, or buried in the sand, that the hens will have to search for 

 every grain of it. A plan that has been found successful is the suspension of a 

 cabbage by a string from the ceiling, about three feet from the ground, so that the 

 hens will have to jump to get at it. Substituting a piece of tough meat, raw, or 

 partially cooked, will be found to answer well. Experience has proved that green 

 stufi" in the shape of any of the dry clovers steamed and mixed in the morning mash, 

 or exposed by itself, is much relished by fowls. When mixed in the mash it should 

 be cut up into inch pieces. "Vegetables of some kind must be kept before the layers 

 at all times. It is astonishing the quantity of grass, fowls and chickens eat, 

 when at large, and if we are to make the conditions of their artificial treatment as 

 natural as possible, green food must be liberally supplied. It is not necessary to 



