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in the morning, using about one to two pounds for twenty birds, the 

 latter amount when they are laying heavy. At noon feed mangels, 

 clover hay and meat food in the winter time ; if we have no meat a 

 small quantity of grain is scattered in the litter on the floor. In the 

 summer time no grain or feed of any description is given. At night 

 they are fed all the sprouted grains, either oats or barley, sometimes 

 wheat, they will eat. During very cold weather in the winter they are 

 fed occasionally corn, either in the morning or evening. Where this 

 is given it is scattered in the litter. 



Those who adopt the dry method of feeding entirely, usually feed 

 a mixture of ground grains dry, from hoppers or troughs. We have 

 not as yet done much experimental work with these methods of feeding, 

 but may do so during the coming winter, unless something unforeseen 

 prevents us. 



Feeding When Wet Mashes are Used. 



The general method of feeding is to give a mash of mixed ground 

 grains moistened with water or milk, in the morning; a little whole 

 grain scattered in the straw covering the floor, at noon ; and all the 

 whole grain they will eat at night. This latter meal is usually fed in 

 the straw. Some poultry men adopt the plan of not feeding the mash 

 until evening. We have been practising this plan for some time, and 

 we like it very well. The objection to the former plan is that the hen 

 is likely to become gorged with food early in the morning, and thus 

 take to the roost for the rest of the day, which is usually followed by 

 hens becoming too fat, and the egg record becoming small ; but, not- 

 withstanding, many successful poultrymen use this method to advan- 

 tage. The objection to feeding the mash at night is that it becomes 

 quickly digested, and the bird has not sufficient food to last it during 

 the long winter night; but this objection can be overcome by giving 

 a little whole grain after the mash at night. 



Some poultrymen feed their fowls but twice a day, morning and 

 evening, and get very good results ; but I favor feeding three times a 

 day. Our plan is somewhat as follows : — 



Early in the morning the fowls are given half a handful each of 

 whole grain. This is buried in the litter on the floor. Thus the fowls 

 get exercise (a very necessary thing) in searching for it and at the 

 same time keep themselves warm. At noon about two handsful of 

 grain are given to a dozen hens in the litter ; they are also given all the 

 roots they will eat, either pulped or whole, as fowl relish mangels, 

 sugar beets and turnips. Cabbage also — a very good green food — is 

 sometimes given. About four o'clock in the afternoon they are fed a 

 mash composed of equal parts of bran, shorts, oat-chop and corn-meal 

 (during cold weather) ; and to this is added about 10 per cent, of ani- 

 mal meal if we have not cut green bone or cooked meat. These foods 

 are thoroughly mixed together in the dry state, after which is added 

 steeped clover, which has been prepared by getting a bucket of clover 

 leaves, or cut clover hay, and scalding it with boiling water. This 



