226 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



like!}' to inherit this disease, but is liable to have a weak constitution 

 and thus fall an easy prey to roup or some other malady. Small, lazy, 

 worthless individuals in the flock are usually from parent stocks which 

 have been affected by disease. One of the first things to do then is to 

 discard all fowls that are not strong and healthy. 



PROPER FOOD, EXERCISE^ ETC. 



In order to have a healthy, vigorous flock they must be provided with 

 the proper amount and variety of food, plenty of fresh, clean water, 

 good pure air, and exercise when under confinement. It is not our 

 purpose to enter into a discussion of feeding here, but merely to say 

 that fowls should have a variety of grains, fed regularly, with proper 

 care as to quantity. Exclusive rations of corn should not be expected 

 to produce eggs that will hatch vigorous, thrifty chicks. But good re- 

 sults should be secured from a mixture of grains, such as corn, wheat 

 and oats, fed in connection with a mash feed composed of such materials 

 as bran, middlings, corn meal and beef scrap, to which green food is 

 added unless the fowls have access to a grass range. If the range sup- 

 plies a good many insects the beef scrap need not be fed. Judgment 

 must be used, as no absolute rule for feeding can be given. Owing to 

 the freedom fowls enjoy in and about the farm yard and the great 

 variety of suitable food secured, there is less necessity for the purchase 

 of commercial foods on the farm and the formation of highlv artificial 

 ration, than in the case of the village or town producer. 



SELECT NATURAL AND WELL DEVELOPED PRODUCERS. 



A hen suitable to become the mother of the future laying stock should 

 be a good producer herself, and one fed to stimulate production. Among 

 all classes of domestic animals we find some that are naturally prolific, 

 while others in the same flock or herd possess this quality in greatly 

 varying degrees, a few being absolutely sterile; the same is true of 

 poultry, some hens are abundant layers, while others equally well fed 

 and cared for are almost worthless. The prolific layer is the one that 

 should be saved for the parent and fed to lay, as we believe that a hen 

 which has been fed and stimulated to lay a large number of eggs is 

 more likely to produce offspring possessed of the same quality, than 

 one equally well fitted by nature to produce, but which, owing to poor 

 care or neglect has not laid many eggs. 



EARLY LAYERS. 



Frequently a pullet starts laying before the others and continues to 

 lay well all the year; such a one should be carefully watched and her 

 eggs saved, providing sufficient size was attained before she began lay- 

 ing. Other pullets will lay a few eggs in the autumn and then cease 

 until spring; these should, of course, be discarded. Those that begin 

 laying prematurely are not desirable, as they should attain the size 

 characteristic of their breed before commencing, and then lay con- 

 linuously during the rest of the fall and winter. Pullets of the smaller 

 breeds frequently begin laying at five months of age, but these are 

 usually too small and although they may lay constantly, are not large 



