446 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



has supplied the following information: When laying, a 3 to 

 5-pound hen requires for every one hundred pounds of live 

 weight, or in other words, 20 to 25 birds, 5.5 pounds dry matter, 

 0.3 of a pound ash, 1.0 pound protein, 3.75 pounds carbohydrates, 

 0.35 pound fat. 



Wheat, which is considered one of the best poultry foods, 

 possesses 5.5 pounds dry matter, 0.09. of a pound of ash, 0.62 

 of a pound of protein, 4.25 pounds of carbohydrates, 0.1 of a 

 pound of fat. About three-quarters of the ration is used in 

 supplying the food nutrients necessary for maintaining the 

 body, the other fourth is given over to the production of eggs. 



If the hen eats four ounces of wheat a day and one quarter 

 is used in the production of eggs, what would be the result? 

 One ounce of wheat has one-tenth of an ounce of protein. An 

 egg contains one-fourth of an ounce of protein; so the hen 

 would have enough protein for an egg every two and one-half 

 days. Figuring the same on ash, it would have enough to pro- 

 duce an egg every twelve days. It would have an excess of 

 the other food requirements. This shows that it is poor 

 economy to feed a grain ration or a combination of grains and 

 ground feeds, because they alone are not of a nature to furnish 

 the needs of the hen. Other grains, such as corn, would show 

 a greater difference. 



NEED OF PROTEIN FOODS. 



It is necessary, then, to add something to the ration to 

 balance it up. This is done by adding foods high in protein. 

 For efficient production of eggs one must feed some such food. 

 Foods which are suggested and used are linseed meal, meat 

 foods, such as beef scrap, meat meal, etc., buttermilk, skim 

 milk, and occasionally milk, albumen and fish scraps. 



The following is a good ration for egg production: 



Grain — Corn and wheat, equal parts. 



Mash — Bran, middlings, 2 parts each; corn meal, beef scrap, 

 1 part. 



Twice as much grain should be fed as ground food. 



Another suggested ration is corn and wheat, equal parts, 

 and oatmeal — ground fine with part of the hulls removed — 

 buttermilk or skim milk, in addition to water for drink. In 

 all cases grit and oyster shell should be kept where the birds 

 may have access to them at all times. Failure to supply this 

 will result in a less number of eggs or soft-shelled eggs. Clean, 



