Poultry Meeting at Columbia. 447 



fresh water should be kept before the birds at all times. The 

 egg is sixty-five per cent water and the bird requires large 

 amounts. 



Green food should always be supplied, especially in the 

 winter. It assists in keeping the digestion perfect and is 

 claimed by some to make the digestion of other foods more 

 efficient. Green food may be supplied by feeding sprouted 

 oats (all the birds will eat), cabbage, hung up in the pens so 

 the birds can peck it, wurtzels, clover hay steamed or soaked 

 over night, alfalfa, etc. Lack of green food also results in 

 pale-colored yolks, an objection to some who cater to a fancy 

 trade. 



METHOD OF FEEDING. 



Poultry feeding depends quite largely on the individual 

 feeder. He should gain the confidence of the hens; should 

 treat them in such a manner that they are not excited. He 

 should understand their needs and cater to their tastes. In 

 other words, as much depends upon the feeder as upon the feed. 

 He should appreciate the hen's nature, and by varying the 

 ration keep the birds on edge. 



One of the great factors is compelling the birds to be 

 active. Unless a bird keeps busy there is danger of her becoming 

 too fat. This checks the circulation of blood in the ovary and 

 lessens the number of eggs. The feeding should be liberal. 

 Unless a hen has some fat she will not lay. To feed enough 

 so that this condition exists and not have the hen too fat is the 

 problem that the successful feeder has solved. In the morning 

 feed grain. Bury it deep in the litter. This induces exercise. 

 At noon feed the mash dry. This can be done by opening the 

 dry mash hopper or feeding a definite amount in a trough. 

 At night feed grain, all the birds will eat. Let no bird go to 

 roost unless its crop is full. A few visits to the henhouse after 

 the birds have gone to roost will indicate whether the correct 

 amount is being fed. They should be fed all that they will 

 consume and yet be kept active. Some people feed the ground 

 feeds as a wet mash. It requires greater skill to do this than 

 to feed dry feeds. A little wet mash, however, is desirable. 

 This also affords the feeder a chance to vary the ration. The 

 feeding of wet mash should be limited. The amount fed should 

 not satisfy Ahe bird's hunger, but rather stimulate it. A hand- 



