SYSTEM OF FEEDING 215 



General Usage. — Scratch feeding is used to supplement dry- 

 mash feeding on large utility plants, and nearly every such flock 

 of adult birds in the entire country is fed at some time of the day 

 by this system. 



Hopper Feeding of Cracked Grains. — In some cases it is diffi- 

 cult to secure good litter for the floor of the house, or it is desired 

 to reduce labor of daily feeding; then it may be well to use large 

 hoppers for feeding of cracked or whole grains. For growing chicks 

 on the range, the feeding of cracked grains from self-feeding hoppers 

 is a very common and efficient practice, greatly reducing the labor 

 and increasing efficiency. 



The advantages attendant on this method are the reduction of 

 the labor item; and, where no litter is present, it causes the birds 

 to exercise to a limited extent. 



Disadvantages. — Hoppers used for this purpose are usually of 

 commercial types, and it is found in actual practice that 

 they do not always work properly, which results in the birds 

 being neglected. In some cases they feed too abundantly. It 

 eliminates almost entirely the personal attention of the poultry- 

 man, which is so essential. It does not provide enough physical 

 exercise. 



General Usage. — This system is rarely used with laying stock, 

 but is quite generally used on the range in the rearing of the grow- 

 ing chicks. It is sometimes used on utility plants to supplement 

 the night feeding of cracked grains in litter. 



The Best System. — For the average laying flock the best system 

 to follow, both winter and summer, is a combination of scratch 

 feeding of cracked grains in deep litter at night, and the hopper 

 feeding of dry mash. This requires the least amount of labor 

 consistent with the greatest efficiency and the proper personal 

 attention. 



Recommended Laying Rations. — Only rations designed for the 

 feeding of laying hens are here discussed. Rations for other pur- 

 poses ^\\\\ be found in the chapters discussing brooding, rearing, 

 and fattening. 



New Jersey Rations. — The Agricultural Experiment Station of 

 the New Jersey State Universitj^ has been studying the feeding 

 problem as it applies to layers very much in detail during the past 

 ten years. This work has been especially important, as it has been 

 studied at New Jersey's Egg Laying Contests at both Vineland 

 and Bergen Count}'. In 1915 when the Vineland Contest was in- 

 augurated the following rations and methods of feeding were used 



