66 The Business Hen. 



may be fed in moderate quantities to hens before it begins to decay. It 

 can be cooked and thrown down for the hens to pick over. We must 

 remember that the food has a decided effect upon the flavor of the egg, 

 and that decayed or foul-smelHng stuff will surely taint the egg. Sunflower 

 seeds can be fed in small quantities. They, with buckwheat, are useful 

 just before and during the hen's moult. It is thought by some that sun- 

 flower seed will actually hasten the moult and induce the hen to shed her 

 feathers early. While cotton-seed meal is fed in some parts of the South, 

 we do not advise its use in the average flock. Linseed or some form of 

 meat is much safer. Boiled beans or cow peas are relished by hens. We 

 prefer to feed them mixed with boiled potatoes or corn meal. 



GENERAL ADVICE. — A vigorous hen in full laying will eat about 

 five ounces of well-balanced food each day. What is called a "mainte- 

 nance ration" means the amount of food actually required to keep up the 

 body of the hen without laying or gaining in flesh. When a mature hen 

 stops laying and becomes idle 2y^ or three ounces of food will be ample 

 for her needs. When hens run in an orchard or in a grass park in the 

 Summer it is a wise plan to feed the whole grain in the grass, sowing it 

 broadcast, as one would for seeding. The hens hunt and scratch for it, 

 and if not overfed will get it all. The exercise is just what they need, and 

 they find many bugs and eat much grass while hunting for the grain. A 

 mixture of equal parts of corn, oats and wheat is good for this broad- 

 castmg. Hens like a variety, and some win pick out corn one day, oats 

 another and wheat at another time. Where hens can run at large they 

 pick up 40 per cent or more of their food. The skilled feeder comes to 

 know when they have had enough. Hens of the different breeds vary in 

 their food habits. The lighter breeds, like Leghorns, seem to be more 

 intelligent than the heavier fowls, and are not so likely to over-feed. The 

 Leghorns will stand a heavy feeding of corn better than Plymouth Rocks 

 or Brahmas. The latter should have a fair supply of meat and seem to 

 require green food even more than the lighter fowls. Some authorities 

 have claimed that it is not necessary to keep oyster shells or other sup- 

 plies of lime before the hens, because the food contains enough of that 

 substance. The hens do not agree with these authorities, for they empty 

 the shell boxes and would not do so if the lime were not needed. We 

 should keep a full supply of lime before them. Ground bone is excellent 

 for this purpose, but in the Eastern States oyster shells are usually cheaper. 

 It is the practice of some farmers to haul a load or two of shells from 

 neighboring fish markets every year. These are scattered on the ground 

 in front of the barn, and the wagon wheels and horses' hoofs grind them 

 up gradually. The hens help themselves as they feel inclined, and if the 

 shells do not wear down as fast as needed a few minutes' work with an 

 old hammer will hurry them along. 



