FEEDING FARM POULTRY 275 



gathered and stored; and in most instances it is 

 cribbed where the hens can get at it. They greedily 

 eat of this appetizing grain, and, easily obtainable, 

 they forget their summer habits of thrift and search, 

 and now seek the corn cribs for their daily supply. 

 The result is inevitable; they get fat and quit lay- 

 ing. So long as corn remains they continue in their 

 gluttoning and also fail to lay. Once in this condi- 



MIXED FLOCK EATING GRAIN 



Especially in winter the evening meal usually consists of grain, because 

 it requires longer to digest than m?sh. Thus the fowls are believed to be 

 more comfortable during the night than when their stomachs become empty. 



tion their usefulness as layers has passed, and the 

 sooner they are eaten or sent to market the better. 

 The average farmer needs to correct this error in 

 order to put things in the way for more eggs during 

 winter. This, however, will not suffice. Green food, 

 a variety of grains, and meat scraps are needed to 

 supply the egg-producing materials, that the hens 

 may do their best. See that the hens take exercise 



