AMONG ANCONAS" 49 



How and What to Feed Anconas 



BECAUSE of their naturally hardy constitutions, Anconas don't need to 

 be pampered, milk-fed, and babied. They thrive under severe conditi- 

 ons, where other birds would keel up their toes and die. They lay eggs 

 in cold, drafty, ramshackle houses, when heavier birds would merely exist. But 

 my experience has shown me that under certain sets of conditions, Anconas 

 will produce the maximum. And I am very glad to pass along to you folks 

 who are taking this little journey, some of my thoughts relative to the feed- 

 ing of Anconas. These ideas, of course, will apply with almost equal force 

 to every other breed of poultry particularly when you are after egg pro- 

 duction. 



Here are the two feed formulas I adopted some time ago: 



DRY MASH DRY GRAINS 



Coarse bran ___2001bs. Cracked corn. . 50 Ibs. 



Cornmeal ___1001bs. Wheat . 70 Ibs. 



Gluten feed ...100 Ibs. Heavy white oats. _ . 40 Ibs. 



Ground oats ._ 100 Ibs. Barley . 20 Ibs. 



Standard middlings 100 Ibs. Kaffircorn 10 Ibs. 



Beef scrap .. 100 Ibs. Buckwheat _ 10 Ibs. 



Low grade flour 25 Ibs. Coarse beef scraps 10 Ibs. 



I favor wheat because the grain is small, easily digested, and because it 

 is rich in protein and mineral matter. Corn, when fed alone, has not enough 

 protein and too much fattening and mineral matter. Barley and buck- 

 wheat are also rich in fat. 



Dry mash, bran, beef scrap, oyster shell, grit and charcoal should be kept 

 before your fowls constantly in hoppers. 



During the winter months, when the hens are confined, they should be 

 fed green cut bone, about three pounds to 100 hens per day. Skimmed milk, 

 curdled thick, makes a good substitute for green bone. I get excellent results 

 without feeding wet mashes, but wet mashes are good if not too wet. A 

 mash moistened with milk makes dainty feed for your hens. I get good 

 results with dry mash. 



To insure the proper amount of exercise during the winter, it is best to 

 throw the grain in litter, and compel the hens to scratch for it. 



Green food must not be overlooked. When it is not convenient to feed 

 lawn clippings, sprouted oats, alfalfa meal, cabbage or mangels are splendid. 



