Q2 WE FARM FOR A HOBBY 



to eat, twenty-four to thirty-six hours after they 

 are hatched, I feed my growing stock all they will 

 take of the best complete feed. It makes for good, 

 husky hens that do not borrow from egg quality 

 to supply bodily wants. Once they have reached 

 laying age I limit the quantity of feed somewhat, 

 although still giving more than current practice 

 calls for. Any charge for overfeeding is well sal- 

 vaged in the weight and quality of the meat, when 

 a hen has finished her laying career and is ready 

 to be eaten. Furthermore, whereas the average 

 poultryman expects a big percentage of his hens to 

 die of exhaustion at the end of the laying season, 

 all but a negligible few of mine come through fat 

 and sassy. In sections of the country where, as here 

 near Philadelphia, chickens should be kept penned, 

 the expense of fencing runs and yards is consider- 

 able. Adequate feeding eliminates much of that 

 expense: a determined and ingenious hen can get 

 out of almost anything if she is hungry; if she has 

 plenty to eat she will not even try. Except for dust- 

 and sun-baths, my hens seldom leave the laying 

 house, even though it is wide open. 



Uniformity of feed makes uniform yolk color. 

 I wish it were as easy to solve the problem of fla- 

 vor. Feeding and management do a lot to regulate 

 it, yet it still remains a matter of individuality; do 

 what one may, some eggs still taste "eggier" than 

 others. 



