172 Farm Poultry 



the form of insects, worms and other low forms of 

 animal life. These, with grain in some form, make 

 a most perfect food for laying hens. If the grain 

 food is not supplied to them by the poultry-keeper, 

 they may still find it in the form of seeds of various 

 plants. In other words, it should be the aim of 

 the poultry-keeper to supply the food and conditions 

 which tend to produce eggs most abundantly. 

 While it is true that the physical organization of 

 fowls is such that they will be unable to maintain 

 throughout the year the abundant supply of eggs 

 of the springtime, yet this will be most nearly 

 approached if the conditions are springlike the 

 year round. 



Exercise. In the spring season the fowls that 

 are given free range obtain abundant exercise. It is 

 important to provide exercise for all noted egg 

 breeds, as these fowls are active in disposition. 

 Close confinement without exercise is not condu- 

 cive to the best results, although the quality and 

 quantity of food provided may be most excellent. 

 While exercise is required for egg production, it 

 is not desirable when the finest quality of meat is 

 sought, particularly during the last of the fattening 

 period, so that what may be said of exercise for egg 

 production should not be applied to fattening fowls. 



Quality of food. It has been clearly shown by 

 experiments that the food consumed by laying 

 hens affects the flavor of the eggs. In extreme 



