POULTRY KEEPING 575 



a galvanized iron feed-trough in suitable lengths and soldering a strip 

 of three-quarter-inch mesh galvanized chicken-wire over the top. 

 The surface of the wire should be about an inch below the edges of 

 the trough to prevent the throwing out of grain. 



The ordinary wooden V-shaped trough can be similarly 

 adapted; care being taken to cut the wire so that there will be no 

 long points of wire to injure the chickens. (Cornell B. 248.) 



(Publications quoted from and consulted: Agr. Dep. F. B. 

 357; Colo. B. 164; Ind. B. 146; Ark. B. 99; Pa. B. 87; West Va. B. 

 98; Cornell B. 246; Me. B. 193; Conn. B. 36; Kansas B. 150.) 



FEEDING AND CARE. 



The problem of feeding is one of great importance, and should 

 be carefully considered, for on it depends to a large extent not only 

 the general health of the birds, but also the economy which pro- 

 motes success. It is a subject, however, which should be studied with 

 a large amount of common sense, for there are no hard and fast rules 

 which can be laid down as applying to every case. The price of 

 feeds and the general environment should be considered in deter- 

 mining the right rations. 



For the largest profit a good proportion of the eggs should be 

 secured during the winter. If two extra eggs per week can be ob- 

 tained from each hen a good profit will be made, while if the prod- 

 uct is increased by only one egg per week in winter, this one egg 

 will pay for all the feed the hen eats. To obtain this greater produc- 

 tion, not only should the fowls be young and of a good laying breed, 

 but the feeder should have a full knowledge of the proper feed and 

 its preparation. 



The nutriment in the feed of laying hens serves a twofold pur- 

 pose to repair waste and furnish heat to the body and to supply the 

 egg-making materials. As only the surplus over what is needed for 

 the body is available for egg production, the proper feeds should be 

 fed in sufficient quantities to induce this production. 



In supplying feed to fowls there are three kinds of constituents 

 which should be present in certain fairly well fixed proportions if 

 the desired results are to be obtained most economically. These 

 constituents are mineral, nitrogenous, and carbonaceous, all of which 

 are contained in corn, wheat, oats, and barley, but not in the right 

 proportions to give the greatest egg yield. In addition some animal 

 feed and green feed should be supplied. 



In feeding poultry a valuable lesson may be learned from na- 

 ture. In the spring the production of eggs on the farm is an easy 

 matter. Fowls which are at liberty to roam find an abundance of 

 green and animal feed on their range, which with grain furnishes a 

 perfect ration for laying hens. In addition to this they get plenty 

 of exercise and fresh air. So far as lies within his power, then, the 

 feeder should aim to make the winter conditions springlike. 



Systems of Feeding. There are two systems in use for the 

 feeding of fowls, in one of which all the feed is given dry and in the 

 other of which one or more of the daily feeds consists of a moistened 

 mash. For convenience they may be termed the "dry-feed" and the 



