FEEDING AND CARE OF POULTRY 385 



a meal. A heavy feed of grain is given on the litter two or three hours 

 before the fowls go to roost, so that they will go on the perch with 

 full crops. The birds should be examined occasionally after they have 

 gone to roost to see whether they have enough grain. At night it is 

 better to feed a little more than will be eaten than not to feed enough. 

 However, the morning feed must be light enough so that the grain will 

 be entirely cleaned out of the litter before the afternoon feeding. 



The dry mash should be supplied in self-feeding hoppers, to which 

 the fowls may be allowed free access at all times, except in the case of 

 the meat breeds. As these tend to overeat, the hoppers should be kept 

 closed during the forenoon. The green feed is commonly given at 

 noon, as much being supplied as will be eaten in 20 to 30 minutes. 

 For variety, it is well to feed a mash moistened with milk or water 

 about three times a week in a trough. Fresh water should be given in 

 the morning, at noon, and also at the afternoon feeding, except in cold 

 weather. 



In spring and summer plenty of range should be provided, if pos- 

 sible, so that the fowls will not only have plenty of green feed but may 

 also secure most of the animal feed they need in the form of insects 

 and worms. No special precaution need be taken then to enforce ex- 

 ercise, for the fowls will be busy all day hunting for choice morsels. 

 On good range, the amount of additional animal feed supplied may 

 be reduced materially. When ample range is not available, some of 

 the green feeds discussed in the next chapter should be specially grown 

 for the flock. 



Good laying rations for winter. — As is shown in the following 

 chapter, which discusses in detail all the important feeds used for 

 poultry, the poultryman has chance for a wide selection in devising 

 rations for his flock. From the available feeds he should choose those 

 which will provide a well-balanced, satisfactory ration at least cost. 

 Tho the particular combinations of feeds employed will differ widely 

 in different sections of the country, the following rations, recom- 

 mended by Halpin, will be suggestive, as they have all given good re- 

 sults. 



Ration 1. — Feed in deep litter a mixture of 2 parts each by weight of corn and 

 wheat and 1 part each of oats and barley (a light feed in the morning and a 

 heavy one at night). 



Feed in hopper (all the time) a mixture of 100 lbs. each of wheat bran, wheat 

 middlings, and ground corn; 50 lbs. each of dry malt sprouts and meat scraps; 

 and 2 lbs. of salt. 



Feed in trough (3 times a week) the same mixture, moistened with milk. 



Green feed — sprouted oats and mangels. 



Grit, oyster shell, and charcoal, supplied in small boxes or grit hoppers. 



Water — fresh and in abundance. 



