FOODS AND FEEDING 



any great extent, because it is a hardship on the 

 fowls and is more expensive than to furnish the 

 needed carbonaceous food. 



The most satisfactory ration for laying hens is 

 generally regarded as i : 6 ; that is, one part of 

 protein to six parts of carbohydrates. Many au- 

 thorities consider this too wide a ration, but much 

 depends upon individual conditions and circum- 

 stances the breed, the physical condition of the 

 fowls, the time of year, etc. With large, sluggish 

 breeds a narrower ration might give the better 

 satisfaction, say, for instance, i : 4^ or i : 5. Of 

 course the proportion should be kept as nearly cor- 

 rect as possible, but a slight difference one way or 

 the other is not such a vital matter, because fowls 

 seem to have the ability to adapt different feeds 

 to their own present demands and requirements. 

 The smaller and more active the fowl the wider 

 the ration that can safely be fed to it, because it 

 will the more rapidly use up the surplus carbon, 

 inasmuch as they have more energy to maintain. 

 All fowls need a wider ration in cold weather than 

 in warm or hot weather, because more is needed at 

 that time in order to maintain their bodily heat. 

 Growing stock require a wider ration than mature 

 birds, and stock to be fattened require a wider 

 ration than laying or breeding stock. 



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