POULTRY KEEPING 191 



Bran and Cottonseed Meal. 



In what way is bran good for chickens? Is cottonseed meal good for 

 them? 



Bran is good for chickens because it is rich in protein and 

 mineral. Young chicks fed partly on bran rarely have leg weakness 

 or any such trouble. Feeding bran to hens helps make shell besides 

 playing a great part in the egg proper. The value of cottonseed meal 

 for poultry is doubtful. It is very hard to digest and requires more 

 energy than heavy laying hens can spare. Flaxseed meal is better 

 than cottonseed meal. Another thing against it is that it is consti- 

 pating. 



Formula for Home-Made Mash. 



Please give a formula for a home-made mash. 



For a small flock mix the following: Bran, 50 pounds; shorts, 

 25 pounds; cornmeal, 20 pounds; rolled barley, 10 pounds; beef scrap, 

 10 pounds; charcoal, 2 pounds; salt, half pound; alfalfa, 25 pounds. 

 Mix all together as well as possible and feed either dry or moist. 



Home-Mixed Chick Feed. 



Please give us a balanced ration for chicks two months old and up. 



One gallon of cracked wheat ; one gallon cracked or whole Gyp 

 corn; half pint millet seed; half pint hemp seed; one quart of oat 

 groats or pearl barley, and two pounds beef scrap. This makes a little 

 finer feed than the average; the millet can be left out for chicks two 

 months old and if small wheat can be obtained it would do as well 

 as cracked wheat. Of course the chicks should have some mash 

 besides. For this, good heavy bran and ground oats and Gyp corn 

 with a little bone meal and beef scrap added will make a good grow- 

 ing ration. Bone should be about five pounds to the hundred and 

 beef scrap about ten pounds to the hundred of other feed. 



Molting After Shutting Up. 



My hens had run of large alfalfa Held, but are now confined to large, 

 well-shaded yards, and in spite of increased feed the egg yield has dropped 

 and the hens are beginning to molt. Am told that shutting hens up at this 

 time of year is unnatural, and that hens will molt again this fall. 



The shutting up at any time of year is unnatural, and there is no 

 difference in time. The molt is most likely the result of a combina- 

 tion of causes, one of them being the change from bugs to bloodmeal. 

 The hens will molt again, but not likely in the fall; it will, be most 

 likely to occur about late December or January and if they molt 

 thoroughly now the other will only be a partial molt. The best thing 

 you can do is to feed them well. Give plenty of green feed and get 

 them through the molt as quickly as possible. Then you will have 

 eggs just about the time they are worth collecting and keep them at 

 it as long as possible. 



