96 FIRST LESSONS IN POULTRY KEEPING. 



quality of the articles used. Anything of this kind that is not sound, sweet and good will pro 

 duce bad effects more quickly in hot weather than at any other time. 



flanner and Times of Feeding. 



Whatever may be said of dry feeding for winter, and close confinement, it must be 

 admitted that for hens on range in summer it is a method economical of time, and saving 

 the poultryman from the necessity of giving close attention to every feeding, for when grain 

 for a day, or two if need be, can be broadcasted over a range where it scatters enough to give 

 the fowls all needed exercise in getting it, the task of feeding becomes light. 



In more restricted quarters the amount which may be thrown out at one time if smaller, and 

 when we get down to small yards, times and ways of feeding differ from the winter practice 

 only in that the days being long it is much easier to make a satisfactory adjustment of the 

 regular meals. 



One of the great difficulties in winter feeding is to give the fowls in those shortest days 

 enough for their own paaintenance and good egg production, and yet not overwork the digestive 

 organs. In summer, with it possible to feed in the morning several hours earlier, and in the 

 evening several hours later, there is time for three full meals, and rests for the digestive 

 system between them. That is why fowls often eat more in summer than in winter, and why 

 when they do they stand heavy work better. 



Perhaps the poultry keeper does not want to get up early enough in the morning to give his 

 fowls ao early breakfast. If so, he should see that they have something left over from the 

 night feed to give them an inducement to be busy until he is ready to give them their break- 

 fast. In very hot weather indeed at all times in summer, but especially in very hot weather, 

 the fowls should get out as soon as it is light, so that they may have opportunity to feed and 

 exercise while it is cool and comfortable. When the heat is great they will keep still and go 

 without food rather than make any effort to get it, and when they do this we see the same 

 result as when they eat too liberally of green food to the neglect of the more substantial grain 

 diet needed to sustain egg production. As my poultry houses are never closed, the hens get 

 out as soon as it is light. Where houses must be closed for safety the poultry keeper should 

 be about early and let the hens out. If he isn't willing to do that I should not expect to find 

 him enthusiastic over summer eggs. 



The comment just made suggests a word in regard to attention to fowls in summer. There 

 is little doubt in my mind that many instances of poor summer laying are due to lack of atten- 

 tion to the needs of the hens. Too often the poultryman's interests at this season are centered 

 on the coming generation of chicks to the neglect of the old fowls. When this is the case there 

 is generally mismanagement somewhere. It may be that there is not room to carry both. In 

 that case the stock should be reduced to what he has facilities to handle to good advantage. 

 There is never a gain, and nearly always there is a loss, in overstocking a poultry plant. 



Special Feeding. 



Let us take up now the special feeding of such hens as we have designated as Lot 2 and 

 Lot3. 



Lot 2 contains hens which are probably to be kept over, and therefore should be given care 

 and feeding that would build up the general condition of the hens, as well as cause them to 

 put on flesh. So while being in all other respects treated like the hens in Lot 1, they should be 

 fed heavily HS long as the appetite seems good. Give them a good rich mash, and enough of it 

 so that they will leave a little over, which, within an hour or so, they will come back and 

 clean up. Have grain where they can get it by foraging, or scratching at anytime through 

 the day. Then, just before dark, give grain in troughs, or what mash they will eat up quickly. 

 If a second mash is used at night, do not continue it too long, or it may produce indigestion. 

 If fowls show any tendency to looseness of the bowels, give more grain and less mash, or use a 

 dry mash. 



From ten days to three weeks of such feeding should show quite clearly what most of the 

 hens are going to do. Some will begin to lay as soon as in good condition. Others will grow 

 fat very fast. Some may neither fatten nor laj. 



