218 POULTRY BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



just the composition of the egg to the food that may be fed. 

 If the right elements are not present in the food she refuses 

 to make eggs. The composition of the egg does not vary to 

 any extent. 



The egg contains one-quarter ounce of protein. If the 

 hen be fed on wheat and nothing else she may eat four 

 ounces per day. Of that she will need about three ounces 

 to supply bodily needs. This leaves one ounce to make eggs 

 with. In an ounce of wheat there is about one-tenth of an 

 ounce of protein. Now, supposing the protein is all digest- 

 ed, which is not the case, she will not get enough protein to 

 make half an egg a day. But an egg every two or three 

 days would not be so bad at certain seasons. The egg, how- 

 ever, contains other things. It contains also about one- 

 quarter ounce of mineral matter, chiefly lime for shell. An 

 ounce of wheat contains less than one-tenth as much min- 

 eral matter as one egg of two ounces contains. The egg also 

 contains fat. It contains less than one-quarter ounce of 

 fat, but the wheat would contain three-quarters of an ounce 

 of fat formers. 



"What would be the result if the hen were fed on wheat 

 alone ? She would get enough protein to make an egg about 

 every three days ; enough lime to make an egg every 12 days 

 and enough carbohydrates and fat to make three eggs a 

 day. "What will the hen do in such a quandary ? She could 

 put more fat into the egg to make up for lack of protein. 

 She could make a counterfeit article, but she will not. Un- 

 less she has the right materials to make it with, she will not 

 make the egg. "What would probably happen would be that 

 she would lay an egg every three or four days, every two out 

 of three soft shells, and the surplus fat and carbohydrates 

 would be wasted or put on the hen in the shape of surplus 

 fat. This is assuming that the hen would continue to con- 

 sume four ounces of wheat a day and maintain health. In 



