PRACTICAL FEEDING OF POULTRY 



most readily secured by feeding the scratch mixture in a 

 litter on the poultry house, having a litter of straw 2 to 4 

 inches deep. Straw makes the best litter but other ma- 

 terial may be used if more available or cheaper. Saw- 

 dust makes a fairly good litter. Cotton hulls are used 

 somewhat in the South for this purpose and fine white 

 sand which is free from dust is used in some sections. 

 Leaves make a good litter for a short time but break up 

 very quickly and soon become very dusty. New litter 

 should be added whenever necessary to keep up the re- 

 quired amount, and the litter should be changed when- 

 ever it becomes badly soiled and gets wet. 



Poultry houses with dropping boards which are prop- 

 erly cared for, do not usually need to have the litter en- 

 tirely changed more than 2 or 3 times a year. By feed- 

 ing the scratch mixture in the litter the hens are always 

 kept busy by scratching for their feed. Plenty of litter 

 on the floor of the poultry house is very essential where 

 the hens are confined to the house during the winter 

 months. The need and value of litter on the floor of the 

 poultry house is not so great where the hens have a good 

 range or large yards in which they are allowed to exercise 

 and work. 



In addition to the feed it is very important that a 

 constant supply of fresh cool water be supplied to the 

 fowls. As an egg is about 65 per cent water the necessity 

 for plenty of fresh water in the production of eggs is 

 readily apparent. During the summer the water should 

 be placed in the shade or at some point where it will keep 



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