POULTRY 365 



are most numerous in the territory surrounding New York 

 City, where white eggs sell for more than brown ones. 

 In Boston, the brown eggs are more in demand. 



314. Feeding of Poultry. There are a number of points 

 in which the poultry ration should differ from that of other 

 farm animals. Chickens require over twice as much feed 

 as is required for the same weight of cattle, and this food 

 must be largely grain. This makes the requirement of 

 net nutrients much more than twice that of cattle. The 

 nutritive ratio should also be very narrow, as the high 

 protein product requires a feed high in protein. Laying 

 hens require one pound of protein for about 4.8 pounds 

 of carbohydrates. (See Appendix, Table 7.) 



About one-third of the grain ration should be ground 

 and fed dry in a hopper, the whole grain being scattered 

 in straw, so that the birds will have to exercise in getting 

 it. The ground feed should be at hand during the after- 

 noon, so that the fowls can eat as much of it as they care 

 to after they have eaten the whole grain which is scattered 

 in the litter. If fed in this way, they will not overeat on 

 dry ground feed. The exact mixtures will vary with the 

 section of the country. 



It is essential for good results that chickens have some 

 animal food. This may consist of the insects that they 

 catch, of meat scrap, or skimmed milk. About 10 to 15 

 per cent of the ration should be animal food. 



Egg-production requires large amounts of lime, so that 

 this must be supplied in some form. Cracked oyster- 

 shells are commonly used. Since the hen has no teeth, 

 grit must be available for grinding the food. Usually the 

 oyster-shells do not furnish as much grit as is desirable. 



