28 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



however, corn is the cheapest grain for poultry, and should 

 form about one-half the scratch feed in any case. 



Our method of feeding layers at the college is as follows: 

 the dry mash is kept before the hens all the time. From 

 3.30 to 5 P.M., depending upon the time of the year, they are 

 given scratch feed in the litter, about 50 per cent more than 

 they will eat at once, so that they will have some left to work 

 on in the morning while the attendants are watering and 

 doing some of the other chores about the plant. In the morn- 

 ing, from 6 to 9, as the other work permits, they are fed 

 more of the scratch feed ; and this is all the feeding that is 

 done under the dry-mash system. But since, as a rule, we 

 wish to force our layers to the highest possible egg produc- 

 tion, we also feed a wet mash once a day, about 2 p.m., 

 which is a convenient time because it works in very well 

 with the other duties of the attendant. The same formula 

 is used for the wet mash as for the dry, but when we have 

 no mangels, beets or cabbages we use cut alfalfa in the mash, 

 making it compose about one-third of the bulk. Green or 

 succulent food is given every day or every other day, in the 

 form- of cabbages, beets, mangels, turnips or carrots, which, 

 as a rule, are split open and laid on the floor or in a trough 

 for the hens to pick, though vegetables like carrots are usually 

 run through a feed cutter and cut fine. Grit, oyster shell 

 and water are kept before the hens constantly. Potassium 

 permanganate, enough to give a good red color, is placed 

 in the drinking water, especially in the fall, when the weather 

 is very changeable and the hens and pullets are apt to take 

 cold. It is a disinfectant, not a medicine, and a teaspoon 

 level full is sufficient for 12 or 13 gallons of water. 



The question is often asked how much to feed a flock of 

 hens, 10, 20, 25, and so on. Those who have had experience 

 know that this question cannot be answered definitely, as 

 there are a large number of factors that govern the amount. 

 The principal ones are as follows: the size of the hen; the 

 activity of the hen ; the number of eggs laid ; ability to digest 

 food ; size of the eggs ; kind of house ; kind of treatment. 



If any one will send us these data, we can answer the ques- 

 tion fairly well, but without them it is impossible. 



