54 METHODS OF POULTRY MANAGEMENT. 



weather sets in in the fall. In other words, the birds are 

 brought from free range into a condition of restricted range, 

 but with better pasturage on the restricted than on free range. 

 The yards are freshly seeded and have not been trampled down 

 or burned and dried out by the sun, as is the grass on the open 

 range from which the birds are taken. In this way the attempt 

 is made to have the transition from open range conditions to 

 house conditions as gradual as possible. After about two 

 months, or occasionally even a little longer of restricted range, 

 the birds are finally shut up in the curtain front house for the 

 winter season. 



Further in accordance with this idea of gradual change it is 

 thought wise not to put the pullets which are brought in from 

 the free range conditions abruptly on to the heavy, forced- 

 laying mash which it seems to be necessary for them to have 

 during the winter months if they are to do their best in the way 

 of egg production. It has been said that a hen will not lay her 

 best unless she is on full feeding. This is quite true, but it is 

 probably equally true that a great deal of harm can be done to 

 a pullet in regard to her future egg production by abruptly 

 bringing her from free range conditions into restricted yards or 

 to entire confinement in the house and putting her on a heavy, 

 rich laying mash like the one which was formerly fed at this 

 Station. On the contrary, it seems reasonable to bring the birds 

 more gradually on to this rich ration. It is in accordance with 

 this idea that the dry mash feed which is now used at the Sta- 

 tion has been planned. The formulas and method of feeding 

 this new dry mash are given below. It will be noted that the 

 mash is made richer in successive months. These formulas are 

 planned on the assumption that the pullets will be brought into 

 the winter laying quarters sometime during the month of Sep- 

 tember. 



