29 



the night before and allowed to stand on the back of the stove 

 where they will be warm and nice in the morning. Occasion- 

 ally I give a breakfast made up of three parts by bulk of Biles' 

 Fourex* and one part by bulk of corn meal. When I have 

 plenty of small potatoes I make up a dish composd of boiled 

 mashed potatoes, green ground bone and mixed feed or bran, 

 which the fowls eat with avidity. I put in about four quarts 

 'potatoes, two quarts green ground bone and two quarts mixed 

 feed or bran season and serve hot. The table scraps, which 

 I feed every morning, add variety to my standard ration. 



*HiI's' Fourex (XXXX) is a by-product from distillers' grain*. Very rich in fat and 

 protein. A valuable new food, when mixed with one-third its bulk of corn meal. 



FEEDING FOR EGGS SUMMER METHOD. 



Mv method of feeding in summer is substantially the same 

 as it is in winter, except that corn is struck entirely off my list 

 and wheat and oats made to take its place. In summer, too, I 

 give my hens grass and weeds from the garden for green food, 

 instead of mangels, cabbages, apples and onions. We are for- 

 tunate here in Hampton in having close at hand an inexhausti- 

 ble supply of food not usually found. Every northeast storm 

 washes up on the beach tons and tons of seaweed, which may 

 be had for the hauling. A load of seaweed dumped into a yard 

 in summer will breed millions of small white worms, which 

 the fowls eat greedily. These worms, or maggots, are said to 

 be better for the hens than wheat, and certainly form a very 

 cheap addition to the daily bill of fare. 



FEEDING FOR EGGS CAUTION. 



In what goes before I have given my method of feeding 

 but this method will need to be adapted to individual cases. No 

 hard and fast rule can be laid down. The poultryman must 

 study his flock, and learn by experience he must mix brains 

 with his mash. The large criticism that will be made is that I 

 feed too heavy and do not make my birds exercise enough. 

 Bear in mind, however, that I have been talking about laying 

 stock. Birds that are kept over for breeding are fed the same 

 things that I feed my laying stock, but are not fed so much and 

 are made to exercise more. In one case I am after eggs and a 

 good many of them ; in the other, I am after fertile eggs that 

 will hatch strong chicks. If you notice that your birds are be- 

 coming fat and lazy, drop an occasional soft-shelled egg, and 



