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FEEDING FOR EGGS: A WOMAN'S WAY. 



"In the morning I feed a mash made of about two parts bran 

 to one part ground oats. For every 50 hens I put in two quarts, 

 good measure, of green ground bone; also some vegetable, well 

 cooked and mashed. This latter I vary as much as possible, 

 using water in which vegetables have been cooked to moisten the 

 mash, providing it is not so strongly flavored as to be disagree- 

 able to the hens, as sometimes happens if turnips have been 

 cooked in it. The proportion of vegetable matter giyen to hens 

 in winter is much smaller than that given in summer, and also 

 smaller than the other ingredients in the mash. In summer cut 

 grass or clover and vegetable tops are substituted for the roots 

 given in winter and are fed separately whenever convenient. 

 Dried beef scraps are substituted in summer for the ground bone 

 in winter and are fed in smaller quantities, perhaps half the 

 amount. I season with salt rather less than I would for my 

 family. I never use pepper, but occasionally ginger. When 

 using pepper and seasoning highly with salt, I" have always had 

 more or less hens die of liver trouble in spring. My mash is 

 always thoroughly scalded and frequently well cooked, as in 

 winter I often mix it the night before and let it remain in the oven 

 over night. Animal meal I consider a cheap food which will 

 make hens lay ; but I cannot use it, even in much smaller quanti- 

 ties than the rule, on account of its laxative qualities. 



"My hens always have warm water in clean drinking vessels 

 in winter and cool water in summer. 



"The second and last feed comes after dinner, when I hoe or 

 rake into the litter on hen house floor two parts whole oats to one 

 part wheat. The litter is six or eight inches deep, and the feed 

 is given generously enough to make them feel rewarded for 

 scratching up to the next afternoon. 



"Oyster shells I prefer to throw in fresh every day, especially 

 in the latter part of the winter, when they get too busy laying to 

 eat the proper amount of lime. 



"A neighbor adopted my way of feeding, but with pullets 

 bought of me failed to get like results. I attribute the failure to 

 the fact that he was afraid of wasting feed, and if he could possi- 

 bly find a grain would not feed more. In the morning I feed all 

 the hens will eat with a relish. Miss L. M. S. t Auburn, Me. 



