56 METHODS OF POUI^TRY MANAGEMENT. 



scribed above, not only have the birds been much freer of 

 digestive troubles and diseases involving the liver, but also there 

 has been no moulting in the early winter after a short spurt of 

 egg production in the fall months. On the contrary the egg 

 production on this plan begins in September and October and 

 gradually and steadily increases through the winter months. 

 During the past two years while this method of feeding has 

 been used, there has been hardly a pullet in winter moult, 

 whereas on the old system of feeding such birds were common 

 every year. 



FEEDING THE HENS, COCKEREES AND COCKS KEPT OVER THE 

 WINTER FOR BREEDING PURPOSES. 



Observations made in connection with the work of this Sta- 

 tion, as well as a study of the literature which exists upon the 

 subject, have led to the opinion that in order to get the best 

 results in respect to the fertility and hatching quality of eggs 

 it is not desirable to feed birds which are to be used as breeders 

 the heavy laying ration which is used to force egg production 

 during the winter months in pullets. The feeding of such rich 

 food has a tendency, it is believed, to reduce or impair the fer- 

 tility and hatching quality of the eggs. Therefore, a plan of 

 feeding birds kept to be used as breeders has been devised with 

 the idea of getting over this difficulty so far as possible. This 

 method of feeding is used for old hens, cockerels and cock 

 birds which are kept from one season to another for breeding. 

 The aim is to keep these birds on as light a ration as is con- 

 sistent with the maintenance of good condition until just before 

 the beginning of the breeding season when they are to be used 

 and then to put them on a more stimulating and richer ration. 

 The scratch food given to this breeding stock is the same as 

 that given to the pullets, namely, corn for the first morning feed 

 and a mixture of wheat and oats for the second feed of the 

 day, both scattered in the litter. If, however, there is any ten- 

 dency for the yearling hens kept as breeders to get unduly fat 

 during the winter corn is not fed as a litter grain. The hens, 

 under such circumstances, are simply given the mixture of 

 wheat and oats at both feedings. 



The dry mash used for these birds kept as breeders has the 

 following composition : — 



