46 METHODS OF POULTRY MANAGKAIEXT, 



In planning" the new dry mash ration consideration was given 

 to the physiological conditions under which the birds developed 

 and under which they were placed in the laying houses. It is 

 evident that the bringing of the birds in from the range upon 

 which they have grown from little chickens, into the laving 

 houses, is apt to be a very violent and abrupt transition. It 

 has seemed in stu:!ying the hire's in the fall of the year that this 

 change was an important time in the life of the bird, and that 

 the results during the subsecjiuent winter with reference to egg 

 production depended much upon the wa}^ the transition from 

 range conditions to the laying house was made. It seemed 

 advisable both on general grounds and from observation of the 

 birds themselves to make this change as gradual as possible. 

 AA'ith this idea in mind the pullets have been brought into the 

 houses from the range much earlier during the past few 3a"ars 

 than was the custom before. It is the custom at the present 

 time to bring in the pullets from the range as soon as possible 

 after the first of September. 



When the pullets are brought in as early as this it is not, of 

 course, advisable to shut them up entirel}^ in the houses at once. 

 On the contrary, the work is planned in such a way that there 

 is always a freshly seeded yard full of green grass for the birds 

 to run in after they are brought into the house until cold 

 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 3'ards 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 la}' her 



