48 METHODS OF POULTRY MANAGEMENT, 



From this time on 50 pounds of linsee.l meal are put into the 

 mash as given for the second month above every aUernate 

 moiTth. That is to say, one month hnseed meal is fed ani the 

 next month it is not. 



This dry mash made as described above is kept before the 

 birds all the time in open hoppers of the type described farther 

 on. 



The advantages which it is believe'l have resulted from this 

 method of feeding the laying pullets are two fold : first, in the 

 good effect on the vitality of the birds, and, second, in its effect 

 on the evenness of egg production during the winter months. 

 It is a fact well known to poultrymen that if pullets are too 

 rapidly forced for egg production in the earlv fall there is a 

 marked tendency for them to moult during the winter at ju-st 

 the time when they should be doing their best work in egg pro- 

 duction. Since adopting the methol of feeling the pullets de- 

 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 procUiction 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 v.dnter moult, 

 whereas on the old system of feeding such birds were common 

 every 3^ear. 



FEEDING THE HENS, COCKERELS AND COCKS KEPT OVER THTE 

 WINTER EOR 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 tendencv, 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 



