MAINB AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 49 



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 

 c^ay, 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 gi^ain. 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 : — 



Bran 100 lbs. 



Corn meal 50 lbs. 



Daisy" flour, or other low-grade flour 50 Uds. 



Meat scrap 100 lbs. 



Birds kept over from one season to another are managed in 

 the following way. The birds com_pleting their pullet year 

 which are to b'e kept as breeders are continued on the usual 

 pullet ration mitil after they have finished their moult in the 

 early fall, usually in September or early October with the birds 

 here. Immediately after the moult is over and the hens are 

 well feathered out they are put on the dry mash ration given 

 above. They are fed in the w^y described until the beginning 

 of their second breeding season. At this Station the breeding 

 pens are usually mated up about the first of February. During 

 the breeding season all birds, both hens and pullets are fed the 

 following mash : 



Wheat bran 200 lbs. 



Corn meal 100 lbs. 



Daisy flour 100 lbs. 



Gluten feed 100 lbs. 



