A GUIDE FOR KEEPERS OF POULTRY 285 
contains an excess of protein and wide when it contains 
an excess of carbohydrates. If we accept the ratio 1 :4.6 
as a balanced one for hens, a ration containing more than 
4.6 of carbohydrates to 1 of protein would be called a 
wide ration, and one containing less than this quantity 
would be called a narrow one. A thorough understand- 
ing of this subject gives the poultrykeeper a chance to 
feed to produce the desired results at the least expendi- 
ture for feedstuffs. 
In the tables given under the head of “Feed” the fats 
have been reduced to terms of carbohydrates and added 
in to save trouble in computing the-value of several feeds. 
RATS IN POULTRY HOUSES.—Rats may be kept 
out of a poultry house by sinking wire netting all around 
it to the depth of a foot. Dig a ditch around the poultry 
house and line the inside bank with wire netting, 1” mesh, 
1’ wide and replace the earth. \Vhen the house stands 
off the ground the wire should be wide enough to reach 
from the lower edge of the wall to the depth of 1’ below 
the surface. If an earthen floor is used the use of a stone, 
brick or cement foundation sunk into the ground 1’ will 
prevent rats from getting in. 
REGULARITY.—Fowls should always be fed at regu- 
lar times. If this is done they will soon learn to know 
when feeding time comes and will not worry until after 
that time passes. Above all feed fowls so as to keep 
them in good condition. Many a poultryman has thrown 
away the profits of his flock of laying hens by letting 
something prevent his feeding them properly for a few 
days. On Sundays and holidays fowls should be fed the 
same as on other days and as regularly. A flock of laying 
hens fed by a hit-or-miss system will never produce at 
its best. 
