44 A POULTRY COMPENDIUM. 



FEEDING FOR LAYING. 



Feed only a small amount of Indian corn, as it pos- 

 sesses too much fat-producing material to be profitable, 

 and a fat hen will not lay as well as one in good con- 

 dition—neither poor nor fat. Plenty of food must be 

 supplied or the hen cannot produce the eggs; a factory 

 cannot run without a supply of raw material. A good 

 system of feeding for laying hens is as follows : 



In the morning give such soft food as you intend to 

 feed, the scraps from the house, mashed potatoes mixed 

 with a small quantity of corn meal and wheat bran. 



At noon oats scattered over the ground, (in winter 

 among straw or chaff to make the hen take exercise). 



At night about equal parts of whole corn and wheat, 

 or wheat alone. 



Green food must be provided. Chopped cabbage and 

 onions are excellent. Animal food also should be fur- 

 nished twice a week. 



A feeding of oats fried in fat, once or twice a week, 

 especially in winter, will be found profitable. 



Lime in some form, (pounded oyster shells unburned 

 is the best), must be provided for egg-shell material. 



Milk is an admirable food for fowls. The more you 

 use it the better you will like it. 



Condiments, such as egg-foods, cayenne pepper, etc., 

 may be given sparingly. Too much will cause the pro- 

 duction of soft-shelled eggs. 



FEEDING BREEDING STOCK. 



The problem here is not so much how to increase 

 the number of eggs as how can the most vigorous chick- 



