FEEDING AND FEEDS 127 



replace the more expensive protein food to a certain 

 extent. More corn should be fed during winter. 

 On this account No. 5 will be found a better winter 

 ration than No. 4. No. i will also probably give 

 better results than No. 2 during the winter. 



VALUE OF GOOD METHOD 



Unless properly fed no ration, however well 

 balanced or mixed, will give best results. Method 

 of feeding plays an important part. It is necessary 

 that the hen be kept robust. This can best be done 

 by keeping her active. Hens on free range often 

 do better than confined hens solely because of the 

 active life they lead. Poultrymen need not trouble 

 much about the vigor of their hens if the flocks are 

 kept imder the free-range system, but when con- 

 fined in yards great care must be taken to en- 

 courage exercise. The lazy hen is the unproduc- 

 tive hen. 



Exercise is best supplied by providing a roomy 

 scratching shed covered deeply with even 8 to 12 

 inches of straw. This straw should be rather dry 

 and whole grain should be scattered in it. There 

 Avill be no waste ; the fowls will find the last kernel. 

 The poultryman's skill will be tested to feed enough 

 at a time without having to feed too often, so as to 

 keep the hens busy most of the day. When too 

 much feed is given at a time the fowls soon be- 

 come satisfied and will stop eating. It is not essen- 

 tial to keep fowls scratching all the time. The 

 more active breeds, especially Leghorns, do nearly 

 as well when fed from hoppers. When given a 

 yard and a floor they will take sufficient exercise 

 whether forced to scratch for feeding or not. For 



