FEEDING THE LAYING HENS. 



Feed Fattening Foods Sparingly — Green Food and Grit Are 

 Essential — A Good Mash — ^The Best Grain is Cheapest to 

 Feed — No Success Without Fresh Air. 



By Victor D. Caneday. 



We are now entering upon a season of the year when the 

 question of feeding is a very important one, and while it is a 

 fact that we cannot write any definite rules that will hold good 

 in all cases, still by giving our experience we may benefit 

 those who as yet have little confidence in their ability to feed 

 and care for a flock of hens so as to obtain reasonably good 

 results in winter egg production. In fact, in the first place 

 we have learned that while a variety of food is desirable, 

 marked changes in kind and quantity of food is one of the 

 most certain things to cripple the egg record. The less 

 changes and the more gradual the changes (when such are 

 necessary) that one_ makes in either the care or feeding of 

 a flock, the better the egg record will be. Another thing, 

 our work . with the biddies has taught us that ordinarily 

 there is more danger of overfeeding with soft foods than 

 with whole grains, therefore, we are very careful to keep 

 within safe bounds as to the quantity of soft food given 

 the fowls. To prevent overfeeding with grain, the whole 

 grain should all be scattered in a litter in the scratching sheds 

 or rooms so as to compel the hens to work for what they 

 obtain. There is no one thing the equal of exercise to keep 

 a flock in fine, healthy condition. 



Avoid Fattening Foods. 



To prevent the hens becoming too fat we avoid feeding 

 faltten'ing foods Such as ^ corn, barley, buckwheat, etc. We 

 feed rabre oats than anything else to the mature hens, as 

 it is the very best ■ grain for egg production we have. We 

 begin inthe moltingJi&eason to feed a little wheat with the 

 oats and in winter feed about one-third wheat and two- 



