POULTRY FEEDS AND FEEDING 



closer together, they feel thick, and are less flexible. 

 When a hen is laying, the distance between the pelvic 

 bones should usually be one and one-half inches or more, 

 while if she is not laying it will be less than one and one- 

 half inches. 



METHODS OF FEEDING HENS AND PULLETS 



The common practice with most poultrymen is to use 

 the same methods of feeding for different breeds and 

 birds of the same breed which are of different ages. It 

 is more profitable, however, to give the pullets a more 

 highly stimulating ration than the older birds and Leg- 

 horns can be fed a ration containing a larger per cent of 

 meat scraps than can be used for the heavier birds. 



A mash containing 25 per cent of meat scrap can be 

 fed to advantage to Leghorn pullets while the meat scrap 

 can be reduced to from 18 to 20 per cent during the second 

 and third years. This is especially true of Plymouth Rocks 

 and if they have a tendency to become overfat, it is 

 advisable to feed not more than 20 per cent meat scrap 

 to pullets, which can be reduced to 15 per cent in their 

 second and third years. It is very essential to make the 

 older hens work for their feed, especially hens of the 

 larger breeds, in order to keep them from becoming too 

 fat to lay well. 



MANAGEMENT OF BREEDING STOCK AND MALE BIRDS 



While hens for egg production are often kept confined 

 throughout most of the year, breeding stock should be 



190 



