56 



SUCCESS WITH POULTRY 



about mid forenoon (and the last feed mid afternoon), to 

 induce even more scratching exercise. To search and scratch 

 for seeds, grains, insects, etc.,' is the fowl's normal method 

 of feeding, and the nearer we approximate to nature's way 

 the better; hence the greatest possible amount of exercise 

 should be compelled. 



FEEaOING FOR EGGS. 



Results Achieved In the Noted "National St(?ckman and 

 Faraier" Egg Contest— Surprising Egg Yield Ob- 

 tained — How It Was Done. 



On January 31, the National Stockman and Farmer, of 

 Pittsburg, Pa., closed its annual egg contest, which contest, 

 was opened February 1. Two hundred and twenty-four pens 

 of fowls were entered by subscribers in this contest, 143 

 of which continued throughout 'the year. Weekly reports 

 were required from each contestant, and the value of the 

 eggs laid was determined according to the current price of 

 eggs in the Pittsburg market, this value being computed on 

 the number of eggs as reported from week to week. The six 

 highest winners and the number and value of eggs were re- 

 ported in the Stockman and Farmer, as follows: 



First— Pen 112, W. S. Stevens, Ohio, eight White Ply- 

 mouth Eock pullets, an average of 289 eggs each, or a value 

 of $5.02 per hen. 



Second — Pen 189, William G. Dodson, Ohio, eight cross- 

 bred pullets, an average of 283 eggs, or a value of $4.82 per 

 hen. 



Third— Pen 115, J. G. Kedkey, Ohio, eight White Ply- 

 mouth Eock pullets, an average of 280 eggs each or a value 

 of $4.00 per "hen. 



Fourth— Pen 88, Z. N. Allen, Pennsylvania, twenty-four 

 Single Oomb Brown Leghorns, an average of 277 eggs' each, 

 or a value of $4.89. 



Fifth— Pen 75, L. E. Bradbury, Ohio, eight Single Comb 

 Brown Leghorn pullets, an average of 270 eggs each, or, a 

 value of $4.64 per hen. 



Sixth — ^Pen 154, Z. N. Allen, Pennsylvania, twelve 

 Barred Plymouth Bocks, an average of 262 eggs each, or a 

 value of $4.24 per hen. 



HOW THEY DID IT. 



In the Eeliable Poultry Journal were printed communi- 

 cations from four of the five above named winners, giving 

 their methods of housing, earing for and feeding the fowls 

 entered in the contest. This is considered the cream :>f 

 practical matter, and these communications are reproduced 

 here for the guidance of persons who wish to largely in- 

 crease the. egg yield of fowls. 



AN AVEIEAGE OF 289 EGGS PEE HEN. 



Ohio, April 15. 

 Editor Eeliable Poultry Journal. 



You asked how I managed and cared for my eight White 

 Plymouth Eock hens during the recent egg contest as con- 

 ducted by the National Stockman. I will be pleased to tell 

 you. This pen consisted of eight White Plymouth Eock 

 hens and one rooster. These eight hens laid 2,312 eggs in 

 365 days, or an average of 289 per hen for the year. Esti- 

 mated by the Pittsburg, Pa., market, week by week, each 

 hen laid during the year $5.02 worth of eggs. They were 

 kept in a house 12x20 feet long, divided into two parts, each 

 10x12, one part being used for a scratching shed and the 

 other part containing the nests and roosts. The building is 

 seven feet high and is a frame, weather-boarded Tnib pine 



siding and ceiled with matched pine flooring, which makes 

 the house very warm. You will notice this pen had plenty 

 of room. The flooir consists of mother earth, and is covered 

 about four inches deep in the fall, with road dust and sand. 

 The building runs east and west, facing the south. 



In the south of the building are two windows, which ex- 

 tend from the floor to the height of the building, thus ad- 

 mitting plenty of sunshine and light, so necessary to the 

 comfort and happiness o"f the fowls. The perches are about 

 three feet from the floor, and under them is the droppings 

 board. A house of this kind in which fowls are housed dur- 

 ing the winter months, with the right kind of food and 

 proper care will insure the poultryman eggs all winter. 



My hens were not out during last December and Janu- 

 ary and they were healthy, happy and contented as if they 

 were roaming the fields during the happy summer months. 

 They were all aglee with song and contentment and shelled 

 out eggs every day even during the coldest days of last 

 winter. 



They have free access to oyster shells and grit. I give 

 them twice a week fresh granulated bone. Their food con- 

 sists of a warm breakfast, equal parts of bran, white mid- 

 dlings and chopped corn and oats, and into this, I put for 

 them, fine beef meal. At noon I feed wheat, which is thrown 

 into the scratching shed. This gives them exercise in ob- 

 taining their noon meal. In the evening they are fed whole 

 corn. During the time from the first of April until the first 

 of November, I feed the same, with this ehange: In the 

 morning their mash is mixed with eold water, and in the 

 evening wheat takes the place of corn. 



Cleanliness is a very important matter dn regard to the 

 maintenance of the health of your fowls. 1 clean the house 

 twice a week during the winter, and in the summer every 

 other day. I have been breeding Plymouth Eocks now for 

 five years, and have not as yet had any disease, and I at- 

 tribute it to cleanliness and proper care. " I am in the poul- 

 try business to stay. 



Wishing the readers of the E. P. J. a prosperous year 

 and a bright an^ happy future, also the editor a loiig and 

 prosperous life, crowned by still greater success, I am,' 



Yours respectfully, W. S. STEVENS. 



WINNER OF THE SECOND PEIZE. 



Mr. William G. Dodson, who .won the second prize, 

 writes as follows: 



Ohio, March 26. 

 Editor Eeliable Poultry Journal. 



Yours of March 19 at hand. My pen of eight pullets that 

 T had in the National Stockman and Farmer contest laid an 

 average of 283 eggs each in one year. The pullets were from 

 a Eose Comb Brown Leghorn eock cTossed on White Leg- 

 horn hens. The house I kept them in was built of lap-siding 

 and lined with Neponset paper and roofed with the same. 

 Not a pin crack was left for drafts to get in. I have a 

 good-sized yard fenced in with wire netting. 



Each morning these pullets had a hot feed of chop, 

 mixed with the water that the fresh bones and beef scraps 

 were boiled in. After that some wheat and oats were thrown 

 in the straw for them to scratch for. At noon they had 

 ground bone and meat scraps and stale bread. At night they 

 had in summer wheat and barley, and in winter corn and 

 buckwheat. 



At all times they had before them fresh water, and each 

 day fresh milk. Twice a week I gave them some butter- 

 milk. They also had at all times a good supply of broken 

 dishes, seashells and limestone, broken dn small pieces, and 



