elements are not supplied to complete the eggs. This tends 

 to make her fat and further interferes with egg production. 

 The egg yield depends to a very large extent on the proper 

 balance of white-forming and yolk-forming elements. Any 

 single grain or combination of grains does not provide suffi- 

 cient white-forming nutrients to balance the yolks. White- 

 forming elements are also used for blood, lean meat, nerves 

 and feathers, and so when provided in small quantities, fre- 

 quently are not available for eggs. Unless you feed the 

 proper balance of both elements above body maintenance, 

 you cannot get the best results. 



Three-fourths of the food eaten by the average hen is used 

 for maintenance of her body. This leaves one-fourth for the 

 production of eggs. The number of eggs the poultry raiser 

 gets, depends on the aijiount of yolk-making and white-mak- 

 ing material contained in the one-fourth. If this one-fourth 

 is all yolk-making material or all white-making material, you 

 won't get any eggs, for a hen can't lay a yolk without a white 

 or a white without a yolk. 



The following table shows the number of yolks and whites 

 it is possible to produce from 100 lbs. of each of the ingred- 

 ients mentioned: 



Yolks Whites 



Com 255 134 



Kaffir 254 125 



Wheat 242 182 



Barley 203 145 



(Average 25 lbs. of each) 239 147 



As a hen cannot lay half an egg it is seen that a mixture 

 of these grains can produce only 147 eggs, though there are 

 elements for 239 yolks. 



A balanced ration for laying hens is a scientific blending 

 of suitable ingredients in the correct proportions to make 

 the greatest equal number of white and yolks above the body 

 maintenance of the hen without waste. Heavy layers will 

 produce more eggs from the same amount of feed. 



SELECTION OF BREED 



It is generally said that the breed to keep is the breed that 

 has the strongest appeal to you personally. Then you will 

 have the greatest possible interest in your flock and give 

 them the best attention and care. 



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