576 COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



production throughout the year, with it must go proper feeding 

 and Hving conditions. The hens must be given the comforts of 

 summer in winter, which means that the supply of bugs and 

 worms, animal food, must be substituted with milk or meat 

 scraps; green food found on the summer range must be supplied 

 by cabbage, pulped vegetables, mangels or sprouted oats; the 

 birds must be induced to exercise, and the living accommoda- 

 tions must be dry, well ventilated and sanitary. 



Not Forced Feeding. — In short, the aim of artificial lighting is 

 not to force egg production by condiments and highly concen- 

 trated foods, which are dangerous expedients, rather to feed a 

 normal ration, as in the summer time, and to give the flock a 

 longer period in which to partake of this normal ration, in which 

 event the birds will eat more, thus stimulate their body more and 

 have a surplus for egg production. 



Means Better Health. — It is believed that artificial lighting can 

 be made to improve the health and vitality of a flock for many 

 reasons. The best hen is the laying hen. She is happiest when she 

 is in a laying condition. She is active. She works early and late. 



During the long nights fowls get cold and hungry about mid- 

 night, when fed the last meal about 4 o'clock. In this state they 

 must wait for about seven hours, until the ordinary feeding hour 

 of seven o'clock in the morning. If they were fed at eight or nine 

 o'clock in the evening, and again at five o'clock in the morning, 

 there would be no interval of an empty crop, or at best a very 

 short one. This is a healthful condition of affairs. 



Probably the most beneficial effect of all is that, by using 

 lights and distributing the hen's egg production more uniformly 

 throughout the year, instead of massing the egg yield during a 

 short period, the wear and tear on the bird is less. 



The use of artificial light can be abused — used to excess, of 

 course. The day must not be lengthened too long or the purpose 

 will be defeated. Every method for increased egg production 

 must be practiced with moderation. Hens must have sufficient 

 time on the roost for rest, or they will break down. The aim 

 should be to maintain an egg production of from fifty to sixty per 



