HOW TO GET EGGS 109 
“From the hen’s view-point, water is worth just as much as 
feed, for she can’t make an egg with either one alone. Therefore, 
the man who furnishes high-priced feed but neglects the water 
supply is making a great mistake, and will have to be content with 
a limited egg-yield. 
“THE VALUE OF WATER TO THE HEN 
“The value of water to the hen is shown by the many uses to 
which it is placed. 
“First, water is used to soften the food ready for digestion. 
‘«¢ Second, water in the form of blood acts as a common carrier and 
carries the nourishing parts of the food from the digestive organs 
to the tissues where needed, and carries worn-out or exhausted 
tissues to the different organs to be eliminated from the body. 
‘Third, water is important as a factor in egg-production, as it 
enters into the composition of the egg as well as the hen’s body, the 
egg being about 75 per cent. water. 
“Fourth, water is important in equalising the temperature of 
the hen’s body, which is done in two ways. First, cold water 
lowers the body temperature, while warm water holds the tempera- 
ture high. For this reason, we give hens cold water in summer 
and warm water in winter. The second method of cooling is by 
evaporation which is a cooling process. The temperature of the 
human system is reduced by the evaporation of sweat from the 
surface of the body, but with the fowl, the evaporation takes place 
principal'y through the breathing organs, which accounts for the 
hen holding her mouth open and breathing rapidly on a hot day. 
‘“‘ Observations of experiments conducted at this station lead us 
to believe that the first three uses of water are very much the 
same at all times, and that the wide range in the daily consumption 
of water is influenced by conditions of the weather. 
«The two lessons which stand out prominently as a result of 
experiments are : 
“First, water is just as important as feed. 
«Second, once or twice each day is not often enough to supply 
the water.” 
