Chapter IV 

 Feeding 



PROPER feeding is the chief secret of success in poultry 

 raising. Large losses of young chickens, failure to get 

 winter eggs, and many diseases and other troubles are due to 

 improper feeding. 



We must first understand the needs of the fowl's organism 

 and then study faithfully how to supply those needs. Soipe 

 of the rations which follow have been worked out in detail so 

 that the reader can understand how the nutritive ratios are 

 determined. All the rations, except the one pertaining to fat- 

 tening, require a double mixture, i.e., a grain mixture and a 

 mash mixture. 



It would be very difficult to compound a balanced ration 

 such as the hen requires for egg-production from whole grains 

 because they would be deficient in protein, but when we can 

 add to the grain mixtures such protein concentrates as are 

 found in animal and vegetable meals, it is quite easy to provide 

 a balanced ration for the laying hen. 



The use of such a ration explains why the hens lay in 

 winter. Under the old system of feeding whole grains, eggs 

 were a great rarity in winter. Now it is the rule for the farm 

 flock to give a good account in the months when eggs are 

 supposed to be scarce. Hens always lay in summer time be- 

 cause then they can secure insects and green feed and thus 

 balance the grain ration that the farmer provides. Under 

 scientific feeding they will respond just as faithfully in the 

 winter season. 



Principles of Feeding 



If you will note the following outline of the composition of 

 the body and egg of a fowl you can understand that scientific 

 feeding consists in bringing to the flock all the elements needed 

 for growth and maintenance and production, and these ele- 

 ments must be provided in a manner economical and conducive 

 to health. 



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