PRAIRIE FARMER'S POULTRY BOOK 



overcome scorbutus (scurvy) and lameness and help prevent 

 sore eyes due to dietary deficiency. 



Rations for Egg Production 



If hens are to be forced for egg production a narrower 

 ration may be used than when they are to be fed for breeding 

 purposes. If a breeder is fed a forcing ration her vitality may 

 be so reduced that when the breeding season comes her eggs 

 will not be fertile or the chicks that hatch from them may lack 

 in vigor. 



It would be wisdom, therefore, to pen the hens intended for 

 breeding purposes in separate pens and allow them a wider 

 ration. The laying hen requires a nutritive ratio of 1 : 5. It 

 has been found in the egg-laying contests that one pound of 

 carbohydrate will produce 3j^ yolks and that one pound of 

 protein will produce 16% whites. This results after the needs 

 of the hen's body are supplied. 



To produce one hundred yolks, therefore, would require 

 30 pounds of carbohydrate ; and to produce one hundred whites 

 would require six pounds of protein. This gives a ratio of 

 one to five, that is, when there is five times as much carbo- 

 hydrate in the food as protein there will be produced an equal 

 number of whites and yolks. This shows the necessity of a 

 balanced ration, for if the protein is deficient there will be too 

 few whites produced for the number of yolks, and the process 

 of completing the tgg will be delayed. The two rations given 

 below will be found helpful. It is generally supposed that a 

 hen will consume the same weight of grain ration as mash. In 

 actual experience, however, a hen usually consumes twice as 

 much grain as mash. This would unbalance our ration and 

 supply the hen with a greater proportion of carbohydrate than 

 the nutritive ratio requires. That these statements are true 

 is attested by the fact that during the winter months, when 

 forcing rations are used, the hen needs more carbohydrate to 

 maintain heat and energy. If left to her own instincts and the 

 materials are placed before her, she will see that the proper 

 balance is maintained for egg production. This cannot be 

 done if the ration is lacking in any essential. 



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