64 



PRACTICAL POULTRY PRODUCTION 



FEEDING THE BREEDERS 



The feed for the breeding stock should be of such a 

 nature as to keep the fowls in good condition and at the 

 same time be conducive to the production of eggs. A good 

 ration such as is fed to layers is suitable for this purpose 

 provided it is not of a forcing nature. That is, it should 

 not contain an extremely large amount of meat scrap or 

 meat meal. The birds should be in good flesh and not 

 allowed to become extremely fat. All grains should be 

 fed in a litter so as to induce exercise by scratching for 



^^^M 



Figure 64. — Fowls on free range will give higher fertility and better hatches 

 and stronger chickens than those confined. 



them. When the flock does not have access to some nat- 

 ural supply of green feed, as is not hkely during or preceding 

 the breeding season, it is well to feed green feed in the form 

 of sprouted oats, cabbage, mangels or cut alfalfa or clover. 

 Care should be taken to see that the breeding pen is supphed 

 with fresh clean water each day. In cold weather see that 

 the ice is broken on top of the water pan at frequent inter- 

 vals so as to enable the fowls to drink. A receptacle con- 



