FEEDING FOR EGG PRODUCTION 



205 



for grinding the food, and charcoal tends to absorb gases 

 and poisons. Ordinarily a hen will eat 2 pounds of oyster 

 shell and 1 pound of grit a year. 



Water. The body of a hen is said to contain about 55% 

 water, while the average per cent of water in an egg is 65.5%. 

 Thus it will be seen that water is most essential and a plen- 

 tiful supply of clean fresh water should always be available. 

 Fifty laying hens will require about 4 to 8 quarts of water 

 daily. 



Condiments and egg tonics. The object of so-called egg 

 tonics, or condiments, is to increase the palatabihty of 

 the ration and stimulate the fowls' appetite, with the result 



Figure 203. — Oats in the process of sprouting. 



that they eat more feed and produce more eggs. Ordinarily 

 fowls that are properly fed and managed do not require a 

 condiment or tonic to produce satisfactory results. Some 

 poultrymen, however, resort to a condiment to stimulate 

 production especially when the fowls are in poor condition. 

 An example of such a tonic may be made as follows: Mix 

 equal parts of capsicum, ground cloves, allspice and ginger. 

 This mixture is fed in the proportion of one teaspoonful to 

 each quart of mash twice weekly. 



