FEEDING FOR EGG PRODUCTION 



215 



The same feeds or combinations of feeds may be fed through- 

 out the year. During the molting period do not try to force 

 the molt prematurely by special methods of feeding. 



QUANTITY OF GRAIN TO FEED 



Judgment must be used in deciding how much grain to 

 feed as the amount eaten varies with different flocks and 

 at different seasons of the year. For instance fowls will 

 eat more in the spring when laying heavily than in the sum- 

 mer and fall, when production has dropped off. It is advis- 

 able to feed approximately 

 at the rate of one quart 

 of scratch grains and an 

 equal amount of mash 

 (IJ^ quarts) daily to 13 

 hens of the general-pur- 

 pose breeds or to 16 hens 

 of the smaller, or egg, 

 breeds. Hens of the 

 general-purpose breeds 

 having free range or 

 large yards containing 

 green feed will eat about 

 75 pounds of feed in a 

 year, while the hens of the 

 egg breeds such as the 

 Leghorns, will eat about 

 55 pounds in addition to the green feed consumed. 



Relation of the amount of feed to egg production. 

 Concerning the amount of feed consumed at different 

 seasons of the year and the correlation of feed consumption 

 with egg production, the following results from the first 

 Texas National Egg Laying Contest are cited:* During 



*Eeport of the First Texas National Egg Laying Contest, Texas Agricultural 

 Experiment Station. Bulletin 246 by F. W. Kazmier. 



c/ s.a^A^^Trravr a 



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Figure 211. — Working plans for a dry 

 mash hopper. 



