FEEDING FOB EGG PRODUCTION 219 



most desirable. When the lights are used in the evening 

 it is necessary to provide some way to dim the lights before 

 turning them out completely so that the hens can see their 

 way to the roosts. When the lights are used only in the 

 morning, such a system is not necessary. 



Kinds of lights to use. The various means of illumi- 

 nating the poultry house are by the use of electric hghts, 

 gasoline lamps or kerosene lamps. The former is by far 

 the most satisfactory method and less dangerous from the 

 standpoint of fire than the other two methods. Aside from 

 the element of safety, the electric lights can be so arranged 

 that they can be turned on automatically early in the morn- 

 ing by means of an alarm clock. By this arrangement the 

 alarm will go off at a given time and the alarm key in turn- 

 ing will automatically make a contact so as to turn the 

 lights on. When gasoline or kerosene lamps are used, 

 it is necessary to light them at such a time as it is desired 

 to have Hght. When electric lights are used, it is usually 

 planned to provide one light of from 40 to 80 watts for 

 each 100 hens. One gasoline lamp will usually be sufficient 

 for the same number of fowls. When kerosene lamps are 

 used, a reflector should be provided for each lamp and four 

 such lamps should be arranged for each 100 hens. In 

 other words, sufficient light should be provided to enable 

 the hens to see sufficiently to eat. 



Methods of feeding. Methods of feeding fowls in illum- 

 inated pens differ little from those suggested in this chapter. 

 Some poultrymen, however, prefer to feed scratch grain three 

 times a day at morning, noon, and night instead of twice 

 daUy, believing that the extra grain feed is necessary 

 to keep up the body requirements during the winter months 

 when artificial lights are used. Another plan is that of 

 scattering some grains in the litter after the fowls have gone 

 to roost, so they will have it to eat in the morning. 



