258 FEEDING 



season, it is well to substitute oil meal for the gluten meal in 

 the same proportion; this will hasten the growth of feathers. 

 As soon as the birds get on green grass range the alfalfa can 

 be gradually omitted and the meat scrap reduced in amount. 

 The extent to which this mash can be cut during the summer 

 depends upon the character and amount of range allowed 

 the birds. 



The mash is compounded especially for Leghorns. When 

 heavier breeds are kept, such as Plymouth Rocks or Wyan- 

 dottes, especially yearling or two-year-old hens, if they have 

 a tendency to put on an excess of fat the best policy is to 

 restrict their allowance of mash, by opening the hopper 

 during the afternoon only, thus compelling the birds to work 

 during the morning for the cracked grain fed in the litter 

 at the morning feeding. The following modification of the 

 above mash will prove very economical for summer feeding 

 when the hens have considerable range and plenty of growing 

 green feed. 



Mixture No. 1. Summer Dry Mash 



Kind of Feed Amount by Weight Amount by Measure Cost 



Wheat bran 200 pounds 380 quarts $3.20 



Wheat middhngs 100 pounds 120 quarts 1.75 



Gluten feed 50 pounds 40 quarts .85 



Ground oats 100 pounds 100 quarts 1.65 



Meat scrap 25 pounds 21 quarts .75 



Total 475 pounds 661 quarts $8.20 



The average cost per 100 pounds is $1.70. 



As a ration to supplement the dry mash, the following 

 may be given: A scratching ration of whole grain in deep 

 litter, every morning, both winter and summer, at nine 

 o'clock. The primary object, aside from its nutritive value, 

 is to induce the birds to take plenty of exercise. About five 

 pounds of this ration to 100 birds can be fed on the floor 

 of the house, or under some shelter where the litter is dry, 

 and where there is protection from cold winds (Fig. 144). 

 The scratching ration is made up as follows: 



