ANTHRACITE COAL ASHES 87 



most daily. As ashes are perfectly sanitary we de- 

 cided to cover the entire chick run with them, which 

 we did, and every few days, through the brooding 

 season, a fresh coating is necessary, as the youngsters 

 consume so much of the surface constantly. 



Better Than Charcoal 



Next, we sifted ashes and filled the hoppers in the 

 Laying Houses with them. The layers ate them in 

 the same way in which they consumed wheat. For 

 an experiment we stopped feeding charcoal entirely, 

 and found that the ashes supplied everything that the 

 charcoal did, with none of the dangers, for there 

 seems to be no doubt that where hens consume large 

 quantities of charcoal they are very susceptible to 

 colds. 



Large heaps of Anthracite ashes are now kept 

 within a short distance of every Colony House on the 

 Range, and the use of these ashes has very materially 

 reduced the quantity of Grit and Shell consumed, 

 thus representing a considerable economy. 



Until the use of Anthracite ashes came in on the 

 Range we placed Grit in receptacles near each Colony 

 House, and the amount consumed was really remarka- 

 ble. As soon as the ashes were placed there the Grit 

 was deserted, and there practically was no consump- 

 tion of it at all, and after a few weeks we ceased to 

 supply it and have not done so now for years. 



Since the use of the sifted ashes in the Laying 



