RATIONS AND METHODS OF FEEDING 317 



three elements, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and include the 

 compounds, fats and oils. In addition to these three com- 

 pounds we find water and ash or mineral matter, representing 

 the inorganic compounds. 



The egg, as stated before, contains a large amount of albu- 

 men or nitrogen-containing substances, which must be built 

 up from the protein constituents of the food. The same may 

 be said of a growing animal, hence feeds for these animals 

 must contain considerable protein. Therefore, oats and wheat 

 in different forms, as well as meat scrap and green feeds, make 

 up the greater protein content of these rations which give the 

 best results in egg production and growth and development. 



In mature birds, where it is the desire to finish them — that is, 

 fatten them for market — ^it is necessary in order to obtain the 

 best results to feed a ration containing much carbohydrates 

 and hydrocarbons. 



To summarize, we might say that the protein, or nitrogen- 

 containing compounds of the food, repairs the body-waste 

 caused by exercise and Hving processes, as that brought about 

 by the beating of the heart and by respiration. The carbo- 

 hydrates and hydrocarbons or starches and fats are utilized 

 in the body for combustive purposes for the production of 

 energy and to keep up the body temperature. Any nutrients 

 in excess of the body requirements to make good tissue-waste 

 are stored up as fat or go for egg production. 



FOR LAYING HENS 



To secure a goodly number of eggs it is necessary to make 

 the proper selection of hens. In breeding, one should select 

 for longevity, use late molters, select early producing pullets, 

 use fall and winter layers, select heavy eaters, early risers, and 

 late retirers, and procure mature birds. Pullets for fall laying 

 should be hatched the first week in April. It pays to keep 

 pure bred poultry because they are more reliable in breeding. 

 They are greater egg producers, superior in meat quahty. 

 With pure bred one should secure better results in feeding, 

 better hatching quality, less broodiness, more attractive ap- 

 pearance, and a more uniform egg in size, shape, .and color. 



