RATIONS AND METHODS OF FEEDING 319 



The pullets need an abundance of lime as the stronger the 

 shells the fewer will be broken when shipping to market and 

 the less loss to the producer. Then the pullet needs lime to 

 complete growth. Three pounds of oyster shell, ground to a 

 fine powder, added to each 100 pounds of mash has proven 

 beneficial. 



An Estimate of Possible Production. — The Dominion of 

 Canada gives the following summary: It may be of interest 

 to outline what might be considered reasonable winter pro- 

 duction in Canada from a flock of strong, vigorous, well- 

 matured pullets intelHgently housed, fed, and cared for. The 

 figures indicated are percentages figured on the number of 

 eggs laid per day in proportion to the total number of pullets 

 in the flock: 



October from 3"^ per cent, to 5 per cent. 



November from 5 per cent, to 15 per cent. 



December from 15 per cent, to 20 per cent. 



Usually there is a slight falling-ofl: early in December when 

 the extreme cold weather commences; this shrinkage, however, 

 is usually overcome as soon as the birds become accustomed 

 to the changed conditions. 



January from 20 per cent, to 40 per cent. 



February from 20 per cent, to 30 per cent. 



The figures for February would be high in many cases, for 

 birds that have laid well during the previous three months 

 usually show quite a marked falling-off in February, evidently 

 a provision of nature to prepare for the stress of the natural 

 hatching season to follow: 



March from 35 per cent, to 55 per cent. 



April from 55 per cent, to 70 per cent. 



The period of highest production comes usually between the 

 middle of March and the middle of April. The most valuable 

 bird, however, is the one that lays in her pullet year thirty or 

 more eggs before the first of March. 



Farm range conditions are best for health, vigor, and strong 

 progeny. The food obtained from range consists of worms, 

 slugs, insects, seeds, green feed, lime, various salts, and small 

 sharp stones. 



Hot mashes at night in the winter time in which is incorpo- 



