320 POULTRY CULTURE 



rated green feed, milk, and meat scrap stimulate winter egg 

 production. 



Laying hens should be kept warm and protected from storms. 



To keep the hens happy they should have about a foot of 

 wheat or oat straw in the bottom of the houses, into which 

 the scratch feed should be thrown. It is necessary to keep 

 the birds free of lice and chiggers. Vermin weaken birds and 

 lay them open to attacks of disease, and are indirectly the 

 cause of more loss from death, egg production, and flesh than 

 any other one cause. 



The birds should not be frightened by strangers and dogs, 

 etc., entering the premises. 



Fig. 105. — A comparison of the number of eggs laid by a scrub (75) and a hen 

 bred for high egg production (224). 



For laying hens the following feeding program should be 

 carried out: The first scratch feed should consist of clipped 

 oats and wheat, of each equal parts, and should be given at 

 about 7 o'clock in the morning and thrown in the litter, so 

 they will have to scratch for it. The second scratch feed 

 should consist of cKpped oats, wheat, and the coarse particles 

 of cracked corn, equal parts, and should be given at about 3 

 o'clock in the afternoon and placed in the straw. 



Dry mash should be kept in slatted hoppers in such a way 

 that they cannot throw it out, and this feed should be kept 

 before them at all times. This dry mash should consist of the 

 following : 



