PIFTY-FIRST ANNUAL CONVENTION 95 



eral among commercial poultrymen. Many farm flocks 

 could be made somewhat more profitable by this means. 

 The use of artificial illumination to lengthen the hen's 

 working day tends to approximate spring conditions, and 

 makes possible a greater food consumption than would 

 otherwise occur. The mixtures suggested in this circular 

 need not be changed when lights are used, but the method 

 of feeding must be adapted to the method of illumination. 

 Particularly, must the time of feeding be arranged to fit 

 the lighting plan. 



If the lights are to be turned on at five o'clock in the 

 morning, grain for the morning feeding may be scattered in 

 the litter after the hens have gone to roost. Fresh water 

 should also be supplied at the same time. In cold weather 

 it is well to put hot water in an insulated drinking fountain 

 so that it will be still slightly warm when the hens get off 

 the roosts in the morning. 



An Evening Lunch Means More Eggs. 



Perhaps a simpler plan than providing the early morn- 

 ing feed, and one that is almost as effective, is to give the 

 hens an evening lunch at about eight-thirty or nine o'clock. 

 With this plan a light feeding of grain is given at the usual 

 time, perhaps an hour before dark, and then a heavier grain 

 feeding by artificial light. This late feeding is perhaps 

 best given in troughs so that the hens can get it quickly 

 altho it may be fed in litter, if desired. In a very short time 

 the hens will learn to come off the roosts at once when the 

 lights are turned on, eat their grain, and go back to the 

 roosts before the lights are turned off. 



Illumination Must Be Used Wisely. 



Care should be taken not to overstimulate the hens by 

 the use of artificial lights. A production of more than forty 

 eggs daily from each hundred hens during the winter 

 months may be disastrous in that it may result in a spring 

 molt. Extreme care should also be used when artificially 

 lighting flocks that are to be used for breeding. It is consid- 



