ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



77 



in October, 1899, being replaced at this' time by 100 pullets hatched in 

 March 1900. Thus the system for constant flow of eggs 365 days in the 

 year is by hatching the stock in Marcb an marketing them in the fall of 

 the following year, replacing them by the early hatched pullets. In this 

 he gets a constant flow of eggs during the molting period when eggs 

 bring a high price. 



In feeding for egg production he gives early in the morning a warm 

 mash made of equal parts corn, oats and wheat ground together. To suf- 

 ficient quantity of this is added 5 oz. Pratt's hen food for 100 hens. The 

 mash is mixed with hot water and as dry as possible. Don't overfeed. 

 At 10 a. m. scatter a little cracked corn in the litter to keep the hens 

 scratching. The noon feed (12 m.) is oats soaked in hot water. At 3 

 p. m. scatter cracked corn in the leaves. At 5 p. m. in winter and 7 

 o'clock in summer give some oats end cracked corn. Steamed cut clover 

 rowen is fed each day and boiled potatoes once in three days. Shells 

 are kept constantly before them. A little meat, and but a little, is fed 

 three times a week. Fresh water is given twice a day and is warmed in 

 winter. 



Each compartment of the hen house is 10x12 feet, with two for each 

 flock of 20 hens. One isiused for scratching. A window in front of each 

 compartment at the bottom set at an angle of 45 degrees gives the hens 

 a warm place in the sun. A three-foot walk in the back runs the 

 length of the house. Eggs are gathered by opening trap doors. The 

 roosts are three feet from the ground with drop boards underneath for 

 catching the manure, which is cleaned off every morning. There is a 

 yard 50x20 feet in front of each pen, set with fruit trees for shade, which 

 is so much needed in summer. Clean sand covers the ground, which 

 makes it dry at all times. 



The houses are built high, of cottage style, which Mr. Dimock con- 

 siders much more healthly for fowls than low roofed houses. There are 

 ventilators in each gable. The houses are double boarded with paper be- 

 tween. There are board platforms over the roosts from which cloth cur- 



