968 



Notes on Poultry Keeping. 



[Jan., 



proportions for the accommodation available, and with the excep- 

 tion of the later hatched birds the pullets will be in full lay. 



Where dry mash feeding is practised there is less likelihood 

 of the birds being underfed provided the material in the mash 

 is of good quality. Good results in egg production can be secured 

 with either the ' ' wet mash " or " dry mash ' ' system of feeding 

 if properly carried out, but in order to reduce the grain bill the 

 feeding of dry bran in hoppers (constructed to avoid waste) is an 

 economical addition where wet mash feeding is practised. Care 

 must be taken to encourage activity and provide occupation for 

 the birds whatever method of feeding is adopted. In the absence 

 of fresh green food, turnips or swedes can be given. Beetroot 

 and artichokes are also valuable and are greatly appreciated by 

 the birds. 



Chicken Feedirig. — The earlier batches of chickens generally 

 thrive better than the later batches, several factors being 

 responsible for this. More care is taken in the preparation of 

 wet mashes, and these are not given when stale and sour as they 

 frequently are later in the season. Cracked wheat and groats, 

 or coarse oatmeal should form the basis of all dry chicken mix- 

 tures. Kibbled maize and canary seed can be added to provide 

 variety, which is an advantage, but the chicks do not always take 

 readily to maize, and canary seed is expensive unless of really 

 good quaHty. Whilst variety in the food is good this is frequently 

 obtained at the expense of quality, and too much importance 

 should not be attached to it. Mixtures are frequently wasteful 

 and extravagant owing to the poor quality of some of the ingre- 

 dients. The more general use of Sussex ground oats in a wet 

 or dry mash is to be recommended, especially in view of the poor 

 quality of the middlings. A small proportion of maize meal 

 mixed with the ground oats is an advantage in the preparation 

 of a wet or dry mash. Boiled rice is a valuable food as a safeguard 

 against bowel disorders, from which large numbers of chickens 

 perish, and it is an advantage if the rice is boiled in separated 

 milk. Green food should not be omitted from the diet, and is 

 better if finely chopped for little chicks. In the absence of voung 

 fresh green food, or in addition to this, chopped raw onion is a 

 valuable substitute and should be mixed with the mash. 



******* 



Notes on Essential Points in Poultry Feeding.* — It is more 

 profitable to maintain a few well-fed birds than a large number 



*Thig note is also ipsued as Leaflet Xo. 321 as recently re-written. 



