468 



Feeding Fowls for Eggs in Winter, [nov., 



Duck raising affords a profitable pursuit to small holders, and 

 it is equally suited to farmers who are willing and able to give 

 the necessary time and attention to the birds and who can 

 obtain a supply of eggs at the right season. But it is an industry 

 which entails hard work and skill in handling large quantities of 

 birds for several months of the year. 



Edward Brown. 



FEEDING FOWLS FOR EGGS IN WINTER. 



Poultry-keepers cannot expect to make their fowls pay 

 unless they first become possessed of the right stock, and 

 experiments have proved the necessity of dispensing with old 

 mongrel hens, and replacing them with strong healthy pullets, 

 hatched after the first week in March and before the first week 

 in April ; such birds, may as a rule, be relied upon to produce 

 winter eggs. The laying qualities of all fowls are a matter of 

 breeding as well as feeding and housing, but the secret of winter 

 egg production, undoubtedly, lies in the feeding. 



Where it is desired to keep up a regular supply of winter eggs 

 half of the stock should consist of pullets, and these if carefully 

 fed should give a fair quantity of eggs right through the winter. 

 Second-season hens are also reliable and good for the purpose 

 provided they are carefully fed previous to and during moulting, 

 but if neglected at this, the most critical period of the year, 

 they seldom produce many eggs before the spring. 



In the month of July, when the young pullets are sufficiently 

 developed, those that appear suitable for laying purposes should 

 be retained, and all the others fattened and killed. 



Feeding the pullets, — It is a poor policy to overfeed and to have 

 a lot of food left standing about. No rules can be laid down as 

 to the quantity of food birds will consume, the best guide being 

 their appearance when approached ; if hungry they will appear 

 anxious and eager to get their meal, otherwise less than the 

 usual quantity of food should be given. In other words, always 

 allow the birds to go away with an appetite for more. 



For winter egg production it is best to commence feeding 

 three times daily when the pullets are first selected. 



For the morning feed use a mixture composed of two 

 parts pollards, four parts barley meal, half part bean or pea 



