POULTRY FOR PROFIT 45 
in egg production. This simply reinforces the 
statement made in a previous chapter, that 
animal protein of some kind is needed by the 
birds if they are to do their best. If meat is 
supplied, care must be exercised that it does 
not spoil before it is consumed. It is better 
to put in small pieces at a time, so that the 
birds will eat it up quickly. If this meat can 
be run through a grinder of some kind, it will 
be eaten much more readily than if it has to 
be torn to pieces by the birds. Milk of some 
kind is also an animal protein, as has been re¬ 
peated here several times. Meat meal or tank¬ 
age contains a high percentage of protein, and 
as this is an animal product, it is an economical 
feed. 
Water is our last class of feeds for the lay¬ 
ing hen. This can be supplied in two ways. 
The first way is from the water direct, placed 
in some kind of a pan that is covered so that 
the birds can not soil the water, by perching 
on the edge of the pan, etc. Fresh water should 
be before the birds at all times, as we have 
just learned a few pages back that about 65 
per cent of the egg is composed of water. Be¬ 
sides this, the birds need water for their body 
