228 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March 28 
FEEDING A HEN. 
Part XII. 
These articles were designed to sug¬ 
gest some facts about feeding a hen. 
We did not expect to have much to say 
about the feeding of other animals, but 
as all living things eat, and as food costs 
money, we find it impossible to keep 
people from asking questions about the 
feeding of cows,horses, and even humans. 
The mere fact of obtaining a “ bal¬ 
ance ” to a ration is only one side of the 
matter. There are other things to be 
considered besides the figuring. For 
example, here is a question from our 
old friend, O. W. Mapes : 
Can an animal become cloyed by eating a 
“ balanced ration ” ? Good pasture is said to be 
such a ration, and I never knew an animal to 
become cloyed on it. 
This is an important and interesting 
question, and we feel that we are jus¬ 
tified in giving our space, this week, to 
a discussion of it. 
An Important Point Considered. 
The day your letter was received, we 
had two cows cloyed on a balanced ra¬ 
tion. The grain fed these cows, was a 
mixture sold us under a guarantee simi¬ 
lar to that used by fertilizer manufac¬ 
turers. Each of the feeds was analyzed be¬ 
fore mixing, and the grains put together 
so that the mixture contained a certain 
percentage of digestible protein, carbohy¬ 
drates, and fat. We gave sufficient ensi¬ 
lage and hay to bring the total feed up 
to the standard ration. In the summer 
of 1894, we bought 70 grade cows, fresh 
in milk, to eat our surplus ensilage. As 
cotton-seed meal was cheap, we fed 
large quantities of it to these cows, 
always, however, mixing it with bran. 
We frequently had cows “ off feed,” and 
sometimes sick, and were troubled with 
garget. Our Guernsey cows in the same 
barn, fed the same ensilage and hay, 
but fed a grain ration not containing 
cotton-seed meal, gave us no trouble. 
Finally, as a matter of profit, we were 
forced to drop the heavy feeding to the 
grades of cotton-seed meal, and give 
them the same grain ration the Guern¬ 
seys were receiving, and we had no 
more trouble. 
In our feeding, we have found that a 
ration must have other qualities besides 
being simply “ balanced.” With our 
methods of feeding, watering and hand¬ 
ling the cows, it is necessary to keep 
their bowels in such shape that the 
droppings will be like those made when 
the cow is on good pasture. Whenever 
the droppings begin to get hard and 
dry, the milk yield begins to shrink. 
We have found it profitable to feed lin¬ 
seed-oil meal heavily on this account. 
At present, our grain mixture is made 
in the proportion, bran, 1,250 pounds; 
corn meal, 100 pounds; ground oats and 
barley, 100 pounds; gluten feed, 100 
pounds; cotton-seed meal, 150 pounds; 
Cleveland linseed meal, 300 pounds. It 
requires, daily, about 10 pounds of this 
mixture in addition to the ensilage and 
hay we feed, to make a balanced ration 
for a 1,000-pound cow. During the cold 
weather, we used the old process oil meal 
instead of the Cleveland, on account of 
the greater amount of oil in the old pro¬ 
cess. We think that more oil is required 
in cold weather than in warm, to keep 
the bowels right. We have not tried it, 
but all our experience indicates that, if 
we were to throw out the linseed meal 
in our ration and substitute sufficient 
cotton-seed meal to balance the ration, 
our milk yield would decrease, and we 
would have cows cloyed and with caked 
udders. 
It is surprising to us how often this 
point is overlooked in compounding ra¬ 
tions. As an illustration, several papers 
have published, this winter, as a good 
ration, one formulated by a prominent 
station worker, and made up of hay, 
corn stover, wheat middlings, corn-and- 
cob meal and cotton-seed meal. These 
feeds were combined so as to furnish the 
necessary digestible muscle-makers, fat- 
formers and fat, but, for all that, 
every one of the feeds used is consti¬ 
pating. It may be that, if cattle are 
turned out most of the day in cold 
weather, are kept in a cold barn at night, 
and drink out of a hole cut in the ice, 
the ice water will act as a physic suffi¬ 
ciently to keep the bowels in proper con¬ 
dition with such a ration ; but under our 
conditions—a stable above 50 degrees, 
water constantly before the cattle at the 
temperature of the barn, and continuous 
stabling in cold weather—such a con¬ 
stipating ration, although perfectly 
balanced, would be very unprofitable. 
We have found that, besides being 
balanced, a ration must not be too 
bulky. The cheapest grain ration we 
can feed to-day, is a mixture of two parts 
bran to one part linseed meal, and we 
have tried to feed this mixture to sev¬ 
eral cows this winter. It is very bulky, 
and many of our cows will not eat enough 
to obtain sufficient nutriment for a good 
yield. 
We get the best results when our bal¬ 
anced ration is “ appetizing,” and it is 
for this reason that we use several grains 
in making a ration. Fresh cows are often 
very “ fussy ” about eating when we are 
trying to push them, and show strong 
likes and dislikes for various feeds. If 
the best yield is desired, it pays to humor 
these fancies, and balance the ration 
with the feeds the cow likes. 
One point needs explanation. Feeds 
may vary sufficiently from the average 
composition as published in feeding 
tables, to make trouble without careful 
watching. In 1894, our corn was poorly 
eared on account of the drought, and we 
found it necessary to use a good deal of 
corn meal in our ration. In 1895, our 
ensilage corn was heavily eared, and we 
find it best to use only enough corn meal 
in the ration to make it taste good. We 
have had to guess each year how much 
our ensilage varied from the published 
analyses, and figure a ration accordingly. 
We are greatly interested in your hen¬ 
feeding talks, and in compounding our 
poultry ration, used your figures for ani¬ 
mal meal—42 per cent muscle-makers, 
12 per cent fat. The feeding results were 
not exactly satisfactory, and as animal 
meal was an important source of our 
muscle-makers, we had it analyzed, and 
found the meal we were using contained 
33.7 per cent muscle-makers and 8.4 per 
cent fat. A new ration on this basis gave 
better results. H. m. cottrell. 
These rouse the stomach to better action, 
hence there is no doubt that a change of 
food, other things being equal and the 
change not being too radical, is bene¬ 
ficial. 
An animal may be injured seriously 
by overeating, either a balanced or un¬ 
balanced ration. Whenever, from any 
cause, an animal eats more than it can 
fairly well digest, it is injured, and this 
is as likely to be true of a balanced as 
of an unbalanced ration. The only 
nice point about it is, that the animal 
could eat more of a balanced ration be¬ 
fore it might be called overeating, than 
it could of an unbalanced one. For in¬ 
stance, oats alone are a well-balanced 
ration for a horse ; yet we know how 
easy it is to feed oats so exclusively and 
abundantly as to produce undesirable 
results. I. p. ROBERTS. 
•pltecrUnneous$ gulvrvti.sinti- 
In writing to advertisers, please always mention 
The Ruhai, New-Yokkek. 
Thinness is often a sign of 
poor health. A loss of weight 
generally shows something is 
wrong. If due to a cough, 
cold, any lung trouble, or if 
there is an inherited tendency 
to weak lungs, take care ! 
Scotts £trvuf*im, 
of Cod-liver Oil, with Hypo- 
phosphites, is a fat-food and 
more. It causes such changes 
in the system that the gain is 
permanent and improvement 
continues even after you cease 
taking it. Sound flesh; rich 
blood; strong nerves; good 
digestion; aren’t these worth 
a thought ? 
SCOTT’S EMULSION has been endorsed by the 
medical profession for twenty years. (Ask your doc¬ 
tor .) This is because it is always palatable —always 
uniform —always contains the purest Norwegian Cod- 
liver Oil and Hypopbosphites. 
Insist on Scott’s Emulsion with trade-mark of 
man and fish. 
Put up in 50 cent and $1.00 sizes. The small size 
may be enough to cure your cough or help your baby. 
We make a specialty of 
printing for farmers, fruit 
growers and stock raisers. 
Letter-heads, Envelopes, 
Cards, Tags, Circulars, etc. New type, good 
work, reasonable prices. 
POULTRY MONTHLY, Albany, N. Y. 
Keep Changing the Food. 
A “ balanced ration,” when composed 
continuously of the same kinds of food, 
is not as appetizing as when the foods 
are changed in character, preserving at 
the same time the proper balance. For 
some unexplained reason, animals, as 
well as man, like a change of food, al¬ 
though the constituents of the food or 
the ration may be virtually the same as 
those used before. I suppose that this 
desire for change is due to physiological 
laws, and is founded upon the aromas or 
peculiar tastes which the foods have. 
After the salivary glands and digestive 
oi’gans have become accustomed to any 
particular volatile oils or flavors, they 
become, as it were, immune, hence 
stimulation is diminished. Now if a 
change of food, preserving the balance, 
can be introduced, we get a new kind 
and quality of volatile oils or flavors. 
Do You Use a Churn ? 
If bo, you should try a 
DIAMOND 
BALANCE CHURN. 
It churnsEasier, Quicker.Closer, and 
is more Convenient than any other. 
Every user’s word for it. Send for circular and intro¬ 
ductory price, if wo have no agent in your locality, to 
Mention this paper. Diamond Balance Churn Co. Balloon Spa., X. V. 
DOYOUWANTACREAMERY 
or A CHEESE FACTORY 
in your neighborhood? If so and you will 
let us know, we will help you get one and 
furnish all information free. Dairy com¬ 
munities are the most prosperous to-day 
everywhere. If you can furnish 300 cows 
in a radius of 5 miles from a factory you 
can make it pay. Might pay with less if 
you had special advantages as to markets. 
Our line of factory and dairy apparatus 
and supplies was never larger, never 
better. We are always glad of an oppor¬ 
tunity to quote prices. 
CREAMERY PACKACE MFC. CO. 
1-3-5 W. Washington St., Chicago. 
Please mention this paper. Helps them, helps us, 
may help you- 
Little Chickens 
Thrive 
Wi When they are 
daily fed with a 
ration of 
“Bradley’s Superior 
Meat-Meal,” 
as it supplies them 
1 with the well- 
cooked meat and 
bone that they 
must have in order 
to attain a sturdy 
growth. 
Our little book " Feeding for Eggs and 
Growth” will teil you all about it. 
Sent free. 
POULTRY 
SOMETHING NEW ! 
CANNED MEAT FOR POULTRY 
This food is nice, fresh meat, carefully cooked, 
ground fine, seasoned, and hermetically sealed. Will 
keep an unlimited time until opened. Conveniently 
out up In eight-pound cans. Especially adapted for 
chickens and moulting fowl. 
Being ground fine, it can be readily mixed with the 
soft food, and fed so as to give each fowl an equal 
share. Price, 30 cents per can; $3 per dozen. 
ADDRESS 
HOLLIS DRESSED MEAT AND WOOL CO.. 
20 North Street, Boston, Mass. 
GRANULATED BONE FOR POULTRY. 
Bone Meal, Crushed Oyster Shells, Calcite, Crushed 
Flint, Ground Beef Scraps. Send for Price JMt. 
YORK CHEMICAL WORKS, York, Pa. 
O RR’S Clear Grit Ouarterly. Free to any ad¬ 
dress. A postal brings It. Box 13, Orr’s Mills, N. Y. 
HEW MAMMOTH POULTRY 
CUIDE showing colored plate of chickens 
in natural colors. Finest book ever pub¬ 
lished. Almost 100 pages. Tells all about 
Poultry for Profit or Pleasure. Price on ly 15c. 
JOHN BAUSCHER, JR.. Box 66 Freeport. Ills. 
NEW CATALOGUE FOR 1896£ 
Printed In colors that are correct. C 
Best and finest illustrated Poultry [ 
Catalogue ever printed. Get itf 
I and be convinced. It tells how tof 
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F poultry houses, gives remedies forj< 
diseases, also lowest prices ofj, 
fowls and eggs. If interested inf 
poultry this book is what your 
) want. Sent post paid for 15 cents./ 1 
1 The J. W. Miller Co. Boxi44, Freeport, Ills.)' 
GREIDER’S HEW CATALOGUE 
FOR 1896. Finer and larger than ever, the fine«t 
engravings of poultry, with descriptions of each 
variety, best plans for poultry houses, how to 
raise broilers, caring of fowls, remedies for all 
diseasen,best lice destroyer,pricesof eggs and stock 
from high scoring birds,send 10 centsfor this noted 
book which will be deducted from first order. 
Address, B. H. GREIDER, FLORIN, PA., U. S. A. 
A Ifto nUEWIfllvtn o rUULI HI BUUK 
96 pages, printed in 6 colors. Birdseye view 
Uv of largest Poultry Farm. Tells all about 
Chickens, Prices of same, their Diseases, 
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FtQQ Pata nmio of 22 varieties of prize winning 
II CG UatalUffUC fowls. 32 prizes at one show. 
Every bird bears a scorecard by F. H. Shellabarger. 
Scientific Poultry Yds. W. E. Senneff, Prop., Dixon, Ill. 
AO Standard Bnajd el 1 ■ us-1 
tratsd A fully described | 
In my new Poultry Book 
Reliable information for I 
poultrymen & intending I 
buyers. Good stock Ducks I 
& Geese: also Shetland I 
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.3. COOZ. Boi42. Huntley, III. * 
SEND FOR 
____ Sample copy ol 
[CLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 
^ Catalog, of BEE SUPPLIES 
I Magazine, an 
' FREE. THE A. I. ROOT CO 
Mcdina,0. 
P A QJT'TT'TTT? A (A Solid Liniment.) 
X iLiol-CiUIlil FOR MAIM AND BEAST. 
•‘Suckling coltcut on barb wire, 
healed without a scar.” “Mare 
lame inshoulder6yrs., used Pas- 
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heifer with badly i n flamed udder 
(garget) cured In 12 hrs.” “Had 
apigwith rheumatism, no use of 
hindlegs,applied Pastevra , re- 
__ covered in one week.” No bad 
-■mellor stain. 50cts. per box, postpaid. 
Pasteura Medicine Co., Chittenango, N. Y. 
