OCR Text |
Show J iMAKE HEN EXERCISE IF YOU WANT EGGS I ( , " FIRST PRIZE WINNER AT NEW YORK POULTRY SHOW. (By C. S. ANDERSON, Colorado Agricultural Agricul-tural College, Fort Collins. Colo.) Activity is the life of the laying hen. As her activity decreases, so does her egg production. The hen that stands around all day, and scarcely scarce-ly has enough energy to eat food placed before her, is never a laying hen. The amount of forced exercise necessary nec-essary will vary with the breed. The Leghorn, conceded to be the highest egg producer, and most active bird, will take a great deal of exercise The Brahma is an example of the other extreme, and must always have a strong incentive to exercise. The vigor and productivity of the free-range free-range hen as compared to one yard-confined yard-confined is largely accounted for by her active life. During the winter months exercise1 can best be managed by feeding all the whole grain in a litter 10 to 12 inches deep. This will not involve a waste, for if hens are left a little hungry they will scratch long after the last kernel has been found. Laying irons should never be fed in such quantities as to satisfy their appetite. ap-petite. Whole grain should be fed very sparingly in the morning, and heavily at night. This not only keeps the birds more active through the day, but a heavy feed of grain at night keeps their bodies warmer. Straw, hay, alfalfa chaff, leaves and cut corn stover, all make good litters. Shavings and sawdust are not best because they tend to pack, and also hold dampness. Regardless of the kind of litter used, it should be renewed re-newed frequently and never allowed to become badly contaminated with droppings. |