Show why hens liens aeed libed grit shell and charcoal al B bi G E conkey it easy to overlook the importance three little feeding porta uce of these perhaps it is because we ye are all so arx anxious lous to discover a combination of foods that will result in the egg yield but let me tell you au that without every one of E abeso three grit shell ind and charcoal I 1 the regular rations no matter matto r hav ho good they may be cannot bring the maximum results results which is simply another name for eggs are what we are all after so 80 let us see first why grit Is so to their attainment grit is little sharp edged particles of hard substances and is natures wonderfully der fully interesting way of providing a hen with teeth 11 that is these pait palt icis cles ar are e contained in the bis bids I 1 gizzard where by constant friction I 1 they grind up the food so that it can be easily digested and assimilated every one of ofus us realizes the im of proper digestion and you will therefore see that it is vitally necessary that grit be kept before your birds at all times they need an especially liberal supply in winter for then they arc are confred and can not pick up any from the ground as it is possible for them to do in stony le localities ali ties in summer i if birds are obliged to go without grit an undue strain is thrown on their ss systems often resulting in dis case ease furthermore the lack of grit results in a larger percentage of waste in feeding because much of the nutriment passes through each fowls body without being absorbed grit is 13 too easily obtained for any of us to permit such waste or danger to the health and egg yield of our birds all poultry supply houses ciro the commercial grit which can be obtained at very low cost but most of us can get all ull we need with little trouble and at no cost at all small pebbles small sharp edged virti particles cles of hard rock or finely crushed limestone granite or marble make excellent grit if the particles are at all shiny or bright ohp birds chow an especial fondness for them some authorities r recommend e c 0 in m e n d crushed glass and earthenware for grit but you will avoid danger of loss by leaving these alone glass is en too sharp and a silver sliver of it 19 liel likel to puncture the gizzard or other organs and cause the loss of some birds while the enamel on crockery and earthenware is injurious to poultry some poultry owners have an idea that crushed oyster shells will serve as gut ind also answer the purpose for which the crushed oyster shells ie e intended but this is not so the particles of ouster shell are not hard enough for grit and the edges wear near down too quickly crushon oyster shells are fed in order to supply hens with the limo lime required by their systems and in the formation of the egg shells hens cannot get enough lime from ordinary grain and mash foods to enable them to lay an abundant supply of eggs so you cin win see that if your hock flock is to pay its way it is important that you keep a liberal amount of crushed oyster shells be fore the birds at al k all times how flow very important this need of crushed oyster shells is to good egg e 19 production is best illustrated by the fact that almost 94 per cent of the formation of an egg shell is carbonate of lime while oyster shell contains 95 per cent carbonate of lime it would be hard therefore to find anything better hun crushed oyster shells to supply the big percentage of lime required in the formation of egg shells one pound of oyster shells contains enough lime for about eight dozen eggs so it will cost you very little to keep your birds constantly supplied with a liberal amount of 03 ouster ster shell and such provision will insure more and baguer shelled eggs A further aid to cod egg production and the general health of your birds is charcoal which acts as a corrective and blood pu purifier it absorbs gases acids and impurities and thereby does much to keep the birds from developing indigestion some authorities even claim that it has a beneficial effect on the growth of th fowls he ile that as it may chai coil if 11 so 60 easily made or secured that it should be kept before your birds at all tinus simply pile up con cori cobs cob burn them until they are glowing red and then douse them with water and you will have a grade of char charcoal eoal that will answer every poultry requirement you can keep charcoal before your birds all the time in broken form in a hopper or powder it and mix it with the dry mash either wa wai it will pay py for the slight trouble OC 0 making it hens ilens are not naturally lazy and often the reason reison they do not lay is because they are in need of grit shell 0 charcoal let them havo have plenty of these at all times ind and if other conditions are right they will be glad to pay their way |