Show jr nute county farm news mom FROM THE OFFICE im 00 OF THE tilea COUNTY AGENT the teed feed and egg price pi tee ratio at the present time is so narrow that it Is an absolute necessity to remove all non layers from the flock and provide adequate conditions for laying the evidences or ol poor laying in a given flock of hens may be determined by mathematical calculation cu by a person who has never even seen the flock at this time of the tha year most moat flocks alo cab should be yeeling a nigh percentage of eggs anything less than 76 per cent production should not be tolerated it if a smaller percentage or of production la is being had immediate steps to correct the condition should le be taken the writer has had an opportunity to observe laying conditions in a number of plute plate county flocks this past winter in all fairness to the hens bens it must be said that the fault tor for non lay ing in most instances la Is not theirs improvements in housing and management could be made to correct a great deal ot of poor laying in the writers opinion the following steps should be taken in plute county flocks to build up the average percentage of production duct ioa 1 analyze the situation as aa far as your flock Is concerned how many hens do you haye how many square feet ot of housing do you provide what facilities for feeding watering nesting and ro do you provide 2 allow at least three square feet of floor door space per hen do not include the space occupied by dropping pits as floor space 3 cull hens bens rigidly all the year through remove boulting moul ting hens at this time of I 1 the year an early Is no not a persistent layer go through the flock systematically at night to prevent searing scaring and examine each hen by picking her up ij in your hands hett heft her in your hands tor for body weight A matuse leghorn hen should weigh 4 pounds beware of extremes in either direction from this stand standard arh of weight dual purpose hens such as new should weigh ay 6 g pounds A laying hen may be determined by a combination of several factors her body weight should be about average she should if of df the leghorn breed have a bright glossy red comb thatis that Is lopped over to one side other breeds also should have as large red combs as are characteristic act of the breed at least two fingers space should be present between the lay bones or pelvic bones and three fingers space between the pelvic bones and the end of the keel hone bone this latter rule Is infallible the first part indicates whether or not a hen la is capable of passing an egg tha th a second part of the rule indicate whether or not a hen Is capable of producing as many eggs as another hen it indicates her abdominal capacity tor for teed feed 4 provide at least 12 linear inches tor for each five birds of feeder space put turning reels on the feeders to prevent hens ro on them 5 feed scratch in the litter tile the heaviest feeding of which should be in the evening concrete floors are indispensable both tor for feeding and ease of cleaning 6 clean the floor of the laying house as often as required provide clean straw and strive to keep moisture conditions as low as humanly possible 7 provide clean running water A trickle in the bottom of a V trough Is sufficient 8 see that oyster shell or calcite Is on hand at all times 9 provide dark nests make arrangements so that the liens hens must come into the nets from continued on last page paule piute county farm news from office pt county agent continued from page one tile the wall side of the houe boue eggs can be removed from the other side by opening a hinged door running full length of the nests provide at least one nest tor for each five hens 10 provide a lien hen hospital toi foi hens who have been picked by other hens break up broody bloody hens quickly in a crate suspended from the roof 12 provide good ventilation dont tolerate foul odors in the laying house it Is a sure sign of poor ventilation have window openings in the front of the house running cler clear to the tha root roof moisture laden air Is more easily removed in this fashion cheap muslin curtains make ideal coverings tor for window openings |