Show duchesne county arl K FARM AGENT NOTES BYMAN ADVISES CHICKEN RAISERS ON TIMELY ADVICE by by byron ran alder aider extension pullets require and should hav an abundance of 0 cicen feed all during the growing period in order to insure strong healthy vigorous uv ess egg production dont depend on the alfalfa meal in the mash feed some fresh greena feed daily this teed feed supplies liberal amounts of some of 0 the important vitamins vita mines so necessary for growth as well as minerals and some it aa also has a very beneficial effect upon the digestive tract and gives the shanks baak and skin akin attractive yellow color that is indicative of healthy and vigorous birds fresh cut lawn clippings clipping 3 chopped alfalfa or clover are b ifft st but well wed cured alfalfa leaves are a good goad substitute when fresh greens are not available A good supply or of fresh clean water should always be provided and is absolutely necessary tor for health and vigorous growth P from orn 50 to 65 per cent tit of the hens body is water and those birds that do not have a liberal supply may be stunted or become a victim of disease because or 0 lowered vitality the water should be supplied suo plied so as to keep it clean and the overflow or waste carried off so ES cs not to ca contaminate staminate the yards or run when the pullets are about tou four months old some of them may begin to mature and koiv full red combs comba which indicates that they will soon be laying although they are not a good size or well developed the majority of the birds will soon be laying unless a change is made mad in the teed feed this early p production 0 o is often the cause ot of winter molt or poor production later on at this age about 4 months it is ia advisable to feed the grain or scratch feed at I least east 3 times each day and gives the pullets all they will clean up tip at each feeding this will reduce the amount of mash consumed each day which also willi will mean a reduction of the percentage of prot protein eln it Is 13 the protein th that at is ia forcing early laying the percentages cen of 0 D protein otela may also be reduced by using less meat ineat meal or fish meal if you are mixing your tour own mash or by adding 50 to pounds of ground grain to each pounds of mash where one is 13 using a commercial mixture dont starve the birds to keep them from too early laying feed all the ithe grain green feed grit and water that the pullets will eat at but limit the amount of protein as there la Is the feed that is too early laying leghorn pullets pullet a should have hav large 3 to 4 lbs ibs well fleshed and about 5 to 6 months old when they come into laying condition it is then rauch much easier to keep them laying without any winter pause or break in production and the eggs will be much larger than ithan from the small undeveloped pullens |