Show P AT RY FEED FOR POULTRY IN WINTER MONTHS here Is a ration proved good by experience what are the best methods ot of handling the farm flock of baym hens during the winter Suggest suggestions lons are given by 0 0 ufford extension at the colorado agricultural college as follows water Is cheap and a very necessary food weep keep the laying flock always supplied with an abundance of clean water A good laying ration may include a scratch feed mixture of 40 pounds of cracked or shelled corn to CO 60 pounds of wheat experience has shown that the following approximate number of pounds of grain should be fed per hens dally daily during the different winter months heavy breeds 13 pounds in november 14 in december 15 in january 18 16 in february 14 in march and 13 in april light breeds 12 pounds in november 12 in december 12 in january 12 in february 13 in march and 13 in april keep the laying mash before the hens all the time in non waste hoppers As green feed the following may be used cabbage when the price will permit alfalfa beets carrots etc keep a box bos of 0 gravel irk in the laying house in winter time lime Is furnished in the form of oyster shell or calcite feed one third of the grain in the morning and two thirds in the evening in straw litter at least an hour before dusk fill the mash hoppers with fresh mash in the morning it if needed regularity of feeding and care are important for securing the best results oversupply over supply production of eggs not advisable pullets should be full grown and well up to standard weight before they be bein begin in laying advises miss cora cooke poultry specialist of the minnesota a agricultural rl cultural extension division university farm egg laying Is a heavy strain miss cooke explains and it if the pullets be begin in laying before they reach the pro proper perma maturity and condition it Is a cinch they will not hold out long and the eggs wl will 11 be undersized pullets that a attain full weight before they begin to lay will produce bi bigger g er eggs from the start and will not be so likely to mold in the fall or early winter pullets should be in good flesh when they start laying any that are slightly thin are likely to lay for only a short time those of the yellow skinned breeds and this includes all except orp ing tons should have beaks and shanks that are a deep orange when laying commences it if pullets show signs of laying too early they may be held back by giving them lots of scratch feed miss cooke says As summer advances scratch feed should ie be steadily increased and when pullets go into laying quarters they should be eating about twice as much scratch as mash good fleshing will be promoted it if the scratch feed consists of at least one third yellow corn constipation in chicks chicks that are suffering from constipation sti pation will as 8 a usual thing stand in a humped position and are inactive when emitting droppings they strain and often move backward and make a cheeping sound when constipation Is noticed give the chicks from one eighth to one halt half pound of epsom salts for chicks depena depending ing on age in a dolse mash after that so the corrective may not have to be repeated change the feed to correct the condit condition lon Ol oklahoma lahoma farmer |