Feeding For Eggs

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 April 1915, Page 2

Feeding For Eggs

On the feeding of the laving liens depends a great deal. 11' they are stinted or supplied with unsuitable foods eggs are likely to be conspicuous by their absence; if, on the other hand. they aiie overfed, the results are equally bad. The greatest mistake that one can make irt to overfeed laying hens. A fat hen produces fewer eggs than one in a lean, hard condition, while it the eggs are wanted for hatching there is likely to He grave trouble on the score of sterile eggs. It is quite impossible to say that a laving hen should receive so much food per day, for what might be ample for one bird would mean semi-starvation for another. Hens enjoying a free range, too, require much lews food than do those in runs, while the nature of the soil has likewise an influence on the

amount of feed necessary to maintain the birds in good condition. The only satisfactory way Is to examine the birds periodically, say, once a month, and if tlicy are too fat their rations should bo forthwith reduced, while if tiiey are too thin the food supply should be increased. Laying hens should receive a warm mash first tiling in file morning and grain at night, the reason for this being that after the long fast of the night, in winter sometimes of four teen or fifteen hours' duration, the hens require a food which is easily assimilated. For just tlie opposite reason is the use of grain advocated in the afternoon. During very cold weather three meals daily should be supplied to laying hens in confinement, but. as a rule, two are enough for those at liberty, unless the ground be frozen. An excellent ration for use first thing in the morning consists of* lour parts barley-meal, two parts middlings, one part bean or pea- meal, and half a part lean meat. If the weather is very cold, one pan of maize meal is useful. in that it li<-1 to main!sin the bodily temperature. Grit, gVoeu food, and plenty of pure, frtvl; wnt<»r should be provided: steamed clover hnv forms an excellent substitute. N. Z. Dairyman.