POULTRY NOTES

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 522, 13 April 1920, Page 2

POULTRY NOTES

FEEDING FOR EGGS. This is a big question, and much controversy rages round the various methods of feeding adopted by different poultry breeders. However, as a reader of these weekly articles is anxious for advice as to the best way of feeding fowls in order to produce eggs, I will give further j hints on the subject. My one complaint is that only a comparatively small number of farmers give .their fowls the attention sufficiently Heeded to turn loss on this department into profit. But I am glad to say that interest in the poultry industry is greatly increasing, one proof among many being that over 1000 new members —and many of these aie practical fanners—have this year joined the National Unity Society, to say nothing of the other Utility Club affiliated to the great society. This, however, is a digression, but I have mentioned the fact to show that the poultry industry is going ahead by leaps ancj bounds, and encouraged not only by poultiykeepers purely and simply, but also by farmers —a class of people who have the greatest facilities and the best opportunities for making poul r try pay. The best method of feeding poultiy for eggs depends to a great extent on:— _ - 1. The system on which the fowls are kept; free, unlimited range (as is usual on most general farms), intensive. semi-intensive, or the colony system. *2. The season of the sear and climatic vagaries. 3. The breeds kept, though perhaps this is less important than the other two matters.

My seeker after advice does not say on what system he keeps his fowls, but merely wants to know how best to feed his fowls to produce eggs. My best plan will be to give .what 1 have found to Lie the most effectual method for producing eggs from now on and throughout the winter. 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.—ln a bam, open shed, or the scratching sheds attached- to the fowl-houses (if any) scatter corn in litter 1 to li inches deep, either short hay, cut straw, chaff, bracken, cavings. or- iir.rid leaves; these last two are. if dry. The birds will scratch fo&an hour or two until the last groin lias been found. The great advantage is that the birds will get exercise and warmth instead of huddling together in a heap in order to keep warm, and thus encouraging laziness. The litter must not be allowed to become wet, the sheds must be weatherproof, and facing the sunniest aspect. Provided we keep within the "Dora" regulations—war or no war, "Dora" still haunts us!—give one kind of corn at a time.- Thi-'. allows us to "ring the changes,V and fowls, as with human beings, Tike variety. This is why I do not advise constantly feeding on "mixed corn. ' Midday'.—Rather, than give a full corn ration in the morning, reserve about a-third of it on cold or damp days and scatter amongst the litter in the middle of the dry so that the fowls may wai>n themselves up again with healthy exercise; provide green food if the birds are "indoors" all day: give grit and clean water. These should be hung up in boxes and tins or placed on a shelf 9 inches to Ift above the litter. 3.30 to 4.30 p.m.—A good mash, not too wet, but so mixed that it will break up nicely when dropped into the troughs, cold to lukewarm, tut never hot, can be made ud of various meals dried off with sharps. Avoid too much maize meal for layers, "ring the changes" by adding meat meal one day a week, ! -;h meal another; clover meal also is a capital winter food. Do not throw soft food on the ground or into the littci"; provide shallow troughs or feed outside on boards. Give a little spice now and again. Why I recommend soft food for the evening meal at this time of the year is because the fowls, going to l-oost with cold, wet feet, require food that can be easily and quickly digested and put through their system befoie they become too cold. Going to roost after a great warming up through hunting for corn scattered in the litter the birds are apt to yet chilled be for? the corn has had time to become ground up by the gizzard, and made digestible. A crop full of hard corn cannot in itself cause warmth; the f„od must first of all become assim-milate-l and brought into a digestive form. . Whatever system of feeding is adcpted, remember these three important points:— ]. Stick to one system as long as you meet with success. 2. (live a variety of food, and not the same mash oj; the same corn day after dav. Regularity in the times of feeding is important. —"Marke Lane Express."