EGGS IN COLD WEATHER.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 461, 9 April 1890, Page 2

EGGS IN COLD WEATHER.

Thk art of feeding may well be applied to poultry in wintry, if eggs are expected. True, feeding is an ordinary matter, but how many consider what they are trying tD accomplish when feeding ? There should ulwa} b be some object in view, and the feeding if properly done, should conform to the realisation of that which is sought. We said the 1 art ’of feeding, fLifted ing is quite an art, and has science to keep it company. Wlnit do we l’e;d to secure ? Eggs—and in so doing we must; look into the egg. We see it well filled with rich, nutritious substances, and of a, variety. Then we miut adapt the food to the "egg. If the hen, is kept warm and comfortable, the food to provide her with animal h«at will he correspondingly seni'd. Knowing that the food should not contain an excess of the cailonaceous, or heat-producing elements, we look at those substances that furnish the albumen. Alf fowls contain these, but they vary in', pro-* portions. When the farmer throws down, corn and feeds his hens liberally n« maysecure but few eggs, as he is then f edi.ug for the market, and not for eggs. A fat hen will not lay, and is a unprotit ihle as a fat sow for breeding. What the liens in )>tly need is nitrogenous matter, for they can, if fed any g -win at all, easily provide the yollc, lini , phospl.p ic etc., but,the largo amount of albumen iu an egg calls for more nitrogenous food than is usually allowed, borne improperly ascribe the f ailure to secure eggSTo a of given food. While some kind of bulky food (such as clover hay, chopped fine, and scalded, as well as cooked potatoes and turnips) is excellent, yet the greatf desideratum is animal food, and if less grain be fed, and more meat, either raw or cooked, there will be more eggs. Milk and curds are also suitable, but meat is bi tter than anything else. As a pound of wheat daily will be sufficient for a dozen, hens, and almost any kind of meat will do, the expense is a small matter, compared with the high prices obtained for. eggs in winter. It is not necessary to, feed with grain more than once a da}-. A morning meal of scalded, chopped hay, with some kind of animal food, uud wheat at night, will give more eggs if the heq luiise is kept warm, than any other method, and it will be cheaper than feeding three times a day on gruiq. A pan of warm water in the morning should always be allowed.