THE HEN

Wairarapa Age, 27 March 1920, Page 7

THE HEN

, A NATIONAL ASSET. i i. i Practically every dairy farmer main tairts a flock of chickens. They are as much a part of his equipment as anything else on the farm. They provide an essential part of the family's food, and, also add to the family's pocketbook. Never before has the hen played a more conspicuous part in tho nation's agriculture. She is receiving as much attention from station officials, from county agents and extension departments as does th.e dairy cow of- the pig, the horse or the fat animal,

and considerably more than sheep. She, is selected according to typo. Poultry mon who know hens can judge them and determine their value _ as accurately as dairymen can judge dairy cattle. She is fed for egg production, as the dairy cow is fed for milk production. She must have her maintenance food, her shell food, her yolk food, all balanced, if good results are to be obtained. The average hen, like tho average cow, is a very low producer. In sonio States average number of eggs per year is 86. By selection and breeding, the average could bo mado considerably higher. Liko the dairy cow, she is sensitive to uncleanliness and poor sanitation. Experience has recently proved that she will not operate in unclean quarters. One poultryman with 440 hens found that with clean litter tho egg production each day was 212. He left tho litter six weeks -without cleaning, and the eggs laid fell to 8(f a day. Clean litter in two weeks sent the egg yield up to over 200 a day. Hens, like cows, will not respond when the owner is negligent, careless, and unqlean.