CHAPTER VII.

FEEDING FOR EGG PRODUCTION

As has been said in an earlier chapter, to get the maximum egg production, three things are essential. They are: good foundation stock, proper housing, and proper feeding. We may have the best chicken house in the world, and the highest priced stock obtainable, but if we do not feed our birds the right kind of food, all our other efforts are in vain. Let us consider first a few facts concerning the composition of the egg, and then we will be able to understand more intelligently why we should feed the laying bird these certain feeds.

About 14 per cent of the composition of the egg is protein, 10 per cent fat, and the remainder, except the shell, is water. Now it must be remembered that the ordinary protein supply of most food materials is relatively low. Corn contains about 7 per cent digestible protein, oats and barley about 9 per cent, and bran about 12 per cent. The roughages are considerably lower, while green feeds carry about one or two per cent protein. From this we can get an idea about the necessity of watching the feeding to the extent that this valuable constituent is sufficiently supplied. Furthermore, the hen that is producing these eggs needs a fair amount of this protein for further growth and body upkeep. Another point worth remembering is the fact that the bird, or any other animal, through natural instinct, always sees to it that the first requirement, that of bodily growth and upkeep are maintained first with the food they are given, so that to get the most from the birds, let us not hold them down to just a maintenance ration, but give them enough in addition so that they can not only maintain their body requirements properly, but also have enough food material to yield a product.

The ration for the laying hen should consist of the two forms of grain; first, the whole or cracked grains that comprise the scratch ration, and which should always be thrown in the litter, so that they will have to exercise to get it, and second, the dry mash, or a mixture of various grains that are ground up and fed in hoppers. As has been stated before, this grinding of the feed is simply to make it easily digestible. Furthermore, such finely ground grains usually contain a higher percentage of protein than the other grains. By this is meant that feeds like bran, oilmeal, etc., are quite a bit higher in protein than are grains like corn, wheat, barley, etc.

The next important feed requirement for the laying hen should be a mineral feed of some kind. With many farm and city flocks this important consideration is entirely ignored. Many times the reason for poor egg production rests solely in the lack of proper mineral foods. When it is considered that about 12 percent of the entire egg is composed of shell material, it can readily be seen that the feeding of this material is important, and worthy of attention. We can give the laying bird all the rich feeds that we can buy, but if we withhold from her the material that goes to form the shell, then the bird will be unable to lay her eggs because she has no shell to cover the egg. There are different sources of mineral food, but all authorities are agreed that oyster shells form the most economical source of shell material. These oyster shells can be bought at grocery stores, or poultry supply houses. This material should be placed in a box or, better still, a hopper, where it will be accessible to the birds at all times. Clam shells, lime rock grit, and dry bone in small sizes are other sources of mineral matter, and possibly even better results can be obtained by adding a small quantity of these other feeds to the oyster shells, but plan to have oyster shells as the basis of the mineral supply. Charcoal is sometimes fed to chickens with good results. Some birds eat this, while others will not. It is claimed that charcoal aids in regulating the digestive system of the fowl. One can try this out to satisfy his own ideas in this regard.

Animal feed is the next class of feeds that we will consider in the feeding of our laying flock. It is the testimony of poultrymen that when they hang up a fresh piece of meat in the poultry house, such as a part of a calf, an old horse, rabbit, or any other such carcass, the birds always respond with a much higher yield in egg production. This simply reinforces the statement made in a previous chapter, that animal protein of some kind is needed by the birds if they are to do their best. If meat is supplied, care must be exercised that it does not spoil before it is consumed. It is better to put in small pieces at a time, so that the birds will eat it up quickly. If this meat can be run through a grinder of some kind, it will be eaten much more readily than if it has to be torn to pieces by the birds. Milk of some kind is also an animal protein, as has been repeated here several times. Meat meal or tankage contains a high percentage of protein, and as this is an animal product, it is an economical feed.

Water is our last class of feeds for the laying hen. This can be supplied in two ways. The first way is from the water direct, placed in some kind of a pan that is covered so that the birds can not soil the water, by perching on the edge of the pan, etc. Fresh water should be before the birds at all times, as we have just learned a few pages back that about 65 per cent of the egg is composed of water. Besides this, the birds need water for their body requirements. In the winter when the birds spend practically all of their time in the poultry house, and can not have the opportunity of picking up grass, and other green feeds, we can supply water to them in the form of some kind of green feeds, such as sprouted oats, cabbages, mangoes, or any other vegetables to be had. All these feeds are to be recommended highly, as they not only are composed largely of water, but add bulk to the ration, and aid in keeping the bird laxative. Sprouted oats can be raised in shallow pans, and given to the birds in small quantities at a time. It is usually advisable to have several pans of sprouting oats say, for instance, one for every day in the week, so that a fresh supply can be given to the birds every morning. Nearly every supply house has patent oat sprouters to sell at reasonable prices. Cabbages and mangoes are also fed extensively to the laying birds during the winter months, but provision must be made before hand to raise them in the summer, and to properly store them in the fall, so that they will be fresh when taken out of storage for feeding. One very good way to do this is to pile them together in a basement and cover them with sand.

Let us next consider a few practical grain rations, that have been tried out by successful poultry men. These rations are always classified as scratch rations and dry mash rations. One very good ration is as follows: Scratch Feed, 3 parts cracked corn, 1 part wheat, 1 part oats, 1 part barley. Dry mash, 1½ part bran, 1½ part middlings, 1 part corn meal, 1 part meat scraps or tankage. Another very good practical ration is composed as follows: Scratch feed, 3 parts corn, 1 part oats, and 1 part barley. Dry mash, one part each of bran, middlings, ground corn, ground oats and meat scraps. These feeds should always be measured by weight, and not by bulk.

Now, then, just a few words in regard to the feeding of these grains. Always send the birds to roost with full crops. This is especially important during cold weather. It is much better if they be allowed to fill up on scratch grain rather than dry mash. The scratch ration is more bulky than the mash feed, and helps in keeping the bird warm. In fact, many successful poultry men close the hopper of their dry mash ration during the afternoon, and thus make the birds take the scratch feed in the litter, thereby encouraging the birds to obtain exercise, also.

We will close this chapter with a brief discussion on a recent development in the system of feeding birds. This is in regard to the introduction of artificial light. This practice has successfully passed beyond the “fad” stage and is now being used by successful poultry men all over the country. By supplying this extra light, the working day is thereby lengthened to the extent that the light is prolonged, and consequently, gives the bird a day similar to a summer day in length. The birds, by having this extra period of light, work just that much longer, and as a result, they are able to make more eggs. Everywhere this system has been given a trial, it has been found a paying proposition. One very common method in supplying this light is by connecting the alarm clock to the electric lighting system and setting the alarm at a period around four or five o’clock in the morning. This throws on the light in the chicken house, and then when the owner arises in the morning, he can go out and turn out the lights if it is light enough to do so by that time.

Thus we have considered the main points in feeding for egg production. While we have some of these important feeding principles still fresh in our mind, let us in the next chapter consider feeding birds for their flesh, because one very important part of the poultry business lies in the feeding of birds for meat. In the ordinary flock of birds, there are always some that we want to dispose of, such as the male birds and the culls of the females. If we know how to fatten these, we will be that much better off financially.