Meat for Eggs—A Canadian Hen-Man's Advice.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7537, 13 August 1903, Page 4

Meat for Eggs—A Canadian Hen-Man's Advice.

The Garden and Field has repeatedly drawn the attention of poultry-keepers to the necessity for feeding a nitrogenous diet if the hens are to be stimulated to do their best as layers. Yet it is hard to convince some good people that it is a heavy drain on a hen to lay many eggs, especially in the cold season of the year. There are four main points in getting eggs in the cold season. Tho first is hatching at tho right time; the second is feeding tlio fowls; the third is the right strain of fowl—not breed only, but egglaying strain; tbe fourth is keep young birds.

In this connection it is worth while printing the following extract from the Maratimc Homestead of Canada. Of course, in that country of bitter snowbound winters housing is a very great factor. Tho Ilartland Poultry Yard writes:—" We well know that in all branches of business there are those who take advantage of opportunities, and seek the benefit of a rise in price. In selling eggs, or procuring them, the matter of cost must bo considered only in relation to the price. We can better afford to incur an expense of two dollars in place of one dollar where the chances for profit are twice as great, than not to derive any benefit at all.

There are poultry-men that buy beef at good prices to feed when eggs are high in price, and it pays thctn well. Just here I would say to those who complain of receiving no eggs, to change tho food by giving a good supply of meat once a day. A. pound will supply twelve fowls, and if kept warm they will nearly always lay under a meat diet.

A good plan is to chop a pound of meat, and add to it a quart of boiled beans, and thicken the mess with ground oats until it is thick. Feed this once a day to about thirty hens with oats (or wheat, which is better), maize at night, and the probabilities are that they will lay in the coldest weather. liens cannot lay or produco eggs when their food contains none of the elements of which the eggs are composed—that is, a large share of albuminous or egg-producing elements.

In addition to the quantity of albumen required in the organism of tbo fowl, the laying hen requires an extra amou_t for the white of an egg, it being twelve per cent, albumen, and this must bo furnished in her food. Chemical analyses of different grains show wheat to contain a larger amount of albumen than any other grain. Let me say right here that pure water is also essential to laying fowls, for thero is nearly as much wator in a pound of eggs as in a pint of milk.