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.