MAINE DRY MASH
The Maine dry mash formula which is given herewith;the information about the grain ration; the amount, and the cost of food consumed is taken from the Poultryman's Formulary, by Dr.P.T.Woods.
Wheat bran, 20lb av
Yellow corn meal, 10lb av.
Wheat middlings, 10lb av.
Gluten meal, 10lb av.
Linseed meal, 10lb av.
Fine-ground beef scrap, 10lb av.
The above mixture is kept before the fowls all the time in an easy -access covered trough or hopper. In addition each 100 hens receives early in the morning four quarts screened cracked corn scattered in litter.A second feeding is given at ten o'clock, consisting of two quarts whole wheat and two quarts, oats. About 5lb of cut clover are fed dry daily to each 100 birds. In winter mngels or other vegetable food are supplied in moderate quantity, as much as the birds will clean up readily. In summer time the flocks range on grass land. Dry, cracked bone, grit,charcoal,oyster shell, and pure water are kept before the birds all the time. According to bulletin published by Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, the average amount of materials eaten by each hen during one year were as follows;Grain and meal mixture, 90lb, oyster shell, 4lb, grit,2lb; dry cracked bone, 2.4lb;charcoal, 2.4lb;clover, 10lb.Approzimate cost of above yearly allowance for one hen,$1.45. Average egg production for one hen, one year, 144 eggs.
Dust boxes are provided in winter, and I have found no easier or better way to keep down lice. In the spring and early summer I use a considerable quantity of Dalmation insect powder on both fowls and chicks, and spray coops and houses with creosote and kerosene.
HOME-MADE CHICK FOOD.
Most of my chicks are hen hatched,and are given unlimited free range, after a few weeks of age. I have found nothing better for little chick food--say from the time they are twenty-four or twenty-six hours old up to three weeks--than granulated wheat products, granulated corn-meal and pin-head (old fashioned )oatmeal.After this they will thrive on cracked grains and beef scraps.Milk is a valuable adjunct at any period of the chick's life.Three by six feet colony coops make grand quarters for twenty-five chicks each, until they go into winter quarters.
A GROWING DEMAND FOR COLUMBIANS.
There is a growing demand for Columbians, and those who get in on the ground floor , and breed carefully. are bound to profit by it.
To the beginner I say, it is cheaper and better to start with eggs, for no breeder could afford to sell as good birds as one would be likely to raise at the price paid for the eggs, and it is a difficult thing to do-to purchase a fanciers best birds- but many will sell eggs from them at a comparatively moderate price.
H atch your chicks as early as possible in the spring, so as to get the pullets started to lay when eggs are high, for even fanciers must look to the utility side in order to make a good showing at the end of the year. I would say in conclusion, cull closely, mate only good birds, give your customers a square deal, and you will have pleasure and profit in breeding Columbians.
CYRUS BATCHELDER.
