The Corning Mash the Secret
The amount of Mash fed in the troughs varies in accordance with the way the birds clean it up. The point aimed at being to feed in each House the quantity that the birds will about clean up, by roosting time. The intention is that their first food in the morning shall be obtained by their vigorous scratching in the litter. All the grain is fed at one time, in the afternoon, and is not forked into the litter, as the birds have worked all day up to this time, it is desired that they fill up rather easily from feeding time till dark. As they move and scratch they bury the surplus grain most effectively in the litter, thus saving considerable labor, which is expended on many poultry farms, by using the pitch fork to place the grain deep in the straw.
When the pullets are first put into the Laying House, about ten pounds of Mash is placed in each trough, this being estimated as sufficient for each one hundred birds. If it is not cleaned up, the amount, the next day, is decreased, but if entirely consumed the quantity is increased.
Over and over again it is stated in articles that large quantities of animal food and rich meals in the mash are very stimulating and wear the hen out. This is a great mistake. When the hen is being supplied with the proper ingredients for a large egg production she is not being stimulated, but rather helped and sustained in the natural way.