Methods of Feeding Layers and Breeders

Abstract

POULTRYMEN are vitally interested in methods of feeding layers and breeding hens to produce the greatest net returns. No one method has been devised that produces the greatest profit in terms of high egg production, low mortality, low labor, low feed cost and high hatchability. Every known feeding method is subject to some variations, and most of them have given satisfactory results with individual poultrymen.Although the free choice method of feeding has been used in Massachusetts many years, poultrymen have constantly asked about its merits compared with feeding all-mash or hand feeding of grain with hopper fed mash. Thus, this experiment was set up with the purpose of answering the above question.REVIEW OF LITERATUREKennard and Bethke (1926) reported a test using the “Big Five” mash (equal parts bran, middlings, yellow corn meal, ground oats and meat scraps) and a scratch feed of 2 parts cracked corn, 1 .