Mimeograph Series No. 15 May 
1945
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
of The Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn,Ala.
M. J. Funchess, Director
FE1DING, AYINGMIThS
D. F. KING, Poultry-Lusbandman
Feed is the largest single item in the cost of keeping chickens.
Therefore, it should receive utmost consideration. There is no one best
poultry feed or feeding method. The feed or feeding method that best
utilizes the home-grown or locally available feeds, and that enables the
hens to lay at a reasonable rate should be used. This will, of course,
vary on different farms; consaquently, it is often necessary to formulate
feeding systems tomeet individual requirements, This may-easily be done
by following one of the approved methods given in this publication.
Grains suitable for poultry feeds are relatively low in protein,
.and they must be supplemented fith feeds high in protein if a balanced
ration is to be fed, Almost all feeds high in protein are obtainable only
in ground form, Therefore, cickeas are fed part of their ration ina
ground or mash form, and the remainder as wjhole or cracked grain. For
best results, the mash, is left before the hens in open hoppers at all
times, and the grain is fed in lroi.ted amounts once or twice daily.
GrainRation
There is little variation in the feeding value of grains; therefore,
farmers may use almost any single grain or combination of grains to form
that part of the ration, vholo corn ismnost commonly used, but various
combinations of corn, wheat, oats, barley, milo, and kaffir are also satis-
factory.
Mesh Rationi
The mash used in the. ration, or at least a part-of it,.must usually
be purchased, since the proteir.L'supplerant feeds cannot be economically
pn- rdui ^cedA non-r a ny"rfarms. Thu three etod tatmay be used i4V1n Vobta- i-ningr
lixod protein supleents. &ince corn meal usually makesup about,
50. per cent of any latying mash, it is mere econorical, for a farmer to buy
a mixture of protein suPPi l.,.nienlr.t -,..nd mix wvith his cevn corn ma thain to
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purchase a ready-mixed laying mash. The mixed protein supplements contain-
ing either 26 or 32 por cent protein are available through feed dealers.
Each one hundred pounds of 26-per cent supplement is mixed with 100 pounds
of corn meal to make 200 pounds of laying mash; the 32-per cent supplement
is mixed with corn meal according to the recommendations of the manufacturer.
During warm weather laying mash cannot be kopt more than 2 months without
being damaged considerably by weevils and feed worms. Since a flock 
of 35
hens will consume only about 100 pounds of laying mash in one month, any
farmer who has less than 35 hens and who makes his own laying mash with
supplement will find that it becomes old and damaged before the 200 pounds
can be used.
Home-mixed laying mash. In some communities various protein and
other food ingredients are available through local feed dealers. Where
this service is available, farmers can make their own laying mash by using
what ground grains they havo and purchasing small quantities of one or two
ingredients that are high in protein. This is usually the most economical
way of obtaining laying mash, and it should be considered where 500 or moro
pounds of laying mash is used every 2 months. For flocks of less than 100
hens, the cost of ingredients in the proper amounts is usually so high that
other methods of obtaining laying mash are more economical.
Liquid Milk
Buttermilk and skim milk are two of the very best sources of protein
for chickens, and when they are available in sufficient quantities, farmers
do not need to feed a laying mash. If hens are given all the buttermilk or
skim milk they will drink and all the corn they will eat, they will be get-
ting a well balanced ration, Every 25 hens will drink approximately one
gallon of milk per day. For further information regarding this method of
feeding hens and a comparison between this and other methods, write for
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Circular No. 66.
Formulas for Laying Mash
The following is the most cormon and one of the most satisfactory
home-mixed laying mash farmulas known. The ingredionts are usually avail-
able and can be mixed in 500-pound units without the use of scales.
Farm Laying Ivash
Corn meal ..... ...................... 200 pounds
VWheat bran or ground oats .......... ,. 100 pounds
Whoat shorts ........................ 100 pounds
Cottonseed meal, peanut meal, or
soyboan meal ....................... 50 pounds
Meat scraps, fish meal, or high grade
tankage .................. ?........ . 50 pounds
For farmers or commercial poultrymen who have rather large flocks
and who can afford to devote more time and effort to obtaining a better
balanced mesh, the following formula is recommondod:
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Commorcial Laying Mash
Corn meal . ........ ................... 35 pounds
Wheat shorts ..,,........................ 13 pounds
Wheat bran ..................... ... 13 pounds
Ground oats ............ ,,, ....... 13 pounds
*Meat and bone meal ...................... 8 pounds
* Dried buttermilk ............. ,..... 3 pounds
* Fish meal .......................... , 3 pounds
* Pe nut meal ..................... ,...., 2 pounds
* Soybean meal ............ .. .. 2 pounds
alfalfa leaf meal ..................... 5 pounds
Oyster shell (fine) ................... 1 pound
Bone meal ................ ..... ....... , 1 pound
Salt ..... ,.... .. ,.... , .... ?...?,.. 1 pound
Total ........ 100 pounds
During the fall and winter months when the birds are confined to
the house, it is advisable to add cod liver oil to the mash in amounts
recommended by the manufacturer. If skim milk or buttermilk is regularly
available in quantities of four gallons per day for each 100 hens, the
feeds marked * may be omitted from the formula and an equal amount of corn
meal substituted. Bright green hay should be fed in racks daily during
the winter when succulent green feed is not available.
Daily Feeding 
Schedule
The scratch grain is scattered in the litter or fed in the troughs
each evening at the rate of 10 to 12 pounds per 100 hens. If it is not
completely consumed by one hour after daylight of the following day, the
amount is reduced to the extent that it will be consumed within that period
of time, As far as possible, birds should be fed according to their appe-
tities rather than by measure. The dry mash should be accessible in open
hoppers continuously. If green feed or moist mash is fed, it is given at
noon. Clean water, grit, and oyster shell should be avilable at all 
times.