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.