15 



feeding steamed cut clover or clover leaves m the mash. Meat food 

 is supplied in the form of ground green bone, cooked offal, such a beef 

 heads, etc., and in the form of animal meal. In Ontario the ground 

 bone is perhaps the best and cheapest, where one has a bone mill ; 

 where not, beef heads, livers, etc., give good results. Animal meal, 

 dried blood, etc., are good foods, but in many cases are more expensive 

 than the others mentioned. However, they are very useful during 

 the hot weather, when it is almost impossible to use fresh meat. 

 Partially decayed meat should not he used, as it is not healthful. 



Wheat is undoubtedly the most popular grain food for fowl in 

 Ontario. It is certainly a good food, and is very much relished by 

 poultry. 



Corn is not used so much in Ontario as in New England States. 

 There it appears to be used quite freely in both summer and winter 

 feeding of fowls. It is used whole, ground, and cracked, the meal 

 being used principally in the mash foods. Cracked corn is used 

 largely for young chicks and fowls when scattered in the litter. The 

 whole corn is rather large and conspicuous ; and, when in the litter, 

 does not give enough exercise. I am of the opinion that corn can be 

 used in portions of Ontario, where it is grown extensively, much more 

 freely than it has been heretofore. Corn is a heating and fattening 

 food, and is therefore best adapted for winter use. It is considered 

 by many, when fed in large quantity, to make the hens fat ; yet it is 

 used extensively by many progressive poultrymen with little or no 

 evil effects. 



Oats should be a first-class food for poultry ; but, owing to the 

 large percentage of hull, they are not relished by chickens, and for 

 this reason they are somewhat indigestible. When ground they are 

 used pretty freely in mash food ; also the rolled and granulated oat- 

 meals are used for feeding young chicks. The ground oat, without 

 the hull, is used extensively for fattening fowl. 



Barley, either whole or ground, is very good. It has lather too 

 much hull ; but otherwise it is a satisfactory food. It is considered 

 by many to be next to wheat in point of value. 



Buckwheat is very popular as an egg-producer, in districts where 

 it is grown extensively. Some difficulty i- at times experienced when 

 first feeding it to fowls in getting them to eat it, but this is usually 

 overcome in a day or so, if other feeds are withheld. Boiling the 

 buckwheat will sometimes staH the birds to eat it. After the birds 

 once get accustomed to its appearance, it is much relished by them. 

 Giound buckwheat is an excellent food to use in a fattening ration. 

 It is somewhat like corn in its fattening properties and therefore it is 

 better for winter than summer use. 



Shorts and wheat bran are both used extensively in making 

 mashes, or soft foods. They are excellent foods to use in maintaining 

 the health of the flock. 



