EIGHTH ANNUAI YEAR BOOK— PART X. 607 



must make up this deficiency from some other source which will supply 

 the same in a palatable and concentrated form at a minimum cost. 



A gneat variety of feeding stuffs may be used to good advantage at 

 the different seasons of the year. So far as possible those grown on the 

 farm or those which can be had at any of the feed stores should constitute 

 the major portion of the ration. These should be supplemented by the 

 use of concentrated feeding stuffs which contain a high percentage of 

 both protein and ash matter. 



Animal Feeds. — The by-products of the packing houses furnish by all 

 odds the most valuable and economical source from which to secure the 

 necessary protein and a large amount of the ash matter. These consist 

 of highly nitrogenous feeding stuffs, made from meat scraps, dried blood 

 and dried fish. Blood meal, for instance, is a concentrated food, con- 

 taining a large percentage of protein. The method of preparing the same 

 is so complete that it is absolutely free from any source of infection. 

 When fed in mashes it gives excellent results in the feeding of growing 

 chickens and laying hens. This is especially true when fed in conjunction 

 with corn meal and the other common farm grains. Meat meal may also 

 be used to good advantage in the feeding of the hen flock for egg produc- 

 tion, but is not so good as the blood meal for chickens, due to the fact 

 that it is composed of more bulky material. 



Bone Meal. — Bone meal made from the steamed bones is also much 

 relished and serves an excellent purpose in supplying ash matter. Raw 

 bones, when ground up fine, make a very desirable food. Some form of 

 bone meal should always be supplied to the hen flock. 



Lime. — A large amount of lime is utilized by laying hens in the manu- 

 facture of shells. This can be furnished them during the summer or 

 winter, if confined, by giving them finely powdered oyster shells, lime, 

 previously dried egg shells, or beef bone, finely ground. The egg-eating 

 habit is oftentimes forced upon hens by our failing to furnish them with 

 the necessary elements for the structure of the shell. 



Milk. — Both sour skim milk and buttermilk are excellent feeds for 

 fattening poultry or for laying hens. Whenever obtainable they should 

 be fed, as no other feeding stuff has ever been found that will satisfactorily 

 take the place of these feeds. 



Vegetable Food. — In compounding a ration for fowls, vegetable foods, 

 such as cabbage, turnips, mangels, carrots, clover and alfalfa, serve an 

 exceedingly valuable purpose in supplying the bulk and succulence. They 

 also may be used to good advantage in inducing regular and abundant 

 exercise. For instance, a cabbage may be suspended from the ceiling so 

 that it will hang above the floor within reaching distance of the fowls. 

 In this way they are induced to take exercise. Turnips and other roots 

 may be suspended in a like manner, or they may be fastened on a nail on 

 the wall. Clover and alfalfa make a valuable litter and also furnish some 

 food in the leaves, which are greedily eaten by the hens during the 

 winter season. 



Graiyis. — A wide range of grains may be used to good advantage in 

 the feeding of the poultry flock. The kinds to use are those which are 

 most easily and cheaply obtained. For the laying hen wheat is the food 

 par excellence. From the standpoint of fattening corn is a most excellent 



