164 Farm Poultry 



ration, these deficiencies should be supplied in 

 some acceptable form. Animal meal, cut bone, 

 animal charcoal and bone ash are all used for 

 this purpose. 



Wheat. Wheat is preferred to corn by many 

 because it is not quite so fattening, and is, there- 

 fore, a somewhat safer food in the hands of the 

 unskilled feeder. On account of the low price of 

 wheat in recent years, it is becoming a very com- 

 mon poultry food. Wheat, when fed alone, pro- 

 duces eggs having much lighter - colored yolks 

 than are produced by a corn ration. Wheat 

 alone has somewhat too wide a nutritive ratio 

 for best results. This grain should be supple- 

 mented by some meat food or skimmed milk in 

 order that the proportion of protein may be ma- 

 terially increased. Wheat should not form all of 

 the grain ration of laying hens, but when mixed 

 with other grains it is most highly prized. 



Buckwheat. Buckwheat, like wheat, when fed 

 alone, has too wide a nutritive ratio and pro- 

 duces white flesh and light-colored yolks. These 

 are objectionable features to most Americans, but 

 in some large cities the foreign population pre- 

 fers white skin and light-colored flesh. This 

 grain has never been so popular as a poultry food 

 in the United States as corn or wheat. 



Oats. Oats are considered a most excellent 

 food and perhaps come nearer the ideal than 



