180 Farm Poultry 



period aids in the production of the new coat of 

 feathers. 



The whole grain should be fed once or twice a 

 day and scattered in the litter during the cold 

 months or whenever the fowls do not have ample 

 opportunity to take exercise out of doors. This 

 grain may be scattered in the litter at noon and 

 given in such quantity that the fowls will eat 

 it up clean. In fact, they should not be given 

 quite all they want to eat. They should be made 

 to scratch over the litter and pick out the last 

 kernels. At night, about an hour before they go 

 on the perches, the last meal of the day may be 

 given them. This should be given in such quan- 

 tities that it will all be consumed and still afford 

 the fowls about all they care to eat. In other 

 words, they should go on the perches at night 

 with full crops. During the night they have 

 nothing to do except to digest and assimilate 

 the evening meal. 



Litter. Straw, either cut or whole, makes a 

 good litter for poultry houses for both winter and 

 summer. Hay may also be used for this purpose 

 if it is more convenient or cheaper than straw. 

 Buckwheat hulls are preferred by many on ac- 

 count of cheapness. In the vicinity of mills, 

 where large quantities of buckwheat are floured, 

 buckwheat hulls may be obtained cheaply. 

 Shredded corn fodder makes satisfactory litter, 



