FEEDING OF POULTRY 415 



As an example of a day's ration which would cor- 

 respond to the requirements of the standard given for 

 young chicks during the second week the following is 

 stated: Four pounds of cracked wheat, two pounds of 

 granulated oatmeal, three pounds of corn meal, one-half 

 pound each of wheat middlings, buckwheat middlings, 

 ground oats, and old process linseed meal, two and one- 

 fourth pounds of animal meal, and two and three-fourths 

 pounds of young green alfalfa. This would feed from 

 800 to 1,000 chicks of this age. 



Another ration in accord with the standard given 

 for ducklings about three weeks old might be consti- 

 tuted as follows: Eight pounds corn meal, three pounds 

 wheat middlings, two pounds ground barley, two pounds 

 of old process linseed meal, six pounds of animal meal, 

 two pounds of fresh bone, and three pounds of young 

 green alfalfa. This and other specimen rations are given 

 under the assumption that free supplies of sharp grit, as 

 well as water, are also provided. 



505. Adaptability of various foods for fowls. A con- 

 sideration of the adaptability of the different foods, 

 aside from their composition, and of the apparent require- 

 ments of the young at different periods suggests a ration 

 somewhat wider in nutritive ratio for the first few days 

 than for some weeks afterward. 



In providing a ration, it may be possible to devise 

 one in accord with the formal standard which will be 

 decidedly inefficient at times if the chemical composi- 

 tion and coefficients of digestibility are alone considered. 

 The adaptability of foods that are palatable must be con- 

 sidered. The difference in the energy required to digest 

 various foods which can supply equal proportions of 

 digestible matter may be important sometimes. 



