294 PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



constantly. Two grain feeds are given in the litter each day 

 to get the fowls to exercise. This is a mixture of one part 

 oats, two parts cracked corn, and three parts wheat. 



Wet mashes are very commonly fed to chickens of all ages. 

 They are very effective as forcing feeds, but the careless use 

 of them tends to produce disease of various forms. The two 

 mixtures given here may be slightly changed to suit different 

 conditions. 



Wet Mash No. 1. — One hundred pounds each of ground 

 oats, ground corn, ground barley, and bran. 



Wet Mash No. 2. — Equal parts by weight of ground 

 corn, bran, ground oats, and cut clover or cut alfalfa. 



These are each supplemented with grain, fed in the litter; 

 and grit, shell, and charcoal in boxes. Meat scraps are 

 usually given separate from the wet mash. 



Exercise. — Poultry Rations. — All the pupils who have 

 poultry at home should tell of the daily system of feeding 

 and watering, and of the rations fed. Men or women who 

 are successful poultry raisers may be invited to tell the school 

 their plans of feeding and other practical points. 



Succulent Feed. — Chickens should have plenty of suc- 

 culent green feed, if possible. The best forms of this in 

 winter are cabbage, turnips, and beets; as substitutes clover 

 and alfalfa hay may be fed wet or dry, either whole or cut 

 fine. Growing rye or other winter crops furnish green feed 

 in late fall and early spring. Oats may be sprouted in flat 

 boxes in a warm room and fed to the fowls daily (Fig. 

 202). 



Care of Poultry. — Poultry raising is an art most easily 

 acquired by practice combined with a study of the principles 

 underlying it. 



The health of the fowls must be guarded. They must be 

 kept free from vermin. Brush crude oil (petroleum) on the 

 roosts once a week through the warm weather. Spray this 

 oil on the walls and in the nest boxes. The conditions and 



