190 



FEEDING STUFFS 



a rack. The rack is kept in a room where the temperature is 

 not less than 60° F., and the sprouting oats are thoroughly 

 sprinkled with water twice daily. In from seven to ten days, 

 depending on the temperature of the room, the sprouts reach 

 their best development, which is from four to six inches. After 

 this, if they are not fed quickly, they go backward, owing to 

 lack of nourishment in the seed. It is found that on the seventh 

 day, with a temperature of 75° F., the oats are in the best condi- 

 tion to feed, having taken up during the soaking and sprouting 

 period three and two-thirds their original weight of water. Figure 

 116 shows the oats on the seventh day ready to feed. The best 



way to feed them is in 

 broad, flat, open troughs, 

 placing as much of the 

 green material in the 

 trough at one time as 

 the birds will clean up 

 immediately, leaving 

 none to be scratched out 

 and wasted. Under aver- 

 age flock conditions one 

 square inch of feeding 

 surface per bird per day 

 is sufficient to satisfy 

 their appetites and sup- 

 ply the succulence nec- 

 essary, without causing 

 diarrhoea. The sprouting 

 oats are very palatable, being relished by every bird in the flock. 

 It has been tried in some cases with sick birds which would not eat 

 grain, and in nearly every instance was eaten greedily. 



Advantage of Sprouted Oats. — (1) Sprouting of oats for feeding 

 is a simple process, requiring little time and attention, and in 

 every case results are certain. A sprouting rack similar to the one 

 shown in figure 115 is capable of supplying a continuous quan- 

 tity of green feed for over 500 laying hens during the winter months. 

 (2) Oats so prepared and fed to laying birds are very palatable 

 and satisfying, much more so than when fed as whole grain. (3) 

 This is the most economical method of feeding oats, 366 pounds 

 of succulent feed being obtained from every one hundred pounds 

 of dry oats. In every case where sprouted oats were fed to birds 



Fia. 116. — A tray of sprouted oats ready for feeding 

 Each bird receives one square inch per day. 



