136: THE HOMETPOULTRY BOOK 
Although oats are the grain commonly sprouted 
for green food, barley, wheat or rye may be used 
just as well. The grain should be covered with 
warm water and soaked over night. In the morn- 
ing it may be spread in shallow boxes having drain- 
age holes in the bottom and sprinkled every day with 
a watering can, using hot water. When the sprouts 
are an inch or two long they are just right for 
chickens, but they may be allowed to grow to a 
length of five or six inches for mature fowls. If 
the grain is turned or stirred every day, the shoots 
will not grow as thick as otherwise. This is the 
much advertised secret of food at fifteen cents a 
bushel. 
If the chicks must be raised in the same runs year 
after year, it is a great advantage to cover the sur- 
face with coal ashes, which should be replaced each 
season. The ashes keep the soil from becoming 
foul, tend to keep the ground dry and are relished 
by the chicks, which consume considerable of 
them. 
When laying hens or pullets must be moved, they 
should be kept rather hungry for several days and 
fed in a fresh, deep litter. Being busy hunting 
food, they will be less excited or disturbed over 
