POULTRY RAISING CHICKENS 293 



cold climates during winter, but should not be fed much during the summer. 

 One should be careful not to feed enough corn to make the hens too fat as 

 they will become lazy and will not lay eggs. 



Wheat. Wheat is believed to be the safest grain to feed alone. It is too 

 fattening when fed^alone but not as fattening as corn. When this grain is 

 fed it, should be supplemented by some skim milk or meat feed to increase 

 the amount of protein. Wheat is not as valuable for fattening as corn but 

 is much better for growth. 



Mineral Matter. The 10 percent of mineral matter of an egg is lime. 

 This is used for the shell. Hens can usually get enough lime in the sand and 

 grit they pick up in the summer to supply themselves during that time, but in 

 winter this element must be supplied. Crushed oyster shell, crushed bone, 

 ground rock, sand, old mortar and fine gravel all supply lime. One of these 

 elements should be kept where the hens have access to it at all times. Crushed 

 bone is generally believed to be the best and oyster shell to be the most un- 

 desirable as it seems to injure the alimentary tract of the fowls. Feeding 

 ground rock, ground bone or sand does not do this. 



Green Feed. Hens must have green feed to keep them healthy and in 

 good condition and to make them lay. When the ground is covered with 

 snow, green feed must be given them. Anything that is relished by the fowls 

 is good. Cooked potatoes, cooked turnips, beets, cabbages, steamed clover, 

 or alfalfa hay are fine for this purpose. In feeding vegetables hang them up 

 high enough to make the hens jump for them. Exercise is good for laying 

 hens. 



Sprouted Oats. As a protein or egg-producing feed, oats rank much 

 higher than corn and contain more fat than wheat. Its high proportion of 

 hull to kernel makes it bulky and unpalatable. Sprouting overcomes this 

 difficulty, and also furnishes the green feed so essential. Oats can be sprouted 

 and fed at 4 to 6 inches high more economically than roots or vegetables can 

 be produced. The time required for the growth is short, the amount of suc- 

 culent or green material is large and increased egg production is invariably 

 the result. One hundred pounds of oats can be increased to 350 or 400 pounds 

 of succulent feed. 



Oat-Sprouting Cabinet. Cabinet is thirty inches square and five feet 

 high Wooden trays two. inches deep and thirty inches square are made to fit 

 this rack and slide in and out on cleats nailed to each side of rack. Cleats are 

 placed about eight or ten inches apart. Gimlet holes are bored in the bottom 

 of each tray to drain off the water. Rack is placed in basement or cellar. 

 Oats are soaked over night and the next morning they are spread out on 

 the trays about one and one half inches deep. The oats are sprinkled each 

 day. No artificial heat is used so there is no trouble from mold. In any case 

 this can be avoided by stirring them on the second day. Oats are ready for 

 use in about six days. This is a cheap and easy way to supply green winter 

 feed. (See illustration.) 



