178 Farm Poultry 



hens, but when mixed with other grains it is most 

 highly prized. 



Buckwheat. Buckwheat, like wheat, when fed 

 alone, has too wide a nutritive ratio and produces 

 white flesh and light-colored yolks. These are 

 objectionable features to most Americans, but 

 in some large cities the foreign population prefers 

 white skin and light-colored flesh. This grain has 

 never been so popular as a poultry food in the 

 United States as corn or wheat. 



Oats. Oats are considered a most excellent 

 food, and perhaps come nearer the ideal than any 

 other single grain, particularly if the hull or outer 

 covering is removed. This hull, being tough and 

 woody and quite indigestible, is not relished by 

 the fowls, although some fowls will learn to eat 

 whole oats. Oats also tend to give the fowl light- 

 colored flesh and light-colored skin. On this account 

 oats are not recommended for a finishing food, 

 unless skin and shanks of a light color are desired. 



Linseed meal. A little linseed meal in the ground 

 food serves a most valuable purpose, particularly 

 at the molting period. "Hens having linseed 

 meal molted nearly all at the same time, earlier 

 in the season, and more rapidly."* 



Green food in general. When fowls are some- 

 what closely confined in yards or pens, it will be 

 necessary to supply some kind of green food in 



*Bulletin No. 39, New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 



