FEEDING POULTRY 



343 



such as are used for crate fattening, etc., should be made up of both 

 grain and mash mixtures. The grain is needed to provide activity 

 for the muscles of the digestive tract and to keep them in the best 

 working condition. Ground feeds being easily digested do not 

 furnish these muscles with sufficient work. In order to meet the 

 needs of heavy production a part of the ration should consist of soft 

 ground feeds which are easily digested and can rapidly supply the 

 extra needs of heavy egg production, rapid growth and quick 

 fattening. 



Digestibility. The more thoroughly digestible a feed is, the 

 more effective it is. Hay and grains with heavy seed coats are not 



Fio. 100. Interior of modern poultry house. 



as economical feeds for poultry as feeds containing less woody mate- 

 rial because the percentage of digestibility is lower. Variety in- 

 creases the digestibility of a ration. 



Cost is an essential item in feeding poultry. The feed cost of 

 producing a dozen eggs when fowls are fed a well-balanced variety 

 ration, is less than when they are fed only one kind of grain, for 

 instance. The most economical ration is one that secures the best 

 results at the lowest cost. 



Flavor. No feeds should be fed which will injure the ffavor 

 or keeping quality of the products. 



How Much to Feed. There can be no hard and fast rule laid 



