238 POULTRY BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



But neither wheat nor corn is a perfect ration, and other 

 foods must be fed to ''balance" it. It is a waste of food 

 and labor to feed either wheat or corn alone. 



It is an interesting fact that those states which are the 

 largest producers of corn are the heaviest producers of 

 poultry and eggs. This does not, however, prove the 



A THRESHING SCENE 

 The chickens will thresh their own grain and save the threshing bill. 



superiority of corn, but it disproves the old notion that 

 corn is not a good poultry food. 



Oats. Pound for pound, oats are not worth as much for 

 chickens as wheat or corn. Fowls do not relish oats as 

 well as those grains. The large amount of hull on the oats 

 is an objection. The hulls are largely indigestible. Minus 

 the hulls, oats would be an excellent food for laying or 

 fattening fowls. Oats are not as fattening as corn or wheat, 

 and many poultrymen feed considerable quantities of oats 

 to prevent the hens becoming too fat. Special care should 

 be used in selecting oats, as they vary a good deal in quality. 

 Only heavy, plump oats should be fed. The chief value of 



