POULTRY FEEDS AND FEEDING 



siderable value where so much highly concentrated feed is 

 used. Where no green feed is used epsom salts will assist 

 in keeping the fowl's digestive system is fair condition, 

 but far better results are secured by natural methods, 

 using green feed. Epsom salts used for this purpose are 

 fed at the rate of one pound dissolved in drinking water 

 for 100 hens, used once every week or ten days. The ordi- 

 nary growing grasses furnish the bulk of the green feed 

 eaten by poultry and green growing grass secured by the 

 fowls on range is the best possible source of green feed. 



GRASSES 



Immature grass contains a much larger proportion of 

 crude protein than does hay and other grasses cut at 

 maturity when the carbohydrates have been formed, but 

 the total food content both of crude protein and of carbo- 

 hydrates is much greater if the hay is grown to maturity. 

 Kentucky blue grass or June grass is one of the best 

 grasses for pasture and it is also one of the richest in 

 crude protein and fat content. This grass should be 

 gazed lightly in the spring and early summer so that it 

 can withstand the hot, dry weather of mid-summer and 

 freshen up and make splendid grazing in the fall and 

 winter. It is one of thet best grasses for poultry ranges 

 or yards in the northeastern part of the United States. 

 Timothy is one of the best hay crops in the northeastern 

 states but not so good a pasture grass for poultry as blue 

 grass or red top. Red top is adapted to a wide range of 

 climatic conditions, being especially useful in the north 



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