POULTRY FEEDS AND FEEDING 



ter in roots has about the same value as a pound of dry 

 matter in grains. The value of roots for poultry is not 

 so much for their food content as for the succulence, bulk 

 and beneficial effect which they have on the fowls. A 

 ration for poultry composed of whole and ground grains 

 is highly concentrated and needs some bulky product to 

 make it less forcing to the fowls. Root crops are greatly 

 relished by poultry of all ages and are usually fed by 

 cutting them in half and sticking them on a nail where the 

 poultry can eat them freely at will. 



The mangel or mangel wurzel is one of the best root 

 crops to grow for poultry as it is greatly relished, pro- 

 duces a very large yield per acre, is an easy crop to har- 

 vest and keeps well. Forty tons of mangels may be grown 

 to the acre, furnishing 8500 pounds of dry matter. It is 

 better not to feed roots until after the crop has been har- 

 vested and stored for a few weeks as freshly harvested 

 roots may cause diarrhea. Sugar beets are also very de- 

 sirable as a feed but are more difficult and more expensive 

 to raise than mangels and do not produce a large amount 

 of dry matter per acre. Culled beets or by-products from 

 sugar factories are often available at profitable feeding 

 prices. 



The rutabaga or Swede will produce about 5,000 pounds 

 of dry matter to the acre, is an easy crop to produce and 

 keeps well. This root is not quite as well liked by fowls 

 as mangels but is used considerably and with good suc- 

 cess in feeding poultry. It is the most economical root 

 crop next to the mangels to produce for poultry. Turnips 



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