PRACTICAL FEEDING OF POULTRY 



Charcoal is also used by some poultry fatteners although 

 others do not believe it is essential or worth while. It 

 probably assists in correcting digestive troubles and keep- 

 ing the birds in good condition by its ability to absorb 

 gases. There is some difference of opinion as to its value 

 for any kind of poultry and many poultrymen do not use 

 it at all, but as the amount of charcoal consumed by fowls 

 or chickens is very small it probably is at least worth the 

 small cost involved. Some poultrymen make their own 

 charcoal by occasionally burning a few sticks of hard- 

 wood for this purpose. Most commercial mash mixtures 

 contain a small per cent of charcoal. 



WATER 



Fresh clean water should always be kept before poultry 

 of all ages. An egg with the shell contains over 73 per 

 cent water, making it very necessary that a large supply 

 of water be furnished all kinds of poultry. The drink- 

 ing vessels must be kept clean and should be thoroughly 

 cleaned and washed at least once a week, and should be 

 scalded once a month. 



It is essential to supply fresh water 2 or 3 times daily 

 in houses where the water freezes during the winter and 

 this should also be done during hot summer weather 

 when the water soon becomes very warm and stale and 

 where the fowls are apt to drink all the water rather 

 quickly. Fowls will drink considerably more water if 

 the water is kept fresh than where it is only changed once 

 a day and becomes warm and stale. Throughout the 



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