88 POULTRY FOR PROFIT 



estimated. It is not primarily an egg producer, as 

 animal food is, but it is so essential to the health 

 of the fowls that there can be no steady production 

 without it. 



Green feed is equally important to growing chicks 

 and contains mineral salts that are very essential 

 to growth and well-being. 



Probably alfalfa, containing as it does 4.94 per 

 cent crude protein, which is nearly one-fourth the 

 solid matter which composes it, is the best green 

 feed for poultry. On most large poultry plants a 

 patch of alfalfa is grown and cut up in the clover 

 cutter for the daily noon meal of the fowls. Where 

 other greens are needed, cabbage, kale, Swiss chard, 

 collards, turnips, mustard and lawn clippings may 

 all be utilized. Rape is excellent for growing in 

 poultry pens. Kale requires less water than other 

 greens and may be kept growing the year round. 

 Lettuce is the best green feed for baby chicks. 



Sprouting Oats 



When a sufficient quantity of other greens can- 

 not be had, sprouted oats are a very good substi- 

 tute, but they must not be allowed to grow too long 

 unless they can be cut fine. The fowls relish them 

 most when the sprouts are from a quarter to a half 

 inch in length. 



To sprout oats, soak them twenty-four hours, 

 then spread on the bottom of a box which has cracks 

 enough for drainage. Spread a burlap sack over 

 the oats and sprinkle sack and oats often enough to 

 keep them moist. If they can be put in a rather 

 dark place they will sprout more quickly. In four 

 or five days they are ready to feed. By keeping sev- 



