POULTRY-HOUSE FITTINGS 



169 



grains may be sufficiently mixed by scooping alternately from the 

 different bins to the pail in which the food is carried. 



Bone cutters. The only machine that will reduce fresh bone to 

 form suitable for poultry food is a bone cutter, which shaves the 

 bone ; green bone cannot be ground. The old-style bone mill for dry 

 bones is now rarely seen. In general, it does not pay to use a bone 

 cutter unless it can be run by power. When power can be secured, 

 the most common difficulty is to get regular and sufficient supplies 

 of bone at reasonable prices, for the supply is usually very limited. 



FIG. 265. Homemade feed mixer, 

 used by Henry D. Smith 



FIG. 266. Same as Fig. 265. Hopper 

 hung up after filling barrel 



Hay cutters. Every poultryman who has room to grow his 

 own clover or alfalfa, or can purchase either (properly cured) 

 from a farmer, should consider a hay cutter a necessity. Most 

 poultry keepers pay too much for this class of food. One or the 

 other of the grasses mentioned can be grown anywhere. Enough 

 for several thousand fowls can be cut by hand power in a 

 short time. 



Root cutters. Root cutters are not often needed. It is usually 

 much better to feed roots whole or simply split, letting the poultry 

 pick them to pieces and eat them deliberately. 



