CHAPTER XI. 

 POULTRY FEEDS. 



THE previous chapter has dealt with the requirements of the 

 individual and the principles of nutrition. It was shown that the 

 requirements of birds for different purposes are constantly chang- 

 ing, and that special factors are to be considered in selecting suit- 

 able feeds for the various purposes. It is the plan of this chapter 

 to take up the various materials which are available and practical 

 for poultry feeding, their classification, and the way in which they 

 can be most economically used. The analyses given are taken from 

 reports of experiment stations and represent many hundreds of 

 samples in each case. Only whole grains and their common by- 

 products are considered. There are a multitude of manufactured 

 poultry feeds and ready-mixed rations sold under special brand 

 names. To learn the composition and desirability of such special 

 rations, poultry men should refer to feed analysis bulletins pub- 

 lished in each State in which they are sold. 



Sources of Nutrients. All materials fed to poultry may be 

 divided into two classes, organic and inorganic. The inorganic 

 or mineral feeds are water, salt, lime, and phosphate. These 

 natural substances are found only in limited quantities in vegetable 

 feeds, such as grains. 



Water. As has been stated, water is essential in the ration to 

 maintain right conditions in the bird's body and to supply the 

 amount required for the manufacture of eggs, as one dozen eggs 

 contain approximately one pint of water. Water is supplied to 

 the birds in the following ways: (1) Fresh water to drink, and 

 (2) succulent feeds to eat, such as green grass, sprouted oats, beets, 

 cabbage, and other vegetables. 



Salt. Salt is supplied to increase palatability and to aid diges- 

 tion by diffusion. It should be supplied when necessary in the 

 ration to the extent of not over four ounces to every one hundred 

 pounds of dry feed. 



Lime. The shell of the fresh egg is composed almost entirely 

 of lime. Compounds of lime are used in building bone and are 

 found to a limited extent in other body tissues. Grains are 

 rather deficient in lime, and it is necessary to supply other lime 

 if birds are kept in close confinement. The practical sources 

 184 



