66 The Essentials of Poultry Raising 



145. Forms in Which Corn Is Fed. Corn is fed whole to lay- 

 ing hens. Cracked corn is fed to chicks and to young chickens 

 on range. Ground corn or corn meal is used in the ground mix- 

 tures for- young chickens, in the mash for the birds on range, 

 and for laying hens. Gluten feed is a by-product of the com 

 used in the manufacture of starch and is rich in protein. It 

 is therefore one of our most useful high protein vegetable feeds 

 for mash mixtures. 



146. Wheat. Wheat is richer in protein or muscle-building 

 nutrients than corn and is fed as whole wheat to young chicks, 

 growing chickens, and laying hens. Cracked wheat is fed 

 to baby chicks. There are three by-products of wheat, namely : 

 shorts, middHngs, and bran. These by-products are used in the 

 mash mixtures for both young and old birds. 



147. Rye and Barley. Rye and barley are not quite so good 

 for feed as wheat, but may be used as a substitute when found 

 necessary. 



148. Oats. Oats are one of the standard feeds, both for old 

 birds, as whole oats, and as crushed oats in the mash for young 

 and old birds. Hulled oats and pinhead oats are used in feed- 

 ing young chickens. 



149. Rice and Buckwheat. Rice and buckwheat are not used 

 extensively, but can be used partly as substitutes for wheat, 

 corn, and oats. 



150. Cottonseed Meal. Cottonseed meal is rich in protein, but 

 it contains a poisonous substance called gossypol. If too much 

 is fed, it has a bad effect on birds, causing them to become sick 

 of it, lose their appetite, and even die. Not over 10 per cent of 

 cottonseed meal should be fed in the mash feed. If not more 

 than 10 per cent is fed in the mash, it proves a good feed for 

 young chicks and for laying hens. Cottonseed meal sometimes 

 causes dark brown yolks in the eggs. Most people object to 

 these brown yolks, though they in no way render the eggs 

 unwholesome. 



