190 FEEDING STUFFS 
a rack. The rack is kept in a room where‘the temperature is 
not less than 60° F., and the sprouting oats are thoroughly 
sprinkled with water twice daily. In from seven to ten days, 
depending on the temperature of the room, the sprouts reach 
their best development, which is from four to six inches. After 
this, if they are not fed quickly, they go backward, owing to 
lack of nourishment in the seed. It is found that on the seventh 
day, with a temperature of 75° F., the oats are in the best condi- 
tion to feed, having taken up during the soaking and sprouting 
period three and two-thirds their original weight of water. Figure 
116 shows the oats on the seventh day ready to feed. The best 
way to feed them is in 
broad, flat, open troughs, 
sie Si mF placing as much of the 
green material in the 
trough at one time as 
the birds will clean up 
immediately, leaving 
none to be scratched out 
and wasted. Under aver- 
age flock conditions one 
square inch of feeding 
surface per bird per day 
is sufficient to satisfy 
their appetites and sup- 
Fic. 116.—A tray of sprouted oats ready for feeding. ply the succulence Des 
Each bird receives one square inch per day. essary, without causing 
diarrhea. The sprouting 
oats are very palatable, being relished by every bird in the flock. 
It has been tried in some cases with sick birds which would not eat 
grain, and in nearly every instance was eaten greediiy. 
Advantage of Sprouted Oats —(1) Sprouting of oats for feeding 
is a simple process, requiring little time and attention, and in 
every case results are certain. A sprouting rack similar to the one 
shown in figure 115 is capable of supplying a continuous quan- 
tity of green feed for over 500 laying hens during the winter months. 
(2) Oats so prepared and fed to laying birds are very palatable 
and satisfying, much more so than when fed as whole grain. (3) 
This is the most economical method of feeding oats, 366 pounds 
of succulent feed being obtained from every one hundred pounds 
of dry oats, In every case where sprouted oats were fed to birds 
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