NUTRITION" POIl LAYERS 49 



These rations are for grain feed; green food and extras 

 slioiild also be fed. 



Various Grains — Sorghum seed is somewhat like 

 corn in composition and effect. Such grains as Kafir 

 corn, milo maize, millet, durra, chicken corn, may be 

 fed to some extent in place of wheat for varietj'. 

 Some of these grains are small and make good chick 

 food or a good scratching food for fowls. Hulled 

 broom corn seed is about equal to wheat. 



Standard Grains — Corn is heating and fattening. 

 It should be balanced with meat, bone, bran, gluten, 

 linseed and such feeds. Cracked corn if fed dry should 

 be sifted to prevent waste. Corn on the cob is a handy 

 farm feed and affords some exercise. Corn or meal 

 which has been injured by heating and souring should 

 never be given young chickens. 



Wheat is considered the safest grain, but is usually 

 more expensive than corn. Number 2 wheat if bought 

 with care is nearly equal in results to ^Number 1, if 

 merely small, broken or scorched. But screenings con- 

 tain many seeds not eaten by the fowls, while sour or 

 burned wheat is not satisfactory. Bran, shorts and 

 middlings are good with corn meal but not relished 

 alone. Waste bread from bakeries, soaked and mixed 

 with middling-s, is good for fowls and chicks. 



Oats are fed chiefly for variety, not being well 

 liked on account of the husk, unless clipped, when they 

 are relished and make one of the best of whole grains 

 to produce eggs. They are a good offset to corn and 

 nearly as nutritious as wheat. Coarse oatmeal and 

 rolled oats are good chick food and easily fed dry. 



Barley is much like wheat in results but is less 

 relished. It need not be fed imless it can be had cheap. 

 Barley shorts are very nutritious. 



Buckwheat is fattening and quite well liked by 

 fowls, but not much used except whore it is especially 



