CHAPTER V 

 Feeds and Feeding 



The subject of feeding for eggs demands the most 

 careful attention on the part of the poultry keeper who 

 would get best results. The breed, quarters, season of 

 the year, foods available and cost, all have an important 

 bearing. The prime function of food is to support life 

 — to keep I the body warm. Any excess over the 

 amount required for this purpose is turned into energy 

 of one kind or another and with fowls generally goes 

 to eggs or growth. Therefore, to secure an abundance 

 of eggs it becomes necessary to feed the hen such a 

 variety and quantity of foods as will supply her bodily 

 needs and leave a surplus that will be turned into 

 eggs. No single food forms a complete ration for 

 poultry. They may subsist for a time on one, but 

 sooner or later will cease to thrive and eventually per- 

 ish by starvation. It is fortunate that a variety is 

 required, for this allows the poultry keeper to select 

 such foods as will make up a ration to give the best 

 results with his flock. 



Corn is the most widely used of any grain in 

 Arrierica. This because it is cheap and abundant, 

 raised by most farmers, nearly always at hand, easy to 

 handle and universally liked by poultry. In fact, fowls 

 prefer corn to any other grain and when fed a mixture 

 will pick up the corn first. But corn is a heating and 

 fattening food and needs other grains to properly 

 balance it. It should be fed in greater quantities in 

 winter than in summer, and more to the active breeds 

 than to the larger, sluggish ones 



