GREEN FOODS AND GRAIN 299 



tein in any form, will cause diarrhoea, and such foods 

 should be fed with care. 



Kinds of Green Foods. — Perhaps one of the best forms 

 of green food for laying hens is stock beets. Other suc- 

 culent feeds that may be given with good results are enimier- 

 ated in the order of their desirableness : cabbage, turnips, 

 potatoes, apples. Properly cured clover or alfalfa swollen 

 by soaking equals or exceeds stock beets, but the trouble 

 of preparation is sometimes an objection. 



Sprouted oats also make good green food, but require 

 some practice for preparation. Which of these the poul- 

 tr3rman uses should be decided entirely by availability 

 and cheapness. Alfalfa is frequently used on account of 

 its being an easy matter to store a sufl&cient supply with- 

 out fear of deterioration. 



Feeding the Range Stock. — No particular effort should 

 be made to force the young stock oh the range other than 

 to keep them growing rapidly. As a rule they should be 

 given grain of the standard mixture fed to the hens, three 

 times daily. Occasionally wet or dry mash should be fed 

 at noon for variety. Under most favorable conditions the 

 ranges are sufficiently supplied with running water, and 

 furnish an abundance of grit or small stone. 



When their combs begin to redden and develop, the pul- 

 lets should be taken to the laying houses and made com- 

 fortable before cold weather begins. They should then be 

 fed for early and continuous egg production. 



Essential Points of a Good Ration. — According to an 

 eminent authority " the greatest profit is realized when an 

 abundance of food best suited to produce the greatest vigor 

 of the reproductive system is available to the hens." The 

 essential points of a good ration for fowls are that : 



