FEED AND CARE OF POULTRY 257 



prone to get fat and may consume more of it than the Asiatics 

 without injuring their egg production. Com may be fed in 

 larger amounts in cold weather because of its heat producing 

 power. Corn tends to give the yolk of eggs a yellow color. 

 Corn is fed whole, cracked and as corn meal. 



Kaffir Corn is somewhat similar to corn in composition and 

 should make up only a part of a laying hen's ration. This feed 

 is very popular in certain sections and is found in many com- 

 mercial poultry feeds. 



Oats contain sufficient protein to be of value for young fowls. 

 Poultrymen favor heavy oats for feeding and declare that it is 

 one of the best grains to feed alone when other feed is scarce. 



Rye is sometimes fed, but poultry do not seem to relish this 

 grain. 



Wheat is especially desirable for poultry because it is rich in 

 protein and ash and is valuable- in grain mixtures. 



Barley is fed whole or ground and it is often used for fatten- 

 ing. For laying hens barley, like corn, should only form a 

 part of the ration. 



Buckwheat contains considerable carbohydrates and is a fav- 

 orable fattening food when the price is reasonable. It forms 

 fine white skin which is a good factor for market fowls. 



Millet Seed is often fed in poultry rations. It is somewhat 

 similar in composition to oats and may be used in furnishing 

 variety to the ration. It is not so fattening as barley or corn. 



Rice. — Broken rice is often fed and on account of its high con- 

 tent of carbohydrates it is very fattening. 



Peas are good for furnishing protein to the ration. When the 

 market value will permit, the feeding of this grain as a part 

 of the ration is profitable. 



Sunflower Seeds are rich in protein and fat, but their nutritive 

 ratio is narrow enough to consider them a protein feed. These 

 seeds are found in most commercial hen feeds and should be 

 desirable in furnishing variety. 



Flax Seeds are very rich in oil and a small amount in a ration 

 may be fed during the molting season when the oil tends to help 

 in the shedding of feathers. It is perhaps more economical to 



