84 The Truth About the Poultry Business 



amount of grains. Grains should be used according to their 

 laxative and constipating qualities. Brans from the same 

 wheat may vary a little in their laxative qualities. Brans 

 from some grains are laxative, while brans from others are 

 not. Middlings are constipating — some far more than others 

 — and differ much more than brans. Some middlings, like 

 some brans, are not as good for fowls as others. Grade 

 No. 2 of middlings are often nothing but shorts, and flour 

 middlings often produce watery droppings. Always use mid- 

 dlings No. 1 that are not shorts or flour. If you use shorts, 

 buy them; but do not pay middling prices for them. 



To make hens lay, the ration should be accurately bal- 

 anced with protein, which is supplied with either meat or 

 milk. A rich food, such as corn must be supplied, for it 

 must be remembered that the richest part of the wheat (the 

 flour) is not contained in the bran and middlings. Corn is 

 a heavy constipating food when the very best grade is used, 

 but when the best grade is not used it produces bowel- 

 trouble, watery droppings and white-diarrhoea. The best 

 grade of whole yellow corn is the best poultry food, regard- 

 less of the season of the year. When it is not of the best 

 grade, or where corn-meal is used that is sifted from cracked 

 corn, it kills more chicks and causes more bowel-trouble 

 among hens than all other causes combined. 



Oats are always classed as laxative, for they often cause 

 the droppings to become watery, and if a large amount are 

 fed to chicks they will occasionally cause a watery or pasty 

 dropping similar to white-diarrhoea. My experience with 

 oats and middlings is that they are constipating, but when 

 used under some conditions they are laxative. Use the large, 

 heavy white oats; light oats that are nothing but hulls are 

 worthless. These statements are made to show you that 

 you must use the greatest care in selecting your mill feeds — 



