PRAIRIE FARMER'S POULTRY BOOK 



At the end of four weeks change to Ration No. Ill (page 

 46). Note that the mash mixture for No. Ill is the same as 

 for No. I and No. II, so that no change will be required in 

 that portion of the ration. The grain mixture, however, now 

 consists of corn, wheat and oats, a less expensive ration and 

 one presenting a greater variety. 



After the first week green feed should be supplied. Sliced 

 raw potatoes will be greatly relished by the chicks. The tops 

 of sprouted oats or rape also serve well. Dandelion leaves are 

 especially recommended on account of their favorable action 

 on the liver. Beet pulp is a good succulent food. Lettuce and 

 rape are recommended by some poultry keepers. Swiss 

 chard is worth considering. 



If Ration No. IV is used the same general system of feeding 

 is recommended. 



How to Feed for Egg Production 



Use Rations No. V or VI (page 49) for winter feeding. 

 The grain mixture should be thrown in deep clean litter to 

 promote exercise. The mash should be kept before the fowls 

 continually in hoppers on elevated- platform. Otherwise the 

 hoppers will be filled with litter. Near the mash should be 

 a four-compartment hopper with grit, charcoal, oyster shell, 

 and granulated bone. For litter there is nothing better than 

 bright alsike hay. If this cannot be obtained, chopped rye 

 straw or bright wheat straw is advised. If this cannot be ob- 

 tained oat straw should be used as a last extremity. 



The aim should be to secure litter that is not dusty or 

 moldy. Change the litter once a month during the winter 

 and once in three months when the fowls are on free range. 

 For green feed mangel wurzels once a day are valuable. 



Sprouted oats or sprouted rye are greedily consumed by 

 the fowls. In sprouting oats, mold often forms. This can be 

 avoided by washing the trays with a solution of formaldehyde 

 and by adding to the water in which the oats are to be soaked 

 over night a few drops of formaldehyde. Cabbage, carrots, 

 turnips, pumpkins, alfalfa leaves and alsike leaves all give good 

 results as succulent feeds. 



When the days grow warmer a change should be made to 

 Ration No. VIII (page 50). This is a narrower ration but is 

 adapted to summer feeding. Keep the self-feeder full of mash 

 and feed the grain mixture once a day. 



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