CHAPTER XXIII 



HOME-GROWN POULTRY FEEDS 



The possibility of growing some of the feed for the birds 

 on the home farm will depend largely on the area of land 

 available. Another important consideration is the character 

 of the soil, that is, whether it is productive or non-productive. 

 The chief advantage of home-grown feed is its good quality. 

 Many poultry feeds can be raised cheaper than they can be 

 purchased, the greatest drawback being the excessive labor 

 required. Where heavy crops are grown, there is always a 

 tendency to slight the poultry work. 



Classification of Home=grown Poultry Feeds. — To make 

 a systematic study of the home growing of poultry feeds, it 

 is well to divide them into four groups. The first, and prob- 

 ably the largest, group will be home-grown grains, such as 

 corn, wheat, etc. Another group should include dry fodder, 

 and here alfalfa belongs. Root crops should constitute a 

 third group, while grasses and green crops make up the 

 fourth class of feed material, which it is desirable to raise 

 on the home land. All home-grown feeds must fall under 

 one or the other of these classes. 



GRAIN FEEDS 



Grain feed can be profitably grown on the home farm if 

 there is plenty of available land, plenty of labor at a moder- 

 ate price, and if a large number of birds are kept. Granted 

 these conditions, the four grain crops which may be grown 

 are as follows: 



Corn. — Corn is more cultivated than any other grain for 

 poultry feed, but at least four or five acres should be avail- 

 able before it can be considered a crop worth raising. In 

 addition to using corn for feed, the stalks can be cut into 

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