310 POULTRY CULTURE 



spoiled and unfit for feeding. (See Fig. 104, a, b, c, and d.) 

 Weevil is another enemy of feed, especially grain. Rats and 

 mice destroy large quantities. The storage-rooms should 

 be made and maintained rat- and mouse-proof, and the grain 

 bins and mash hoppers in the poultry houses should be kept 

 closed at night. It is good practice to have the mash hopper 

 in the hen-house so constructed that the lid may be closed 

 in the evening when the evening scratch feed is given, and 

 again opened when the morning scratch feed is given; thus 

 it takes no extra time to see that this precaution in feed saving 

 is carried out. 



As hinted before, the quality of feed is affected by its mode 

 of growth, care in saving and preservation, as well as cleanh- 

 ness, and the inroads of vegetable and animal parasites. 



If grain be grown on land that is poor in quality, the product 

 will also be poor in quality. Therefore the quality of the soil 

 affects the quality of the crop. It has been noticed that oats 

 grown on clay soil are superior to any other. Rye grows best 

 on light sandy soil and barley on good loam. The age at 

 which the crop is gathered is also an important factor exerting 

 its influence upon the nutritive value. 



Wheat cut about fifteen days before it is ripe contains the 

 most protein and starch and the bushel measureful weighs 

 more. If it be cut late, there is found a less percentage of the 

 floury part and an increase in the percentage of bran. The 

 season has a great influence on the quality of feed, wet years 

 producing parasitic diseases of the grain and stalk, and the crop 

 is usually delayed in maturing. It is noticed that in a wet, hot 

 summer ergot of the seeds of grains and grasses, especially rye 

 and blue grass, is more common. 



There are certain chemical changes that take place in grain 

 after it is stored which apparently removes any irritating 

 properties it may contain, and renders its nutritive substances 

 easier digested. This not only applies to grain, but to mangles 

 and even hay. 



Food improperly taken care of in wet seasons may deterio- 

 rate, that is, become moldy, and chemical changes of various 

 kinds take place, affecting both the proteins and starches, and 

 at times rendering them unfit for food and even poisonous. 



