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(716) 288-5M9-Fa« DOMINION Of CANADA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DOMINION EXPERIMENTAL FARMS POULTRY DIVISION POULTRY FEEDS AND FEEDING OEOROB ROBERTSON, Asrittant. BULLETIN Na 91 Printed by authority of the Hon. Thomas Crerar. Minister of Agriculture, Ottawa, Canada 630.4 C212 Exp. Farms Service Bui. OTTAWA 1. m LABROQUERIE TACH£ PRINTER TO THE KISOV MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY IIM i^J^h^rt-^ 1 DncBimoN or Flati showinq Dionnvi Oroami or Fowl. The food «itn aatnins the mouth jmuks into the Gullet (No. 1) thence into a laek-Uke enlarsement ol the (onner, called the Crop (No. 2) from where it paieee into the true Stomach (No. 8) where it if mixed with the digestive juices after which it passes into the Oissard (No. 4) where it is ground fine. Umb iato the Doodenum (No. 5) (first portion of the small bowel) where a secretion from the Liver (No. 6) called Bile which is stored in the Gall Bladder (No. 7) and also the juices from the Pancrees (No. 8) are mixed with it: then passes through the long Intestine (No. 9) where absorption takes place and into the Caeca (No. 10) after which the residue is passed on into the Rectum (No. 11) and throusli a eoBti-iuation o( the rectum called the Cloaca (No. 12) (junction o( the intestine and the oviduct) toJ;bc Voided at the Vent (No. 13). Other onans shown an: (No. 14) Heart. (No. IS) Langs, (No. 16) Ovary. (No. 17) SpUea, o. 18) If aigin where left lobe of liver has been removed, (No. 19) Oviduct. Original drawing by Dr. A. B. Wickware, Asst. Pathologist. DOMINION Of CANADA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DOMINION CXnERIMCNTAL FARMS POULTRY DIVISION POULTRY FEEDS AND FEEDING BY QBOROB ROBERTSON. Auutant. BULLETIN No. 91 Printed by authority of the Hon. ThC' las Crerar, Minister of Agr»oulture, Ottawa, Canada OTTAWA J. Of LABROQUEItlE TACHfi PRINTER TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELtENT MAJESTY 1018 49384— li Ottawa, October 3, 1918. The Honounble The MlniiUr of AgricuUurr, OtUlTk. Sir,— I h«ve the honour to tnmnnit herewith the ownuecript of Bulletin No. 91 of the reguler ExrorimenUl Farme' leriee, entitled Poultry Feeda anJ Feeding, tnd prepared by (r. George Robertaon, Aeeietant. The denumd for a greater production of food on the one hand, and the high ooat of feeds, on the other, ihould render thii bulletin most interesting and valuable to the ever-increasing number of those engaged in iwultry raising. I have to recommend, therefore, that a lar^^e edition nf *' publleatlon l)c brought out. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient terva* J. H. QRISDALE, Director, Dominion Experimental Farms. Ottawa, October 2, 1918 The Director, Dominion Experimental Farms, Ottawa. Sib,— I have the honour to tranr '^ herewith the manuscript of a bulletin entitled " Poultry Feeds and Feedu prepared by Mr. George Robertson, Assistant. The question of feeds is ilwtiys un important one, and it is especially so at present when the usual pc<'Hr> feeds are so hard to get and all feeds so high in price. The inform tti^i contain oultry than any other single grain. There are several reasons why this should be so. There is such an enormous quantity produced that there is always an available supply of the lower grades. The kernels are of good sise for feeding, are palat- able, are free from objectionable hull, and contain the principal nutrients in about the proper proportions. The lower grades usually make excellent feed; in fact, shrunken wheat is considerably richer in protein than the higher-grade wheats, but, when buying it, precaution must be taken to see that it is perfectly sweet, as musty or fermented feeds are always dangerous to use. By-products of wheat.— The by-products of wheat are extensively used, and provide some of the best foods for the feeding of all kinds of poultry. Bttckwhuat Screenings. — Buckwheat screenings, so called, are a by- product from the elevators. They consist of approximately 50 per cent small or broken wheat, 40 per cent wild buckwheat, 2-5 per cent light oats, 1 per cent flax seed, and 6-5 per cent weed seeds, chaff, and other refuse. It is a valuable feed and, particularly for fattening purposes, may be used to advantage. (See report of Poultry Division for 1914.) Standard Rb-cleanbd ScRBBNiuas. — Whan it was decided that screenings would of necessity have to be largely substituted for the milling grades of wheat in the feeding of poultry, a definite standard was set on which screenings would be sold. This grade was named Standard Re-cleaned screenings, and, in buymg such, feeders may depend on getting a feed that must come up to the standard set by the Government, just as they would if buying any of the recognized milling grades of wheat. There is a larger penentage of chaff and waste than in " Buckwheat Screenings," but on account of the proportion of wheat being larger, and the wild buckwheat smaller, the protein center • higher. The screenings consist of approximately 52-7 per cent small a. i-oken wheat. 23-2 per cent wild buckwheat, 2-3 per cent flax seed, 9-5 pt. ent oats, 12 -S per cent black seeds, straw and other refuse. During the season of 1917 screenings were used as hopper feed on range, with excellent results. Bran. — ^Bran is composed of the coarser parts of wheat, and is valuable in the making of mashes, not only on account of its nutritive qualities, but for its effect in supplying bulk with other feeds which, used alone, would make a maeh that would be too sticky. 49384— 2i 12 Sbobt8—Miodunqs.— Unfortunately, of late, the terms shorts and midd- lings have been used indiscriminately, and may mean anything from reground htm with a little mill sweepings thrown in, to middlings proper, which is a high-class feed more closely resembling low grade flour. Short*, when clean, are a valuable feed, but they are coarser than middlings and have not so much of the floury parts of the grain, so are not as suitable for mixmg with bran. Middlings have less crude fibre, are richer in nutrients t' an shorts, and give more " body " to a mash. Either middlings or shorts is the foundation of most Cwadian mashes. In some localities, it is impossible to get a good grade of middhngs, in which case dependence had better be placed on " Red Don " or low-grade flour. Low-Gradb Flour.— Low-grade flour is not only a nutritious feed, but it IS especially valuable in giving the proper consistency to a mash. Stalb Bread.— Stale bread is a very palatable feed, and is of special value in the feeding of young stock. Shrbddbd Wheat Waste.— Shredded-wheat waste is a by-product from the manufacture of shredded wheat biscuits. It is baked shredded whole wheat ^d IS very palatable. Fed soaked in milk it is greedily eaten and, when procur- able, it IS an acceptable addition to the poultry menu. CORN. Com has never been fed in Canada as freely as in the United States^ This 18 no doubt due to the fact that corn is not produced here to the same extent The idea is prevalent among poultry keepers that flint corn is the best, but it if doubtful if there is much ground for this idea, as the analyses of the two are verv similar. Whole com is so large that care must be taken in its use, or the fowl will obtam a full meal with very little exercise, and rapidly become too fat. On that account, it is much better to have the com cracked and scattered in the litter so that the flock will have to work for it. Com heats very readily, and unless it is kiln dried it is almost impossible to keep it from spoiling in warm weather. Care should be taken to see that it is perfectly "sweet ", as there is always danger in feeding if mouldy. Com, being rich in carbohydrates, may be much more freely used in winter than during the warmer weather. Com Meal. — Most of the mashes used contain more or less com meal, and what was said with reference to the precaution necessary to avoid the use of taii. ted com applies even more to com meal or corn chop. By-products of Com.— The by-products of com are not used to any great extent in Canada, but where they can be obtained at sufficiently lo* prices they may be used advantageously. Gluten Meal.— Gluten meal is very rich in both protein and fat, and is a valuable addition to the mash when used in conjunction with other feeds. In buying feeds of this kind it is always best to insist on a guaranteed analysis being supplied, and in gluten meal especially is this necessary as there is fre- quently great dififercnces in feeding value. Gluten Feed.- Gluten feed should not be confused with gluten meal. Jt IS a combination of gluten meal and other by-products, such as bran, and is not nearly so rich in nutrients. IS Bban, Middlinob, and Houint Mbal. — These are not >^'ble in this countnr to any extent. The bran ia considerably lower in food . , than com meal, but the middlings and hominy are somewhat higher. OATS. Many poultry Iceepers do not give oats the place in the ration they should have. This is probably due to the fact that much of the oats that are placed on the market are not properly filled, and when offered to fowl, are not eagerly eaten.* Oats have a fibrous hull, and it is probably largely on that accoimt that fowl take more readily to wheat or com, but, where oats are of good quality, they are an excellent feed, and as soon as the flock becomes accustomed to them, they will eat them readily. Oatmeal. — Oatmeal was formerly used to a considerable extent in the feeding of chicks, and at the present time pinhead oatmeal is used in nearly all chick-grain mixtures, but rolled oats are now used much more freely. It is a very valuable feed and, where it can be obtained at a reasonable price, should be used. Many high-class breeders use it freely for the feeding of chickens even when they have to purchase the superior product intended for human food, and claim that even at that cost, the results justify its use. By-products of Oats. — By-products from the oatmeal mill are not now readily obtainable, as they are generally put into mixtures and sold as auch. Oat middlings is the best of these. It is an excellent feed and where obtainable may well be used. BUCKWHEAT. In some sections buckwheat is utilised to a considerable extent. Like oats, fowl have to become more or less accustomed to it, but once used to it they eat it readily. Ground buckwheat is especially valuable in crate feeding. It produces white flesh of fine flavour. By-products of Buckwheat.— It is so seldom that the by-products of buckwheat can be had that they are hardly worth mentiomng. The middlings is a high-class feed and may be used to advantage for feeding in mashes to any class of fowl. BARLEY. There is very little difference in the analysis of barley and wheat, the barley being a little higher in protein. The hull makes it less palatable, but fowl soon become accustomed to it, and consume it readily. It might well be used to a far greater extent than it is, as it apparently gives almost as good results as wheat, and is usually much cheaper. Barley meal is used to a con- siderable extent, especially in crate feeding. It gives satisfactory results both in quantity and quality of flesh produced. Brswer's Grains. — Brewer's grains, when fed fresh from the breweries, make on excellent feed, but care should be taken to see that they are fresh, as they are otherwise liable to flavour the eggs. Dried, they may be used to advantage as they keep well and are rich in both protein and fat. Malt Sprouts. — In the process of malting to change the starch of the grain into sugar it is necessary to produce a natural ferment called diastase. To develop this ferment it is necessary to sprout the grain, and as it is the change that is desired and not the actual sprout, the sprouting is checked as soon as the change takes place. The whole is then kiln dried and the sprouts are separated from the grain by means of sieves, and sold as stock feed. As they contain a high percentage of protein they make a valuable addition to a ration, but they are best fed in combination with more palatable feed, as they are not greatly relished. 'The Liberty Oat, originated by Dr. C. E. Saunders, Dominion Cerealist, and now being introduced to the public, threshes out free from hull and will doubtlesa prove most valuable in poultry feeding by removing this difficulty. 14 RYE. Although, in analysis, rye shows very little below wheat in feeding value, It IS in very little favour as a pultrv feed. Fowl do not like it and, unlees they are forced to eat it by having other grains curtailed, they will consume it in only very limited quantities. Its by-products are practically not available in this country. RIGB. Rice is rarely used except in the feeding of young chicks. Ther^ is generally broken rioe in aO chick-gram mixt.ures, and in speoTal instances it is sometimes boiled and fed like a mash, in which condition it is eaten with relish. Boiled rice is of especial value as a regulative in case of bowel trouble.' MILLET. Millet is very similar to oats in composition but, like rice, it is used mainly in chick feeds. It appears to be particularly attractive to tne chicks, as it ic one of the first grains they will pick out when they are fed mbced grains. SUNFLOWER SEEDS. Sunflower seeds are not fed extensively, but many town poultry keepers grow a patch of sunflowers for their fowls, bending the heads aown as soon as the seeds fill, and allowing the hens to help themselves. They are of especial value to " fanciers," who use them at moulting time and also for getting coloured birds ready for the show, as they give the coveted gloss to the plumage. PEAS. Peas are not used to any great extent, probably because they are not readily procurable at prices that would make them profitable to feed. They are a valuable and excellent feed and used in combination with other grains, are readily eaten and give very good results. Most chick feeds contain broken peas. LINSEED MEAL. Flaxseed in the whole state is practically never fed, but ground flax, or linseed meal as it is called, is used to a considerable extent in mashes. It is very ctmcentrated, and should be fed sparingly; otherwise, digestive troubles are likely to result. Oil Mbal. — Oil cake or oil meal is simply linseed meal from which the oil has been extracted by pressure. COTTON-SEED MEAL. Cottonnseed meal is another feed which requires caution in feeding, as it is not only a very rich feed, but it seems specially liable to cause digestiv disorders. It contains a large percentage of protein but, for the reasons stated, it has not been used to a great extent in this country, and other feeds are preferred as a source of protein. OTHER SEEDS. Other seeds such as sorghum, kaffir corn, rape, and broom corn are all good feeds, but scarcely require mentioning, as they are used only in small quantities in chick-feed mixtures. ■ See Ezperimental Farms Report for 1915 Vol. II page 1148. 16 GREEN FEEDS. !■ CTMii feeds, the main thing to consider is suooulenoe and paUtability. Any feed that has theee qualities is suitable. Garden Truck. — Cabbage, lettuce, onion tops, or practically any waste garden truck may be utilised in the poultry yard. Unmarketable earrota, parsnips, onions, small potatoes, or similar roots ma}r be stored and fed in the ivinter. These latter are more satisfactory when boiled and mixed in a mash. Rape. — Rape is one of the best crops to grow for green feed for summer use where fowls are more or less confined. It is easily grown, gives a large yield, and fowls eat it with avidity. It is an excellent crop to freshen the runs after the breeding season. Green Crops. — Com, oats, rye, barley, and wheat all make good green fodder if cut at the right time and chopped into short lengths so that the fowl can readily eat them. They are especially useful in the feeding of waterfowl. Clovers and Alfalfa. — Clovers and alfalfa may be cut green and used as fodder, or they make excellent pasture. Properly cured, they are of great value for winter feeding. The leaves usually found in mows where the hay has been stored are of especial value, and on many farms they are reserved for the use of the poultry. Alfalfa and Clover Meal. — There is little to recommend the use of alfalfa or clover meals, if finely cut hay can be had. Much of the value of hay is lost if it is not cut before it gets too ripe. As it is much easier to grind it if it is mature, the result is that most of the meals are made from hay that has lost a great deal of its feeding value by being left until it is too old. Jerusalem Artichokes. — ^Jerusalem artichokes are of much greater value as a crop for poultry feeding than is generally realised. The tops may be used as green fodder in summer or the tubers as roots for winter feeding. Both are readily eaten. The plant resembles the sunflower, but it is finer in growth, having smaller leaves, stalks, and flowers. Growing as it does to a good neight, it also makes an excellent shade during the hot weather. Beets. — For winter feeding, maitgels and beets are the best form in which succulence can be provided. They are easily grown, yield a large amount of feed per acre, keep well, are handy to feed, and fowl are exceedingly fond of them. Care Ehould be taken in planting them to see that the most suitable varieties are used. Some of the varieties of beets are not so readily eaten as others. Avoid planting those that are very hard in the flesh, as fowl prefer .hose that are tender. Turnips. — Turnips are not so readily eaten in the raw state as are mangels. Better results will be obtained if they are cooked. Apples. — Apples, especially some of the sweeter varieties, are eaten with elish by poultry and, where chickens are given the run of an apple orchard, hey will eat large quantities of windfalls. Sprouted Grains. — The use of sprouted grains, especially oats, is rapidly becoming common, particularly among breeders. While the process of sprouting is simple, it necessitates a good deal more work than the feeding of roots. However, most people who have tried it say that it is worth while, especially for feeding the breeding stock, as they are exceedingly fond of it and it keeps them in excellent condition. t« TO SPROUT GRAIN. Tht ooBditkma Biee wr y for th* aprouUng of gnUn wre beat uid moisture. Th« foUowbg method will give latiefMtory remilte: Put bto » pftil • quart and a half to two quart* of oat* for each 100 hens, and pour over them water ae hot aa the hand ean comfortably bear, allow them to stand for about 12 houre, then drain and leave for about 12 houn, after which, spread them out not more than Fio. I.— Orain SrsouTiNO Rack. Of fimple and r-hesp construction. The bottoms of the trsya are wire cloth ■0 M to pennit of free draiuge. an inch deep on a warm basement floor or a wire bottomed tray, and water freeiy twice a day with warm water until ready for use, which will be when the sprouts are 2 or 3 inches long. They will have formed a solid mat which may be removed from the tray entire and torn into pie-'^s to suit the flock, or the green may be clipped, leaving the roots to produce h. jther crop. IT The MoompMiying Uluatr»tion shows a simple sprouting raclc; each tray rsprcMBts one day's fMding. If the rack is set on a drained cellar floor it may be used as Aov , but if it has to be placed in the kitchen it will bo necessary to set it in a large pan to catch the drainage. The rack should be located m a warm place, so as to force the growth as rapidly as possible. Another simple method that has been used successfully, where considerable quantities of sprouted grain are required and where the necessary warm cellar room is available, is as follows: Take the grain that it is desired to sprout, put it into a bag, place the hag in a barrel into which sufficient warm water to cover it ha* been placed. Let It soak for 24 hours, then take it out ar -i empty the grain into a bottomless barrel which has been placed wherever it will be most convenient. Let the grain stand for 24 hours, when it will have begun to heat; remove the barrc as to have it ready 'or tne next lot and leave the grain as it stands for another 24 hours, then spread it out ai jat an inch and a half deep on the warm cement floor and sprinkle with tepid water until ready for use, which will be in about three or four days. If the grain shows signs of moulding, add about a teaspoonful of formalin to the half t>arrel of water in which it » soaked. A fresh lot is soaked each day, so that there is a continuous supply available. ANIMAL FOODS. When fowls are confined, it is necessary to provide, in some n, animal food to take the place of the grubs an-j insects which they pick up when on range. FrMh Meat. — Fresh meat is perhaps the most relished form of animal food, but a is seldom that it can be had at a price low enough to warrant its use. GrMn Gut Bone. — Green cut bone is usually prepared from bones as secured from butchers' shops. These^ generally with more or less meat attached, are run through a machine and cut mto fine shavings. Fowls eat this raven- ously, and care must be used at the start to see that they are not fed too much of itj as it will cause diarrhoea. It is valuable for the production of eggs, but caution is required in feeding it to breeding stock, as it may adversely affect both the fertuity and the hatchability of the eggs. As cut bone heats very readily, it is impossible to use it except in very cold weather, or where a fresh supply for each feed is obtainable. Other Meat Foods. — Beef scrap, meat meal, blood meal, and other like preparations are by-products from the abattoirs and packing-houses. Some of these are excellent feeds and, on account of their keeping qualities and con- venience for feeding, are more extensively used by poultry keepers than any other form of animal food. On the other hand, some of the brands offered are absolutely unfit to feed to poultry, and arc suitable only for use as fertilizer. Before purchasing any of these feeds, poultry keepers should pay attention not only to their analysis, which varies greatly, but to their suitability for feeding. With a little experience, it is possible to tell at a glance whether the brand is suitable for feed or not, but if in doubt, pour a little boiling water on a sample, and the smell arising should settle the matter even with the inexperienced. If the odcur is foetid the sample is unfit for food. Even when good, discretion is necessary in feeding them, as they are very concentrated and, if fed too heavily, are liable to cause digestive disturbances. Fish Scrap. — Fish scrap is used to a limited extent, and some think very highly of it, but it is generally fed because of a scarcity of beef scrap, not because it is preferred to it. It is more popular in the feeding of waterfowl, where the eggs are to be used for hatching purposes, than it is for feeding laying hens. 18 OOMPOSinON AND PIOMTIBU NUTRIBNTS OF PIIDS> PBOiia. Ciwut. WkMt WhaatBiM.. " MMrt* UidAl lkN|r. .. . w floor. IDmI). DuklMdii«l SUhbfwkr Cendlfarti Con HMsl Corabraa OhilMmMt Ohit«i(Md Bomiajrohoft. . OUa OktmwU Oatthorta Baekwhoat Bart;. -"""•* Biawan v^aa (wat). ..'.'.'.'. Mall^mMta woa"V.v;:::;;: ::,:■■■ MUlat Saaflewariaad Paaa Ftasiaad Liaaaad maai Volcl praeaaa). . " (naw prooaai). CotUMHaaadmaal.. hum tsti .Soyabaaa Broom ooni. . . . Rapa (croaad). PaoiMM. ■"-^ sar MVOBAtaa. II* •>»^ 14- M^ l»4 14* !•• we »'* 4't 10-4 *'S • »'l M-a ti III •4'7 li>0 100 »-9 »-4 ••4 I9» ti2 10-6 7-4 lit Ml lO-l ai 3t-S 3t-S 4at • I 9-9 340 10- 1 Hi l'» no II' 3 III It Its l'4l IN 7-4 Ml 7-8 1-4 III 171 S-9 130 t-9 ll'7 III 70 41 716^ It' I 1717 tOI 29't «.} I7't 70 71 »'« 7-4 tl'2 ToUl. 71 •I UM III Ml •04 Ml Ml 44> TOtl M-7 na M'4 ill Ml H-7 •7'4 H4 Ml 419 Ml IM 11-7 «-l 711 79t 174 »'4 111 at 11-4 3I'4 Ml Ml 74-9 ail 83-6 300 ii»>wr Fat. Ml M'7* MO HO It- 7 111 Mil MM Ml at Mt H-71^ Ml M-9 Ml 3I'4 M-M^ 91 Ml ri It'M 7tt M'47 tOI 4in 17- 1 It- 7 40- 1 1I-9 Stl 171 ai 418 »'7 ■"^ » 11 t'H l'71 40 41 40 I* • I OS 10 11 II 111 101 II 10 71 71 it 71 II t ; SI II '4 40 lit It M'7 7'9 80 131 3'S 30 11-9 80 90 II 81 8'4 0* to 4'4 3'8 41 110 • I 4-11 i'9 t'l I'M 84 lli 1-4 81 1'7 'M '8 8-44 »'0 M »0 70 tl Itt 31 1'7 I4'4 t'9 71 1:7 1 NUIMHII luvo. Total. 5jsr I. ■•4 141 I JO 1:4 14-4 1:4 4 1:40 IJI Ml 1 :7'l IJI 1:7' I I 14 1:1 1 l«'4 I4-0 I'JI 1 :4'7 l«'l 1:10 141 IJI IJl i'«.t .it l•.lo^^ ij'i l:4't l:tl 1:41 1:11 1:1-9 1:11 l«'l 141 1:1-9 I4I 1:11 1:11 1:4 1 14-7 t:T-l 141 l«'7 l«-l 140 1:1-1 bSuI^jS"" ""^'* '■'^ "^ Fa.dln..-B.rtl.„. M.i»,. BuUatto .,o. l«-4 14-t 141 141 l:IO-t 1:1-0 14-4 14-> 1:3 1:1- 1 141 1:111 14-7 1:7-1 1:1-1 14-9 1:11 1:1-1 1:1-1 1:111 14-0 1:1-1 1:7-4 1:1-6 IM.-Jafla CalUonua SSrB--«™vs.'«j-^j^.™„rr^^^^^ 19 OTMPOSmON AND DIGUTIBL: NUTRIkNTS OF FEED8-Con rood*, VMwr«aira. i ftS fc to BwtoCpHdM). OMMt. SS&i (■!«>) CtoYwCiraM te^; Onm eon loddar Ok«i,tod(ter Rya, fodder UwB «Uppia0i (■■••■)■ AUkHkBuTT. CIotwIm^ R«w«i(miMd) AMUIAIm Qnm oat bOM MMtMfBM BloodniMl DrMfldi rmhw HUkCfMhudwhob). MUkfikmiMd) Battoimilk wW llUk klbomia ^ttv. ::::: pBamH. Total. ^ •r !'• *'• li l-l 14 1-4 11 1« It M II 4-7 1-7 4-f M 4t 3-I S-7 II t-4 1-6 II 141 U-l 111 HI 711 Mt 4I-4 10-5 16 11 4 •8 11-9 U-9 111 10 17 M M M II I II I I •I 10 M 31 3« M 1 II II II 6 It 79 we Sl-I 44 ; I'l 3 3-9 I Til C*Uo> ■TSBATM. T«»«^' uSr II II 4 I 9 S t 7 10 17 I I U' II It I IS 10 I 19 19 I II 41 17 39 ■I ■0 •0 4-9 » 4 11 «0'9 III 41 $■» 10 > ••4 1-3 71 111 U'l II 71 111 111 It 13- 7 It 101 111 ll'l Ml 391 37-4 40' 1 4-9 4-9t 4 4-7 i-e fit. T<^' uftr lit 1I-7 It 111 It 1-7 '« 11 1 3 91 lit 3 '3 I II 4 ■1 I 1 I ■ i ll'Ol 31 10-3 3-7 •tt M Nowiivi lUfio. Total. ubCr 1:31 . . . l«'} 1:11 1:3 l:l<» 1J4 1:7 4 IJI 1«4 1:41 141 1:1 14 1:7.7 1:10 l«'l 1:7 1 141 1:14-9 1:41 14-4 1« 1:7-1 !:!•• 1:71 1:14-1 14-4 1:7-1 1:41 14-1 IJ 141 IJ-4 1:01 14-4 14-1 1:71 1:11-1 l«l 14-1 IJ-t 1:7-1 14-9 141 14-1 lJ-4 1:4-7 l:l'9 144 l«-7 mt 1.-0-4 1:0M 1:11 t:Ot l«-t 1:01 • • • • 1:1-6 14-1 1:1-9 1:3 1:1-1 l:l-« 14-I i:e-« l:4t 1:0 1 1:1-1 1:3-8 Milk. — Milk in its various forms is highly valuable for all kinds of poultry. It may be used >.^>.her as a drink or to mix the mashes. Buttermilk is very highly thought of, and rightly so, roanjr claiming that it is not only an excellent food in itself but is also valuable to stimulate digestion and keep the birds in a good, healthy condition. It has been foimd more satisfactory to feed milk either always sour or always sweet, rather than sour one time and sweet the next, as, fed in the latter manner, it is liable to cause bowel disturbance. Milk produces quality, whether in the growing stock, the laying pen, or the fattening orate, and, where milk-fed chickens have once been marketed, consumers will always ask for them. Cottage Cheese. — Where an abundance of milk is available it may be used in the form of cottage cheese, which is greedily eaten by all kind? of poultry. 90 This is prepared by allowing the milk to sour until it becomes thick. A gentle heat is then applied, which will cause the whey to separate from the curd. The whey is then drained off and the " cottage cheese " remains. This may either be fed as it is or mixed in the mash. Eggs. — Eggs are sometimes fed. These are usually infertile eggs that are tested out of incubators. Where good, sound eggs are used, they are a valuable source of food, but if eggs in which the germ has started and afterwards died are used, as they frequently are, it is necessary to use caution in feeding them, as they often produce bad results. MINERAL FOODS. As a considerable percentage of the dry matter in both eggs and fowls is composed of mineral elements, it is evident that, with a rapidly growing bird or with a fowl that is producing a large number of eggs, the demand for foods containing these elements will be urgent. Under free range conditions, these will be largely obtained through the ordinary feeds, and by the green food, grubs, and grit that are picked up on the range. When fowls are more or less closely confined, it becomes necessary to supply the mineral foods, and the question of the most suitable form in which they can be obtained becomes important. Besides what is supplied through the feeding of alfalfa, clovers, bran, and other ordinary feeds, it is necessary to feed somethii. j that contains these elements in such quantities and condition that they can be assimilated more freely. Bones, shells, grit, and charcoal are the feeds that are genertdly used to supply these requirements. Bones. — It has already been stated that green out bone is one of the best forms of animal t'ood. It is also excellent to supply mineral elements. Bone meal or granulated bone is also used for this purpose) the granulated form being usually fed in hoppers, and the meal fed in the mash. Shells. — Shells of various kinds are used largely, but by far the most popular are oyster shells. These are crushed and separated into various sizes' according to the purpose for which they are intended. When fowls are laying heavily they will consume large quantities of shell. Grit. — Commercial grit is made by crushing rocks of various kinds into sizes suitable for the different classes of fowl. Its chief function is to assist in the grinding of the food in the gizzard, but, undoubtedly, some of the mineral elements are assimilated. Charcoal. — Charcoal is being used much more at present than formerly. It is inexpensive, and as the fowls will eat considerable quantities of it when they can get it, it is well to supply it at all times. It is not advisable to feed it powdered in the mash, as is sometimes done, but a hopper of the granulated size should be kept constantly before the flock, so that they can help thi .selves when they are so inclined. It is doubtful if there is any nutriment in iv, but it is valuable as a corrective for digestive and bowel disorders. FEEDING METHODS. In feeding, regularity is essential no matter what method is followed. There are many methods that give satisfactory results. What suits one feeder may not suit another, so that it is necessary for individual poultry keepers to decide for themselves just what system of feeding they will adopt. It will be found that best results are obtained where a certain amount of the grain fed is ground. This may be fed either as a moist mash or dry in hoppers according to the personal preference of the feeder. 21 THE HOPPER SYSTEM. hot some years the feeding of a dry mash in hoppers has been very popular, c-specially on large plants where labour has to be considered. This system has some advantages and some disadvantages, bnt the former greatly overbalance the latter. h— '«■ 1 h— -18 — -i I ,8- ^ Fio. II.— Inoook HorFiBB. Right.— End view of dry maib hopper with cover over feed trough down. Centre.— lYont view ot dry maah hopper with cover over teed trough up. IWt.— Front view of grit hopper. The end view would be limilar to that of the maih hopper except that it is not neceasary to put the cover over the troughs. The principal disadvantage is the waste of feed by the scattering of it out of the hoppers. This can be largely avoided by the use of properly constructed hoppers or by the closing of the hoppers except at certain regular periods. The chief advantages are: The saving of time necessary in the making of moist mashes; the lessened danger of overfeeding by novices, as the dry mash is less palatable than the moist; the possibility of feeding more sparingly with grain, and so keeping the hens more active, as they prefer the grain to the dry mash and will scratch as long as a kernel is to be found. Fio. III.— Ramoi HomB. Thli type o( hopper ii in more or Im* favour. Tho middle partition is made movable eo that the two oompartmente can be thrown into one. THE MOIST-MASH SYSTEM. The feeding rf a daily moist maah was formerly the favourite method among poultry keepers, and even yet many stick to this method in preference to the hopper sjrstem. Some prefer feeding it in the morning, some at noon, and some at night. The time is really immaterial, and should depend on the convenience of the feeder. mmwff Fio. IV.— AmoHiB Ttpi or Range HoprxR. A range hopper should be large enoush to hold sufficient teed to last a considerable length •( time, be so constructed that the feed cannot get wet and the feed ahould flow freely. 28 r«n,llri?v ♦°lf.?fi.'^'5*'*J*°*^''u "*= ^* *"•'*« """^ *™e ^d requires more hISIST ^K u*'* '!S*^";? "^ hoppers, and there is more danger of digestive disorders through overfeeding or tiirough the feeding of improper miwhes ..... r»hr.P«« advantages are: The feeding of a mash makes it convenient to \X\l}t lu^A vegetable panngs, and other kitchen waste. It is more pala- or iJher'Smliw f7edT ' ''"'' '* '" " •=°°^«"'«°* ^"^^ »» 8«t ^^^J »<> ««» alfalfa fn, t^« f^^'°"H°° ^^*^^ *'^° methods may be used to advantage, especially for the feedmg of pullets for egg production. j«= »• » „«♦ Ji"°" what has already been said it will be realized that dependence need St thp r-^ ^? P'*'"^, ?° .*°y «*^."''^ '^^«- So long as it is borne in mbd suSnlM r^Jnn!l."""'i« ^""^J ?•"?*•' ^fK^table, animal, and mineral, must be supplied, rations may differ widely m make-up. Farmers should depend largely »nH P^!^!™'^/- ^''k'i *?d w^e° >.* '» necessary to buy, those feeds most readily and cheaplv obtainable in the various localities are the ones that should be used A ration that proved satisfactory last year may be too expensive to use this ff,!^?:***.'" °°^, *°** ^as too expensive last season may be cheapest this. The Tf^f.Jf''}^^ ''^T' 7^'].°°* ^i^'y ^*^ *^« ™*'0"8 according to the prices of fwdB, but also according to the conditwn of his flock. A hen that is not layinc fl!^'!,*^K *" r^T * ^t^'°^ *" °"' *•'** " producing heavily, neither can a nock of old hens stand as heavy a ration as a flock of pullets. RATIONS. The following rations have been used, and have proved satisfactory, and may be adopted or altered to suit conditions. H ' : I ,0: 1 _:»i. ^ dmwug shows the plan of the Range Hop;ftr shown in Fig. IV. The top is covered mtn iMdy rootms. This stops short of the ridge over which is fastened, with cement paint, a strip of heavy canvas thus making an absolutely water-tight cover. FOWL. Chicks. — Chicks should not be fed until they show positive signs of hunger, which will be between two and three days after hatching. They should then be fed a little at a time and often — say five times daily, depending on light, easily digested feeds such as bread crumbs slightly moistened with milk, or bread crumbs and curds, just enough scratch grains being fed to get them used to them. The chicks should have access to a dish of dry mash so as to get them started 24 on this feed as soon as possible. This light feeding should be continued for about a week, when the teed may be gradually increased, at which time it mav he about as follows: — ♦First feed, bread crumbs moistened with milk, just what the chicks will clean up, on a little clew sand or chick grit; second, finely cracked mixed grain; third, rolled oats; fourth, moistened bread crumbs; fifth, finely cracked mixed pams. If too early to get the chicks on grass, green food is supplied in the form of young lettuce, sprouted grains, or any other tender, succulent food that 18 acceptable. After the chicks are ten days to two weeks old, coarser feeds are allowed and the bread and milk discontinued. All changes are made gradually. When on range, hoppers, in which are placed grains and dry mash or rolled oats, should be put where the chicks can have free access to them. As soon as they become accustomed to the hoppers, the band-feeding is reduced to the mash feeds and, if the chick are on good range, it will be found that after a time they will get careless about coming when called. The mash may then be dropped and dependence placed entirely on the hopper feeding. Place grit, water and a dish of sour milk where the chicks will have free access to them. Fio. VI.— Dmnkino Fountain* An emity tomato orrimSlrT«nwi>h?^mMj^Y ?" ""'l' !? r>"''«'.5»e8 for chicks, fowl, or ducks «ucer mike.afir9t-c"»M "i^kfouifafr^^ '" **"> ""*'"' """ ^^e top inverted in . liAlf S Sl^ W^^ ''"""'k f^u''"^' P*""*^ ^'^''' middlings, cornmeal, and one &tttt'em?stTvTiiabre. ''" --P-^-" i-o- or less dependent on the , . '?'i^!t Pe«■■•-. V'- l^r'-- Fio. IX.— SniFLi Tbouohs. Thii type of tioush has been found very oietttl. Then op the top which are made out of ICor 12* boards about IT or llf Ions are oonvenientf or teedisc madi to chicks or hens. For chicks a strip about IJ* hich U naOed around the board, for hens a ■tnp •' or 4* wide is used. . .ThoseoB the bottom row are siniilar except that they are made long. These are used tor duck feedinc. The third trough from the left illustrates how the same type of trough may be arranged for feeding chicks dry mash. A stnp of \' mesh wiie is laid over the feed to prevent the chicks from seratohiag it out. II ducki »w on mM nmn they wUI thrive on uy ntion that i» eoHnbie for ordinMy fowl*, but for profitable inroduoti'^n it ie alwayt MlviMble to feed largely on ooane, bulky feedi. Duckllngi.— When the dueklinge arr aoout thirty-aix hours old they are given feed and water. The feed eonairtu of stale bread eoaked in milk and dried off with a maeh ooinpoaed of equal parU bran, ihorta. »pH com meal, and ft per cent eoaree sand. For the first few days the feed ' : before them all the tmie, but it is changed so as not to become stale. ^vo d•:>»')■; '.;v *•.■■■.• Fio. X.— A CoiiyiMiiKT Tool. A icmpwr rimilar to th»t diown in th* Uloitntion will be fouad to be very coavewMt for oleuing oat (rooihi tad doing Minilar work. This ration is continued for six or seven weeks, when the flock is separated according to the purpose for which they are intended. Those reserved for stock purposes are given a large run where they will have free access to a stream and where they will forage for most of their feed. Those intended for market are placed in the fattening pens without range or water to swim in, and fed three times a day. Fattening. — For fattening, the proportion of com is increased and the bran and green food reduced. The feed at this time consists of 1 part bran, 2 parts shorts, 3 parts com chop, 10 per cent beef scrap, about 5 per cent sand, and the green food is reduced to about half what they had been consuming previously. This mash is moistened to a crumbly state with milk, and an abundance of water is kept before the flock at feeding time. The ducks are marketed at eight to ten weeks of age. Stock Ducks.— After duolu intended for breeders are aeparated from the mMrkei etoek at six or seren weeka td ace, they are given a light feed in the mombg and a full feed at night of the following nuwh: Bran 8 parte, thorta 2 parte, eom chop 1 part, with S per cent beef ecrap and 6 per cent eand, with ai much green feed ae they will eat. One of the feede. or at iMSt a part of it, •hould oonsiet of mbced grains, principally oats and barley. If the range is good, the morning feed Is omitted altogether. They are continued on this ration until a few weeks before eggs are wanted, when they are given a mash consisting of 4 parts com chop, 2 parts bran, 2 parts middlings, 1 part meat ■crap, 8 per cent sand, equal parts of either boiled or finely pulped vegetables' and cut clover as much as they will consume. The mixed grain is also continued. Changes from one ration to another are made gradually, and rations arc varied according to conditions. OBESE. Geese, like duclcs, require a large proportion of roughage in the ration. This is best supplied in winter by the use of clover hav and roots, and in summer by grass. Given the range ' a good pasture, a flock of geese require little else unlem it is desired to force rapid (rrowlh. Fio. XI.— Stock Ducks on Ranoi at thi Cintral Exniuiiuital Farm An ideal place to raiM the Bneden. Goslings. — Goslings require warmth and rest the first day, and it is advisable to leave them undisturbed. On the second day they should be placed where they will have free access to a plot of tender grass, otherwise they should be supplied with all the succulent green food they will eat, together with mash fed them three times a day. The feeds recommended for chickens or ducklings are equally suitable for goslings. If it is intended to market the goslings as green geese, it is advisable to feed them mash heavily from the start. If they M« bitMi