The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1916-07-29
GREEN FOOD
FOR POULTRY
By G. E. CONKEY.

In some form or other green food is
quite essential for correct poultry
feeding. Unless green food enters the
ration in proper quantity it is quite
impossible to get satisfactory results
with either chicks OF fowl.
From a chemical analysis or from
the standpoint of nutritive values
green food does not show up strong.
Its importance being rather due TO
its succulence and bulk and the assist
ance that it gives in the digestion of
other foods. Green food also adds
variety to the ration and serves as an
appetizer. Succulent greens seem to
possess some qualities that keep the
system in good condition and help
ward off disease. This is evidenced in
many flocks by marked increase in
the number of eggs laid in the spring
shortly after the grass begins to get
green.
Summer Green Food.
During the summer months or in
late spring and autumn the farm
range flock does not lack for green
food. Birds that are closely confined,
however. must have green food sup
piled them during the summer. Leafy
garden crops like lettuce, kale, rape,
swiss chard. beet-leaves, spinach and
cabbage will all be found desirable for
them. Clover or alfalfa where these
can be grown. make a fine food that
can be cut up daily for the birds. Even
these, however, in the form of dry
meal for the mash will not take the
Mace of Succulent greens
If you can get lawn clippings feed
this freely but do not hold for more
than day or two before using. Fresh
clippings must not he piled up and al
lowed to heat or ferment for in this
condition they will cause digestive
troubles. When grass is given 20
chicks cut it up into short lengths for
otherwise its use may result in i'm
FACTION of the crop. Long dry grass
does not make a good litter for con-
fined chicks for in the absence of
something better this may he eaten
and accumulated as a fibrous mass in
the intestines thus causing the death
of the chick. Very often grass is dried
and stored for future use.
Winter Green Food.
w ME val IOuS SIetllS, IlOl Z easily
and more cheaply produced during
warm weather are used as green food
for poultry at that time, for winter
feeding sprouted oats are an exceed
ingly popular green food and are per-
haps the most largely used of all
green foods at that time of the year.
Besides sprouted oats, cabbage,
mangels and other beets are the best
and most available green foods that
can be used during cold weather. Both
cabbage and beets are good keepers
when stored in a suitable cellar or
buried outside. The beets have some
what Of an advantage in keeping
qualities, feeding value. and cost of
production. They may be cut up into
small pieces for feeding but : better
and easier way is to allow the birds to
pick at them as means Of exercise.
Sprouted Oats.
Sprouted oats are easily produced
at any time Of the year the only re-
quirement being a place where the
temperature does not fall below 90
degrees. Where heated oat sprouting
cabints are used, sprouted oats may
be had at all times of the year.
A simple outfit for Sprouting oats
may be made by constructing a rack
about 30 inches square and five feet
high. Wooden trays about 30 inches