The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-06-21
SuCCULEN1 FEED
BEST FOR FOWLS
Poultry Keepers Should Make
Preparations for Winter Sup
ply of Green Feed.
GRAIN RATION IS LIGHTENED
Rye 10 Particularly Good Because Of
Hardness and Furnishes Excel.
lent Spring Pasture-other
Crops Suggested.

The time has arrived when poultry
keepers should begin making provision
for a supply of winter green feeds
While such feeds contain only COM
paratively small percentage Of actual
food nutrients, they are important be-
cause Of their succulence and bulk
which tighten the grain ration and as
dition. By taking thought far enough
ahead many backyard poultry keepers
even can produce most Of the green
feed needed and thus avoid consid-
erable expense.
Doubie-Yard System.
II you have enough ground the
double-yard system is advisable for
supplying green feed during the grow
Ing season. By this system the birds
are confined in one of the yards while
the other is planted to some quick
growing green feed into which the
hens are turned when 1t attains
height Of three or four inches. This
system, not only furnishes green feed
for the birds but freshens and purifies
the yard. Among the best crops for
this purpose are rape, rye, oats and
barley. Rye Is regarded as particu-
larly good because, in most sections,
1t will live through the winter and fur
nish an excellent early spring pasture.
There are various other crops adapted
to different sections. The proper sea
son for planting varies according to
the locality.
Feeds for Storage.
OF stored feeds, cabbages, mangel
wurzels, clover and alfalfa are the
feeds most commonly used during the
winter. Cabbages and mangels may
be either grown at home or bought
in the fall when prices are low and
stored in the cellar. Cabbages do not
keep as well in ordinary cellars as
mangel wurzels, and where both of
these feeds are available the cab
bages should be fed first. The best
method of feeding is to suspend the
cabbages in reach of the birds. Mangel
wurzels should be split and stuck on
nails on the wall or fence.
Glover and alfalfa may be fed as
hay, cut in the lengths of an inch or
less, or they may be bought in the
form Of meal. For use as poultry
green feed, clover and alfalfa should
be cut while slightly immature. This
Ia one Of the points that the poultry
keeper will need to look to In making
provision for a supply Of winter green
feed. Sprouted oats constitute an un-
failing source Of winter green feed
when no other feed Is available, but
involve more labor and expense in pre-
pairing and feeding them the vegeta-
bles or hay. They should not be relied
upon exclusively. Oats may be
sprouted at any time of the year and
are therefore a dependable reserve.
Importance Of Green Feeds.
Too much emphasis cannot be
placed upon the Importance Of grow
ing some green feeds at home. II
there is not enough space in your own
lot both to keep the flock and grow
o few cabbages an arrangement might
be made with a neighbor who keeps
no fowls to allow the use of a bit Of
ground for late planted capbages. For
use a. poultry feed, 1t Is not neces-
sary that the cabbages reach full ma
turity or that the heads be as perfect
- for table use. Even when q cab
bage plant Is composed almost wholly
u the large green leaves that would
have to be thrown away II used for
table purposes It makes good poultry