Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1871 — Food for Fowls. [ARTICLE]

Food for Fowls.

A change of food, summer and winter, is just as essential in the management of fowls as any form stock. While oat meal ar.d middlings contain a high per cent, of flesh-forming material, gluten, etc., Indian com has the greatest per cent, of oil-mak-ing or warmth-giving qualities of any of the grains; and while oat meal is one of the best summer foods, iu winter it should not be fed alone. Potatoes and rice contain a large amount of starch and are excellent winter feed. Wheat is never profitable as a poultry feed compared with oats,- it contains a less amount of flesh-forming and fat-making ingredients. A change of food, frequently, is desirable, and we prefer for winter alternate messes of mixed oat and corn meal, nnd corn meal and mashed potatoes. Middlings may be used with equal profit in place of the oat. meal. In mixing soft foods they should not be made very wet, but kneaded up as dry as possible, for forcing an excess of water into the crop is very liable to cause diarrhea. Fowls must never be left without water, but we would advise letting them take it in such quantities and at such times as their natures demand. Give fresh water, and see that there is no snow in it. Experience has taught that snow water will reduce poultry in flesh. — Ohio Farmer.