Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Hand sheller
Corn should be planted after all threat of frost is past. Some corn varieties are as short
as 3 feet (1 m) tall and reach maturity in about 80 days; others are 15 feet (4.5 m) tall
and take 140 days to mature. Corn provides more food per square foot and is much easi-
er to grow than any other grain source. You can let the corn dry on the stalk, store the
ears whole, and shell them as needed. Or you can shell the ears once harvested to reduce
storage space. Hand shellers can be purchased for less than $10. They are made from
cast aluminum and make the shelling job much easier.
Sunflowers
Infinitely beautiful, sunflowers make excellent poultry feed. Sunflower seeds are high
in protein and fat and are very healthful eating. Poultry love the seeds. So do the wild
birds, so you have to be prompt with your harvesting.
Sunflowers can be planted just prior to the last frost in the spring and succession
plantings made up to about 90 days prior to your first expected fall frost. It's probably
best to harvest just before the plants are fully mature — just as the stalk starts to turn
brown. Simply cut off the heads and lay them in a warm place to dry. When the seeds
are dry, you don't need to remove them from the flower heads to feed them to the flock.
The birds love to pick them out of the heads: it gives them something interesting and
challenging to do in the winter. Ducks and geese may have trouble removing the seeds,
but they will work at it. Chickens, turkeys, and most game birds greatly appreciate sun-
flowers.
Buckwheat
Buckwheat is probably not the best choice for a backyard poultry raisers' grain crop, as
it is difficult to harvest on a small scale, though it can be done. A benefit of growing
buckwheat is its long flowering period that attracts bees and other beneficial insects to
