In a message dated 4/1/05 12:03:00 AM, Kitsune Miko writes:
...but not west of the Sierras where it is cracked corn.

Are you sure? Gravel or mollusk shells are stored in birds' gizzards, where
they are used to grind food, instead of teeth. Cracked corn is what they eat.
Is the corn you mentioned so hard it has the consistency of stones? I know of
some bird keepers who do not give their birds (cage birds, not chickens) gravel
because they say it is unnecessary in captivity. But I never heard of this
practice with chickens.
Iris

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