POULTRY FEEDS AND FEEDING 



small amount of millet seed on account of its small size is 

 used extensively in combination with other grains in mix- 

 tures for small chickens and for pigeons, and to a less ex- 

 tent in commercial scratch mixtures for laying hens to add 

 variety to these feeds. It is usually too high priced to be 

 used to make up any considerable part of a poultry feed. 

 Pigeons do not like millet seed and will only eat it when 

 all the other grains are gone. 



BUCKWHEAT 



Buckwheat is fed to poultry hi a small way to add 

 variety to the scratch feed. It compares with wheat in 

 analysis but has a much higher per cent of fibre and is not 

 as palatable, thus making it less desirable feed. Buck- 

 wheat middlings contain a high per cent of crude protein 

 and fat with only a very little fibre and are a desirable 

 feed. Ordinarily a considerable per cent of hulls are added 

 to the middlings to make up buckwheat bran or buck- 

 wheat feed, usually making a much less desirable feed 

 than wheat bran, depending on the amount of fibre which 

 it contains. 



Buckwheat tends to produce a white fat and flesh, on 

 which account it is used more extensively abroad than in 

 this country as white fat is preferred in many of the for- 

 eign countries, while yellow fat and flesh have the prefer- 

 ence in the United States. Buckwheat by-products do not 

 keep as well as wheat by-products and should be mixed 

 with some light feed such as wheat bran, if they are to be 

 stored in bulk. 



68 



