86 POULTRY FOR PROFIT 



steel cut oats are the best of feeds for young chicks 

 and turkeys. 



Barley is the one grain that is cheap in California 

 and can well be used as the larger part of the grain 

 ration. Fowls are not fond of it dry, but the whole 

 grain soaked twelve hours and drained till it is nearly 

 dry, or about twenty-four hours, and mixed with a 

 small amount of wheat and whole corn, makes an 

 excellent grain ration for Leghorns. Rolled barley 

 may be steamed or soaked to make it palatable. 

 Ground barley is largely used in mashes. Its nutri- 

 tive ratio is 1 :8.1, a little narrower than that of 

 rolled barley and a little wider than that of whole 

 barley. Barley meal is more expensive and contains 

 more protein. It is very good in a ration for chicks. 



Bran and middlings are by-products from the mill- 

 ing of flour and are an important part of mash ra- 

 tions all over the country. Bran has a higher nutri- 

 tive ratio than wheat. Middlings contain consider- 

 ably more digestible carbohydrates than bran, and 

 hence are more fattening. Bran is valuable, not only 

 for its high protein content, but because it adds bulk 

 to the ration. 



Stale bread can sometimes be had quite cheaply 

 from bakeries and restaurants and is an excellent 

 food. Its nutritive ratio is about the same as that 

 of wheat. It is most satisfactory when used in the 

 moist mash. Bread that has commenced to mold 

 should never be used. No drying or heating can 

 destroy the mold spores, and these are very injurious 

 to fowls of all ages. 



Vegetable Protein 



Peas and beans contains a great deal of protein 

 and are excellent for fowls when they can be bought 

 cheaply and prepared in such a way that they are 



