44 POULTRY FOODS 



as a part of an all-grain ration, it is not classed as a 

 desirable grain for fowls. 



Buckwheat Middlings. The hulls of buckwheat have 

 no feeding value, but in some localities they are used. 

 as litter in buildings and brooders. Buckwheat mid- 

 dlings are superior to wheat bran and wheat middlings 

 as a food for fowls, and this fact brings into the 

 market buckwheat bran, which is largely broken hulls 

 mixed with buckwheat middlings. Although the floury 

 middlings of buckwheat are fit for poultry food, the 

 bran of this grain is useless for this purpose. 



Peas. Although fowls relish pea vines, they must 

 acquire a liking for the peas themeselves, which are very 

 good food. The field pea, or Canada pea, as it is some- 

 times called, is largely used as food for pigeons, and on 

 the whole is probably the best pea for other kinds of 

 poultry. Low-priced, broken peas, if cooked, can at 

 times be used to advantage. When they have been 

 thoroughly softened by boiling, wheat bran is added to 

 them to make a crumbly mass; a little flour put with 

 the bran will help to make the mass stick together. A 

 mixture prepared in this way is greedily devoured by 

 hens, and is an excellent egg-producing ration. Pea 

 meal is a concentrated food that should be sparingly 

 used. Peas or pea meal added to a fattening ration 

 improve the quality of the lean meat. 



Beans. As a food for poultry, beans are more nutri- 

 tious than peas. Bean vines are not so well liked as the 

 pea vines, nor will the fowls eat beans as long as they 

 have other food before them. Soybeans contain much 

 protein and ash; because of this fact they are valuable 

 food for fowls. Beans should be boiled to a soft mush 

 and mixed with corn meal and bran; this preparation 

 makes an egg-producing ration. If sufficient corn meal 

 is added, a fat-forming ration that will produce a good 

 quality of table meat is made. Fowls are naturally 

 attracted to a mixture of this kind. Like other cooked 

 foods, boiled beans may be fed to fowls while warm, 

 but never while hot. 



