POULTRY FEEDS AND FEEDING 



5 per cent each) of hemp and millet seeds added during 

 the molting period. Other grains which may be substi- 

 tuted for or added to these are peanuts, dried garden peas, 

 cowpeas, oats or hulled oats, buckwheat, Egyptian corn, 

 and milo maize, while a small quantity of stale bread, rice, 

 rape, millet, canary, vetch or sunflower seed may be fed 

 for variety. Canada peas are expensive, but seem to be 

 essential to the best results, especially during the breeding 

 season. They apparently take the place of green feed to 

 some extent. Peanuts, cowpeas, and dried garden peas 

 give quite good results and sometimes are used in place 

 of Canada peas when the latter are high in price. Soy 

 beans do not seem to be so well liked by pigeons. Tender 

 green feed, such as freshly cut clover, alfalfa, and grass, 

 lettuce, plantain leaves, and chickweed may be fed, but 

 are not essential. 



A variety of good, hard, thoroughly dried grains is 

 essential to success. Grains which are in poor condition 

 should not be fed. Old grains which are hard are much 

 better than new soft grains, especially for pigeons with 

 squabs. New soft grains, especially wheat and corn, 

 should never be fed to pigeons, as they will cause bad re- 

 sults in the flock, particularly among the squabs. Feed 

 whole corn and avoid cracked corn unless it is freshly 

 cracked. Pigeon corn which is smaller and harder than 

 common corn is used extensively for pigeons. Many 

 pigeon breeders reduce the proportion of corn during the 

 summer, feeding from one-half to three-fourths less of 

 this grain than in the winter. Red wheat is considered 



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