400 FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



still fresh. Green cut bone of good quality is a highly satisfactory 

 animal feed, but its use is limited, as it will keep but a short time, 

 and it is often difficult to secure a supply regularly. When neces- 

 sary to hold fresh ground bone even for a comparatively few hours 

 it should be spread out thinly. A paper sack full of fresh ground 

 green bone will frequently spoil over night, even in a cold room. 

 If spread out thinly it can be kept in a warmer room, where there is 

 no danger of freezing. 



Wheat by-products. — Wheat bran forms part of most mashes for 

 poultry, adding bulk to a mixture of heavier concentrates. Even 

 when bran is high in price, compared with other feeds, the use of a 

 limited amount may be advisable on account of its slightly laxative 

 and cooling effect. Middlings are used in most poultry mashes. 



Linseed meal. — Because of its beneficial effect on the digestive sys- 

 tem and its laxative action, linseed meal is a valuable feed for poultry, 

 but should not form over 10 per "et. of the ration. It is undesirable 

 for use in wet mashes because of its gummy nature and is unpalatable 

 when fed in large amounts. Old-process linseed meal is especially 

 helpful during the moulting season and in fitting birds for shows, as 

 it hastens the growth of feathers and gives them luster. 



Cottonseed meal. — Contradictory results have been secured in trials 

 where cottonseed meal has been fed to poultry. In some cases it has 

 been substituted successfully for dried meat scrap, but in others the 

 results have been much less satisfactory. As a result, poultrymen 

 at present do not favor this concentrate. 



Sunflower seeds. — Sunflower seeds, rich in oil and high in protein, 

 are often used in fitting poultry for shows and as a conditioner during 

 the moulting season, since they hasten the growth of feathers and give 

 luster, the same as does linseed meal. They are frequently grown for 

 shade in poultry yards, the heads being fed to the flock. Except when 

 thus used they are rarely economical for general use in balancing the 

 ration. 



Miscellaneous protein-rich concentrates. — Wet brewers' grains are 

 excellent for poultry, if fed fresh, for they are palatable and succulent. 



Dried brewers' grains are often economical to use as part of the 

 mash. Gluten feed, palatable and satisfactory for poultry, is com- 

 monly an economical protein-rich feed, due to its richness in protein 

 and its high digestibility. 



Buckwheat middlings and buckwheat bran of good grade may be; 

 used as a substitute for wheat bran in mashes. Low-grade bran, con- 

 taining much hulls, should not be fed to poultry. 



Field peas, soybeans, and cowpeas are all satisfactory for poultry,, 

 but are not commonly fed because they are usually high in price.. 



