46 MRS. BASLEY'S WESTERN POULTRY BOOK 



tion to take them off for the little chicks, but that would scarcely 

 be possible or profitable if you are feeding much to mature hens, as 

 it would take too much time and labor. 



In feeding either old or young you can make one-fifth of the 

 food of the beans if you have plenty of them, but I would advise 

 not more than that. Your way of mixing the chopped-up beans 

 with bran and milk is good, but I would suggest adding a little 

 cornmeal, about one-fifth of the amount of the mash. This would 

 be a better balanced mash. As you have had such good results 

 from following my instructions and formula for feeding broilers, 

 I think you had better continue it and not make any change, or if 

 for any good reason you are obliged to make a change in the food 

 make the change very gradually ; that is, add only a few spoonsful 

 of the new food each day until at the end of about two weeks you 

 have got them to willingly accept the new food. A sudden change 

 of almost any kind will stop the egg output partially or sometimes 

 totally. You have to remember there is a difference between va- 

 riety, which is excellent for fowls, and change, which almost in- 

 variably results disastrously. 



The best way to feed the beans (Windsor or horse beans) would 

 be to have them ground and feed them in the dry mash for all the 

 chickens, large or small ; for the very little fellows nothing could 

 be better than the way you are now doing. 



When I received this letter I wrote to a successful poultryman 

 and egg farmer, who has been feeding beans for some time very 

 successfully, and I copy his letter for the benefit especially of those 

 residing in bean-growing districts, where beans can be often bought 

 very cheaply. The writer can be thoroughly relied upon as to 

 accuracy. 



"Your cordial letter reached us today, and I take pleasure in 

 answering your questions concerning our use of beans for hens. 



■ "The variety we used and are still using is what is called here 

 the black-eyed bean. I think it is called 'cow peas' in some parts of 

 the country. The flavor of this bean is more like that of the pea 

 than of the bean. For a long time we fed them whole, with corn, 

 wheat and whole barley, equal parts of each. The hens ate them 

 as readily as they did the other grains, except wheat. 



"We fed it also in the mash, with ground barley, cornmeal and 

 beans, about equal parts of each. We found that our hens increased 

 their egg production about twenty per cent. 



These beans are rich in protein, about 22%, and are about 85% 

 digestible, so you will see that fed with wheat, corn and barley 

 they are a valuable addition to the dietary of hens. If we could 

 get these beans, we should continue their use, but we are unable 

 to get any more of them. If you know where they can be had for a 

 reasonable price, we should be pleased to have you inform us. 

 I have no doubt that hens could be induced to eat lima beans, at 

 least in the mash, as you know lima beans are rich in protein, but 

 possibly may not be as digestible as the black-eye. I hope this 

 information may be of use to you." 



