HEl'oiri Oh' THE I'OULTRY iliyAfJEIi 307 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



FLESHING CIIICKEXS AXD FxVTTENIXG OLD HENS. . 



SO>rE OF ■SVIIICII ■VVERIC LOOSE L\ TENS WITH LIMITED HUX AND OTHERS IX CRATES. 



In reports of our department for tlie past two years will be found interesting and 

 instructive results of the pen and crate methods of fattening chickens, which were 

 conducted by Mr. F. T. Sxuitt, of the Chemical Division, and his assistants. 



The experimental fleshing of chickens and fattening of old hens, during the past 

 reason, were conducted by cur poultry department. Details are given in following 

 pages. 



The terms 'fleshing' and 'fattening' are used with intent, for experience has 

 shown, that rations which are calculated to — and really do — go into 'flesh,' in the case 

 cf chickens, are frequently found in the shape of ' fat ' in old hens. Experience has 

 also shown that while flesh is desirable, fat — particularly that of old hens — is simply 

 waste. The accumulation of fat in old hens doubtless makes increased weight and 

 may mean a little more money to the seller, but, it is certainly loss to the purchaser, for. 

 it is of no value to him whatever. 



On the present occasion, hens of two years of age and chickens of two and three 

 months old, were used. 



The experimental fleshing of chickens in our department for several years has 

 shown that before the best specimens can be produced tlie following preliminary con- 

 ditions must be thoroughly understood, viz. : — 



1. Chickens intended for fleshing should be of correct market types, such as can 

 only come from the utility breeds. Hence the necessity of the parent stock being of 

 proper breed and type. 



2. Chickens should be well cared for and properly fed from time of hatching until 

 put into pen or crate for * finishing.' 



3. The better the condition of the chickens when put into pen or crate to flesh 

 the quicker and more complete will the ' finishing ' process be. 



4. Chickens which have been permitted ' to pick up their own living,' take more 

 food, a longer period to flesh and in the end seldom make specimens that will bring 

 the highest price. 



Attention to the foregoing points will certainly bring about the best results. 



In the following experiment of Pen vs. Crate, the chickens were divided into five 

 groups and the old hens into one. 



Each chicken and hen had a distinguishing number on a metal band round one of 

 its legs. 



Except whore described the cross-bred chickens were of the ordinary barn-yard 

 type. 



The birds wei'e fed twice per day and the rations were made of the consistency 

 of thin porridge. 



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