970 EXPERIMEXTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 

 Eighteen different rations were used. These rations as fed were: — 



Note. — The mash was equal parts corn meal and finely ground oats. The wild 

 mustard was too oily to grind alone, and an equal part of corn was added. 



The Birds.- — Seventy-two birds were used for this experiment. They were healthy 

 and vigorous cockerels from 6 to 8 months old, divided as near as possible, according 

 to weight and breed, and weighed at the beginning and at the end of the period. 



The feeding. — The feeding was done in crates^ the regulation size, four birds to 

 a compartment, and each compartment was separated so that the feed intended for 

 one lot could not be taken by any of the other birds. The birds were all fed four days 

 on a mash of equal parts corn meal and finely ground oats, mixed with buttermilk. 

 This was to get them used to confinement, after which they were given their experi- 

 mental rations. 



They were fed twice a day and after taking all they would eat, that which 

 remained in the trough was scraped out clean. Where the birds would not take to 

 the mash at first, they were left for two or three days to see if they would eat, but 

 in some cases they would have starved to death rather than eat the feed. When the 

 bird refused for two or three days the crammer was used once or twice a day as was 

 thought best. 



It <was noted that though some of the rations were refused by the birds and it 

 became necessary to use the crammer that after two or three days they seemed to take 

 to the feed and in some cases ate fairly well 



Ottawa. 



