50 



far as possible to keep them in a cool, comfortable place, rather secluded, so as 

 not to be disturbed by the visiting public or other chickens. The birds should 

 be dusted with a small amount of sulphur or other insect powder in order to 

 keep the lice in check. If the sulphur is used too freely it produces a scaly 

 appearance on the birds when dressed. 



We have each year a surplus of cockerels over and above those required for 

 breeding purposes, and the most of these are fattened and killed; a few are sold 

 to farmers or breeders. We also fatten the cull pullets. In 1908, from September 

 to December, we put in the fattening crates 626 birds. The loss by death among 

 these was two birds. The birds weighed (when brought in from the range, usually 

 with full crops) 2,233 pounds. They were fed from four days to three weeks 

 before killing. 



We hoped to have fed them all three weeks, but at times the demand for 

 dressed chickens required us to kill the birds shortly after cooping. 



Rations. 



The main ration consisted of barley meal, low grade flour, middlings and 

 buttermilk. Some other mixed grains were used and a little shredded wheat. 

 The 626 birds ate 2,057 lbs. of ground grain and 4,000 lbs. of milk. _ 



Many farmers and others market their birds in a thin condition. We can, 

 for the time it takes to feed, clean out the pens, etc., make at least 50 cents per 

 hour over and above the cost of feed. We usually feed these birds by lamp-light 

 at night, so that little valuable time is lost. 



Financial Statement of Fattening Chickens. 



626 chickens weighing 2,233 lbs. at 8c. per pound, live weight $178 64 



2,057 lbs. of grain at $1.50 per cwt 30 85 



4,000 lbs. buttermilk at 10c. per cwt ^ "" 



Total cost • • $213 49 



624 dressed chickens, bled and plucked, but undrawn, 2,358 lbs. at 12^c. per lb. 294 1^ 



Profit $81 26 



Birds that are starved ready to kill shrink 12 per cent, by bleeding and loss 

 of feathers. We have figured frequently that the average profit per bird in three 

 weeks' feeding was about 15 cents each; the above table shows nearly 13 cents. 

 The profit would have been somewhat higher if all the birds had been fed at least 

 two weeks. 



Dressing and Shipping Poultry. 



All fowls should be fasted from twenty-four to thirty-six hours before killing. 

 Where this is not done, the food decomposes in the crop and intestines, the result 

 being that the flesh becomes tainted and does not keep well. 



All birds should be killed by bleeding, preferably through the mouth. A 

 little practice will ordinarily make one fairly handy at this work. For the average 

 person I am of the opinion that they will do the best work by tying the bird's 

 feet by means of a small rope or cord, at a height about level with the picker's 

 shoulders. The rope or cord may be fastened to a small pole or rod. For bleed- 

 ing, any sharp knife with a blade nearly three inches in length will answer. To 



