582 Bulletin 282. 



$0,094, a saving foi the variety ration of $1.00 on 100 chicks to six 

 weeks old. 



The cost of rearing a chick 'to twelve weeks, in small yards, the 

 last six weeks on a fattening ration, was greatest in the dry-mash 

 flock and least ia the variety ration flock. The average cost of a chick 

 for all flocks to twelve weeks old was $0,177 o^ $17.70 per 100 chicks. 

 This includes eggs, incubation, brooding, food and care. 



The total veight of the chicks marketed was greatest in the flock 

 raised on the wet mash, powdered milk ration and was least in the flock 

 reared on t^e cracked grain and bran ration. (See table 23.) 



Final conclusions 



(i) A larger average number of chicks and a greater average weight of 

 flocks were marketed from the flocks having the wet-mash and the 

 variety rations than from those having the dry-grain rations; and they 

 were one to two weeks earlier in reaching market weight. 



(2) The average weight of chicks was greatest at twelve weeks 

 in the flocks having cracked grain (56) and powdered milk mash (59). 



(3) The variety ration flock had the least mortality in the twelve 

 weeks. 



(4) The flock receiving powdered milk mash made the greatest gain 

 in weight. 



(5) The cost of food and labor per pound weight and per pound gain 

 was least for the flock having the powdered milk mash, and greatest 

 for that having the dry mash. 



(6) Chicks raised on the variety ration cost least per chick for 

 food and labor to six weeks and to twelve weeks. 



(7) The rearing of broilers to be sold in late summer was not 

 profitaj^le when they were sold on the open market. 



(8) Considering the cost per chick, the vigor of individuals, the 

 number of chicks reared to twelve weeks, and the apparent adapta- 

 tion to the needs of the chicks, the variety ration was most satisfactory. 



(9) In size and plumpness of chicks, smoothness of plumage, early 

 development, cost per pound gain and per pound weight, the wet-mash, 

 powdered milk ration gave best results. 



(10) Since this experiment was specifically a broiler- raising propo- 

 sition, it would be impossible to decide from this data which ration, 

 of the seven tested, would be best for rearing laying stock. 



