50S 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



inmates of the pens was inevitable. During the first six months of the 

 test one hen in each pen died. During the second six months the Golden 

 Wyandottes and Plymouth Rocks each lost one hen and the Leghorns 

 two. The weights of the pens are given in the next table. 



Pen 1— Golden Wyandottes: 



January, 1897.. 



July, 1897.. 



January, 1898 



Pen 2— Brown Leghorns: 



January, 1897 



July.1897 



January, 1898 



Pen 3— Plymouth Rocks: 



January, 1897 



July, 1897 



January, 1898 



The average gain per hen by the Wyandottes was 2.63 pounds for the 

 year, that of the Plymouth Rocks 2.37, and for the small Leghorns, 

 1.29 pounds. 



During the cold weather of winter each pen was confined to a depart- 

 ment of the chicken house already described. When the weather was 

 suitable they were given outdoor exercise, each pen being allowed the 

 run of a large lot, partly sown to rye which afforded a supply of green 

 food for the summer months. Sunflower seed was planted in each plot 

 to afford shelter from the blazing sun of midsummer. The time of the 

 experiment covered the entire year and is for the purposes of this report 

 divided into two periods of six months each. 



The feed consumed by the several pens was practically the same except 

 the grain, and was as follows: 



For the first six months: 



Cornmeal 



Ground oatfi .. 



Middlings 



Bran 



Table scraps 



Cabbage 



Mangolds 



Ground bone 



Corn 



Oats 



Wheat 



Oyster shells 



Pratt's Poultry Food 



For the second six montts 



Cornmeal 



Ground oats 



Bran 



Table scraps 



Cabbage 



Corn 



Oats 



VVlieat 



Oyster shells 



Pen 3. 



Lbs. 



87.4 

 134.5 



52.3 



90.5 

 319.0 



24.0 



44.0 

 27.0 

 79.6 

 45.0 

 181.0 

 54.0 

 5.7 



92.0 

 110.0 



15.5 

 206.0 

 154.0 



1100 



9.5 



184.0 



26 



