35 



General Conclusions. 



1. It is evident from these experiments that chickens that are 

 being fattened, produce a pound of gain at a less cost when fed in 

 crates than when allowed to run at large in a pen. 



2. That the birds fed in the crates from the trough and the cram- 

 ming machine in addition produced a pound of gain at the least cost, 

 the food consumed being taken into account only. 



3. That feeding chickens in a pen loose, is not to be commended 

 when the object is to fatten or flesh them for market purpose. 



4. There is a slight difference in favor of a chicken weighing less 

 than four pounds. 



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. 



There are two methods of killing that are considered proper. 

 One is to kill by bleeding, which is accomplished by making a deep 

 incision with a sharp knife in the roof of the mouth, immediately 

 below the eyes. This method is considered to be the better one in 



Fig. 24. A chicken weighted in shaping 

 board. (Lewis Wright.) 



the Eastern States and also in some parts of Canada. The other 

 method is to kill the bird by wringing or pulling the neck. This is 

 done by taking the chicken in the hands, stretching the neck, holding 

 the crown of the head in the palm of the hand, and giving a quick 

 turn backward and at the same time a steady pull. This method is 

 favored by the exporters of dressed fowls, and is much cleaner than 



