314 



Bulletin 249. 



ing 66.4 pounds, worth for meat, at least 12 cents per pound live weight, 

 or $7.96. Of the wet mash and grain fed hens only 14 still remained, 

 weighing 49.9 pounds. At the same value per pound, these hens were 

 worth $5.98. This gives a further value of $1.98, or ten cents per hen, 

 for the dry mash and grain method. For 100 hens this would be $10, 

 or a total of $21 for 100 hens=2i cents per hen. 



A comparison of the percentages (Fig. 129) shows that the dry 

 mash and grain gave a greater per cent, in tgg production, hatchability 

 of eggs, gain in weight, and profit per hen, together with less mortality. 

 Wet mash and grain gave slightly better fertility of eggs. 



Wet Mash Pen i. 



Dry Mash Pen 2. 



Fig. 129. — Methods of forcing. — A comparison of wet and dry mash. 



A reference to Table 25 will show that the per cent, profit means the per cent, 

 of gain calculated on the excess of income over cost of food. 



Vices. 



The hens which received whole grain and beef-scrap developed bad 

 habits. The hand-fed hens wasted grit and shell by pulling it out of 

 the boxes. They seemed to be looking for something they did not get, 

 especially during March and April, when they were coming into heavy 

 production. 



