324 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Junk, 1918. 



with an average return of 209 eggs from 54 birds. In the Dry Mash Sec- 

 tion, 23 White Leghorns laid, on an average, 205^ eggs each during the 

 competitions. In the class for those heavy breeds other than Black 

 Orpingtons, which included Rhode Island Reds, Silver Wyandottes, 

 White Plymouth Rocks, &c., 19 hens averaged 175 eggs each. From 

 the light breeds other than White Leghorns, which included Minorcas, 

 Spanish, and Anconas, an average of 150 eggs was obtained from 

 11 birds — one Minorca hen giving the very fine total number of 250. 



In the various competitions for pens of six birds, White Leghorns 

 were to the front. The birds in the Dry Mash Section, numbering 144, 

 laid, on an average, 190.201 eggs each; and the average of the 264 in the 

 Wet Mash Section was 190.178. This shoAVs a slight margin in favour of 

 the dry mash; but, as a much greater number of birds were fed on 

 wet mash diet, the comparison is not on equal lines. Turning now to 

 the heavy breeds, 120 birds in the Wet Mash Section averaged 169 eggs 

 for the eleven months, and 48 fed on the dry mash principle gave an 

 average of 157 eggs. The average yield of each bird in the teams 

 competition, 576 in all, was 183. This is a very satisfactory result, 

 more especially as, in making the computation, no deduction has been 

 made for birds that have died or been withdrawn from the competitions. 



The results of the recent competitions, as well as those of previous 

 years, show that when birds become accustomed to being penned singly, 

 their yield of eggs is not decreased. The conditions under which the 

 birds are penned allow each bird to have a full view of the others on 

 either sides, as only wire netting separates them. This, of course, is 

 much better than if the partitions prevented the birds frona seeing each 

 other. For competitions, single-pen testing has been found the most 

 satisfactory method — indeed, it is the only thoroughly reliable way of 

 ascertaining the egg production of each bird. For the same reason, 

 single-pen testing is equally valuable for the breeder desiring to select 

 the eggs of his most productive fowls. A team of six birds may yield 

 a big total return, but it may be that one of the team is an indifferent 

 layer, and that, but for her presence, the result would have been still 

 better. 



Methods of Feeding. 



The feeding of the birds which competed in the several tests in the 

 last competitions was on lines which can be practised by ahnost any 

 poultry-keeper. 



The wet mash was composed (by measure) of two parts wheat 

 pollard, two parts bran, one part pea meal, one part oaten pollard, and 

 one part chaffed green-stuff (lucerne, clover, &c.), and to this was 

 added a small ration of minced liver (about 5 per cent, of the whole). 

 This feed was mixed to a crumbly consistency with liver soup, and a 

 very little salt added. About 2 ounces of the mash was allowed to each 

 hen for the morning meal, and a further ounce was given at mid-day. 

 The grain ration, which formed the evening meal, consisted of six parts 

 wheat, two parts oats, and one part crushed maize. About an ordinary 

 handful of this was allowed for each bird, the amount being slightly 

 varied at the discretion of the attendant. This mixture was fed to the 

 birds in both the wet and dry mash tests. 



