668 Report of the First Assistant op the 



can be fed to best advantage was one with laying hens, the results 

 of which are briefly summarized in this bulletin. In this feeding 

 trial comparison was made of a ration in which all the grain was 

 whole with another, similar in composition, but having about half 

 the grain ground and moistened. Four lots of hens were used, 

 two of White Leghorns and two of Buff Cochins. For conven- 

 ience they are briefly referred to as pens 1, 2, 3 and 4. Pens 

 1 and 2 were Leghorns and pens 3 and 4 Cochins. 



The two lots of Leghorns were alike, and the two lots of 

 Cochins, so far as breeding, food and general circumstances of 

 rearing to maturity were concerned. Each lot, however, had for 

 the first year after approaching laying maturity been fed a ration 

 similar to the one for the second year. The results mentioned 

 in this bulletin are therefore those for the second of two consec- 

 utive years on the same ration. About the same number of hens 

 were kept at all times in contrasted pens, equal numbers of the 

 few hens taken out for other uses being removed from each pen. 

 During the first year no male bird was at any time in any of the 

 pens nor for the first half of the second year. It became neces- 

 sary during the second year, however, owing to lack of room, to 

 keep male birds with the hens and in April a cock was added to 

 each pen, at the same time that two hens were taken from each 

 Leghorn pen. On this account and also because fewer hens were 

 kept the results for the second year cannot be so satisfactorily 

 compared with those for the first year, although the contrasted 

 pens were at all times comparable with each other. Any esti- 

 mates are calculated from the average consumption per fowl and 

 the average production per hen. The pens were all in one house, 

 separated by partitions, each pen having floor space of 10 x 12 

 feet. The small open yards attached to Nos. 1 and 2 included 

 about 240 square feet each, and those for Nos. 3 and 4 about 160 

 square feet each. These yards were deeply covered with coal 

 ashes. No other yards were available, although somewhat larger 

 ones than those used would be desirable. When it is wished to 

 account for all food it is not possible to allow extended range 



