PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 127 



the results. He makes this matter a constant study 

 until he has the ration adjusted' to suit the case. If 

 changes in the ration seem to be called for he makes 

 them gradually according to his best judgment and 

 finally develops a feeding system that is scientific, sen- 

 sible and successful. The New York State Agricultural 

 Experiment Station has, by careful experimentation with 

 poultry, determined' several standards for feeding ra- 

 tions which should prove very helpful as guides in 

 reckoning rations for certain conditions and purposes. 



These standards state the average quantities of dry 

 matter, mineral constituents, digestible protein, carbo- 

 hydrate and fat nutrients, the fuel value and the nutri- 

 tive ratio of the daily rations which, in the experiments, 

 produced the best results. 



First it will be of interest to note what amounts of 

 the different nutrients are necessary to simply maintain 

 mature fowls in healthy condition^ without gain or loss 

 of body-weight and without producing eggs or new 

 feathers. 



STANDARDS FOR MAINTENANCE RATIONS. 



Digestible Nutrients Per Day, Per Each 100 Lbs. 

 Live Weight of Fowls. 



Live Weight' |* ^ f |i 3 

 > JL ! !_3 I 4*s 



Hens 3-5 Ibs. 3.90 



Hens 5-7 



2.70 



.1-5 .50 I 2.95 I .30 I 780 I 1:7.4 

 .10 .40 2.00 .20 5300 1:6.2 



The experiment station found the following daily 

 ration sufficiently close to the standard requirements for 

 hens of five to seven pounds live weight: Cracked) corn 

 (maize) 1 lib., corn meal 1 lb., ground oats 1-2 lb. f 

 wheat middlings 1-2 lb., clover hay 1-2 lb., fresh bone 

 1-4 lb., meat scraps l-# lb. 



The poultryman is not usually satisfied to have his 

 hens simply maintain themselves without gain or pro- 



