Ground Food 177 



per cent more food for the same egg production 

 than did similar hens having half the grain in 

 their ration ground and moistened. The hens 

 having whole grain had on the average for two 

 years 6.4 pounds of water -free food for every 

 pound of eggs produced. Those having ground 

 grain had on the average for two years 5.3 

 pounds of water -free food for every pound of 

 eggs produced." 



Poultrymen do not agree as to the time of 

 day when the soft food should be fed. Some 

 hold that such food should be given in the 

 morning, for the reason that the fowls have been 

 on the perches during the night and have largely 

 digested the food which was consumed the day 

 before, and consequently have comparatively 

 empty crops and digestive organs. In order that 

 the morning meal may be rapidly and easily di- 

 gested they feed only ground and moistened 

 grain. They also hold that, if the fowls are to 

 be fed three times a day, whole grain should 

 be fed at noon and at night. Other careful 

 observers maintain that whole grain should 

 be given in the morning and that the ground 

 food should be given at noon. It is probably 

 more important to feed a part of the grain food 

 in a ground or soft condition than it is to feed 

 this food at any particular time of day. 



All poultrymen believe that it is important to 



