304 FARM ANIMALS 



induced to eat all that they will since gains are then 

 most rapid and the cost of fattening is obviously 

 diminished by shortening the period of fattening. 

 In feeding for eggs, however, hens should be given 

 rations which keep them of about a constant 

 weight without producing an overfat condition. 

 The effect of light and heavy feeding on the fer- 

 tility of the eggs is apparent from the fact that when 

 conditions are favorable for a high egg production 

 the eggs hatch better than when the conditions 

 are unfavorable. In some breeds of chickens 

 which are slow in their actions and which 

 rapidly fatten as the result of heavy feeding the 

 eggs do not hatch well or if they do hatch do not 

 produce vigorous chicks. 



Ground vs. Whole Grain. The fact that chickens 

 possess a thick muscular gizzard may make it 

 appear quite unnecessary to grind or otherwise 

 prepare grain for feeding to them. Nevertheless 

 this matter has been thoroughly tested by poultry- 

 men. Where the grain ration consists of a mixture 

 of corn and oats it has been found that with both 

 young and old fowls better results are obtained 

 when one-third of the grain ration is fed ground 

 and moistened than when all of the grain is fed 

 whole. On farms where poultry are allowed 

 almost perfect freedom they thrive excellently well 

 and produce a reasonable number of eggs without 

 grinding or otherwise treating the grain ration. 

 The grinding of grain relieves the gizzard to some 

 extent and appears to make the grain more diges- 

 tible. For light breeds of fowls kept for egg pro- 

 duction it appears to be a good general practice 

 to feed about one-third of the grain ground and the 

 other two-thirds whole, scattering it in the litter. 

 The use of too much ground feed or mash conduces 



