306 FARM ANIMALS 



are taking their place the use of mash is very 

 effective in hastening the production of new 

 feathers. In fattening, the use of mash feeds are 

 far superior to dry feeds and this practice is fol- 

 lowed by all poultrymen. 



The Cost of Feeding Broilers. A great amount 

 of attention has been given to the production of 

 broilers. The profit from feeding young animals 

 is always greater than from feeding old birds, and 

 this fact, in addition to the handsome prices which 

 are realized on young broilers properly fed, has led 

 a large number of people to engage in this special 

 line of poultry raising. The total cost of feeding 

 chickens up to the proper size and age for broilers 

 varies in different parts of the country, depending 

 on the cost of feed and the kinds of feed used. In 

 South Carolina it has been found that the cost of 

 feeding chickens up to eight weeks is about seven 

 and one-half cents per head and to twelve weeks, 

 twelve cents, or an average of one cent per week. 

 These figures do not take account of the green feed 

 used in forcing broilers for market but on all farms, 

 especially where arrangements are made so that 

 chickens have a suitable range, the cost of green 

 feed is so small that it can be neglected in stating 

 this side of the proposition. 



Feeding Chickens for Market. Owing to the 

 fact that chickens can be marketed at an early age 

 it is found unnecessary from a physiological 

 standpoint to give strict attention to the balancing 

 of the ration as in the case of animals which are 

 kept to a greater age and are fed over a longer 

 feeding period. The chief purpose of balancing 

 the ration for chickens intended for market and 

 not for breeding purposes is found in the fact that 

 they put on gains faster and the process is therefore 



