374 POULTRY 



illustrated in the plotted curves of production during the sixteen 

 periods of twenty-eight days each, for the six flocks of fowls of 

 different ages (C). From August 11, the beginning of the ex- 

 periment, there was a gradual decline in production with all the 

 flocks until the latter part of December. From this time production 

 increased rapidly until the latter part of April, when it remained 

 practically stationary until the middle of May ; then it declined grad- 

 ually until the close of the experiment, November 8. 



Preparing Fowls for Market by Bleeding (Graham) 



Hold the head of the bird with the left hand, back of the head up, 

 keeping the hand on the back of the neck to avoid cutting yourself 

 should the knife slip and pass through the top of the head. Take the 

 knife in the right hand, the back of the blade toward your body. 

 Insert the blade in the mouth, keeping the point to the right side of 

 the bird's neck and as near the outer skin as possible until it is well past 

 the neck bone. Then press the edge toward the bone and slowly draw 

 the knife from the mouth, the hand moving from your body, so that the 

 knife appears to pass across the neck. Repeat the process on the left 

 side of the neck. This should cause the bird to bleed freely, but by 

 holding the beak up the blood will remain in the neck, giving you plenty 

 of time to pierce the brain. The latter is located just above the eye 

 and can be easily reached through the upper part of the mouth by 

 using a stiff steel blade, inserted in the mouth with blade edge up and 

 pointing slightly over the eye. With young birds little trouble is ex- 

 perienced in piercing the brain, but with older birds a very stiff blade is 

 required, as the bones are much harder. When the point of the blade 

 enters the brain, give the knife a quick twist to right or left to widen 

 the aperture. If the brain has been reached, the bird will attempt to 

 squawk or will give a nervous jerk as the blade touches the spot, and 

 this touching the brain or nerves not only loosens the feathers of the 

 bird for dry plucking, but will greatly improve the appearance of scalded 

 stock. 



A weight, which may consist of an old tomato can half filled with 

 stones and cement, is immediately attached by means of a wire hook 

 to the lower mandible of the bird. Then by grasping the wings close 

 to the back, the bird will not be able to flutter, and can be easily and 



