346 PRODUCTIVE FEEDING OF FARM ANIMALS 



sour. To keep utensils clean that are used in wet-mash feeding 

 requires extra labor. 



4. Fowls that are accustomed to the dry mash will lay just as 

 well as those fed the wet mash. Growing chicks fed a dry mash 

 containing plenty of bran will usually be less subject to digestive 

 diarrhoea than if fed a wet mash, as the dry feed will counteract 

 any tendency to diarrhoea. 



Wet mashes are more eagerly eaten than dry feed and should 

 therefore be fed much more carefully to prevent overeating. In 

 cold weather a light noon feed of a wet mash may be advantageously 

 fed as an appetizer and for variety, in addition to the regular dry 

 mash which is kept before the fowls at all times. Fowls are con- 

 fined a great deal in winter and the days seem long. After working 

 and scratching in the litter all morning they are inclined to sit 

 around in the sun about noon. A scanty feed of wet mash at this 

 time will put new energy into them, set them, to exercising vigor- 

 ously again, and help materially to increase the egg production. 

 At other times of the year when the weather is good and the fowls 

 spend much more time out of doors, the dry mash is all that is 

 needed. 



For fattening, the wet mash is better than the dry because the 

 fowls can be induced to eat more feed and will fatten more rapidly. 

 Being more forcing, it should be fed with greater care to prevent 

 over-fatness, indigestion and liver trouble. 



Feeding Versus Breeding. Methods of feeding or the com- 

 position of a ration cannot permanently force a fowl to produce 

 mere heavily than it is naturally capable of producing. It may be 

 possible to greatly increase production for a short period by over- 

 stimulation with condiments and very concentrated ground feeds, 

 but the fowl soon breaks down under such treatment and is ruined 

 for future use. All that feeding should be expected to do is to 

 furnish to the fowls feeds that will be physically suitable, i.e., small 

 enough in size, not too bulky, and not unnaturally stimulating, and 

 so proportioned in the ration as to meet the needs of production and 

 healthful activity to best advantage. " The best ration " is one 

 that promotes the health of the birds and stimulates them to their 

 best productive effort. 



Feeding cannot take the place of breeding in building up the 

 productive abilities of fowls from generation to generation. It can 

 only provide the kind of a ration which will most suitably furnish 

 the nutrients needed to develop a fowl productively to the best of 

 her capacity. Increased productive capacity can only be secured 



