FARM ANIMALS. 43 



implies continual reproduction, for the ultimate constituents of 

 the egg are, with the exception of the amount obtained from the 

 air, all that are combined in the living chick. 



The body of a Leghorn pullet, about nine months old, in 

 active laying, contains about 56 per cent of water, 21 per cent 

 of different nitrogenous constituents, 18 per cent of fat, 3 per 

 -^ent of ash or mineral matter, and 2 per cent of other substances. 

 Leghorn hens almost two years old and laying showed an average 

 composition of 55.7 per cent water, 21.6 per cent nitrogenous 

 matter, 17.0 per cent fat, 3.8 per cent ash constituents, and 1.7 

 per cent other substances. There was found in the body of 

 a mature capon about 41.6 per cent of water, 19.4 per cent 

 nitrogenous matter, 33 9 per cent fat, 3.7 per cent ash, and 1.4 

 per cent other substances. 



Notwithstanding the fact that the problem of poultry feeding 

 Is much more complex than that of feeding most other farm stock, 

 fewer carefully collected data are available in formulating feed- 

 ing standards for poultry than for cattle. The following rations 

 for laying hens are, however, near the average of those that have 

 given best results. They are stated at the rate per 1000 lbs. 

 live weight, to compare with the standards which have been 

 used in feeding other animals.. 



One thousand pounds live weight of laying hens, of about 

 three pounds average weight, require from 65 to 100 pounds of 

 total food, less bulky than that for the cow, or 55 pounds or 

 more of water-free food per day, containing about 10 pounds 

 digestible protein, 35 pounds digestible nitrogen-free extract 

 and fiber, and 4 pounds of fat. From this ration the he:.s would 

 y)roduce generally from 15 to 30 pounds of eggs containing from 

 5 to 10 lbs. dry matter, one pound of eggs being produced from 

 about 3 lbs. water-free food, one pound of dry matter of eggs 

 for each 9 lbs. water-free food. 



For one thousand pounds live weight of he s of about six 

 pounds average weight, there should be fed from 50 to 80 lbs. 

 of food per day, containing about 40 pounds of water-free food. 

 There should be in this about 6 pounds of digestible protein, 23 

 pounds of digestible nitrogen-free extract and fiber, and 2 pounds 

 of digestible fat. 



