406 FATTENING, KILLING, AND DRESSING 



Care in Crate Fattening. — From six to ten birds, according 

 to size, are placed in each division of the battery. They should 

 be weighed when placed in the crates so that the gain can be de- 

 termined. Many mixtures of grain have proved successful. The 

 best rations are usually composed of corn meal and low-grade 

 flour, about 60 per cent of the former and 40 per cent of the latter. 

 Six per cent of tallow is sometimes added to this ration, with 

 varying results. Grit is generally provided, especially if the birds 

 are kept on feed for two weeks or more, and four pounds to each 

 hundred birds are given twice a week. Clover or alfalfa meal, 

 meat meal, blood meal, charcoal, and sometimes salt, are added 

 to the ration, according to the ideas of various feeders, but their 

 use is not essential. 



The excessive feeding of very concentrated rations often has 

 the effect of making the birds pull feathers and pick at each 

 other; they often keep at it until they have eaten much of the 

 flesh of live chickens. In such cases reduce the concentration and 

 substitute greens and a small amount of meat or blood meal. 



Milk or buttermilk is essential in all fattening rations. Milk 

 in some form is used to soften the rations, and acts on the diges- 

 tive processes, keeping the birds in good condition during forcing. 

 If much milk is given, the amount of meat may be reduced. But- 

 termilk and skim milk are generally used, and the milk may be 

 either sweet or sour, but usually it is sour. The feed should be 

 thoroughly mixed, either with a rake or a machine, according to 

 the quantity, so that there will be no lumps or dry masses. The 

 consistency should be about that of cream, or so that it will drip 

 from the tip of a large wooden spoon. Chickens seem to prefer a 

 thicker mixture, but it is doubtful if they get sufficient nourish- 

 ment from it, for their hunger is much sooner satisfied than when 

 compelled to eat the thin one. The percentage of milk to use in 

 the mixture depends upon the grains, the weather, and method of 

 feeding; about 60 per cent seems to give the best results. Suc- 

 cessful fattening depends largely upon whether the feeder watches 

 his birds and notes their condition. The first two or three feeds 

 should be light and the amount gradually increased until the 

 birds can be given all they will eat up clean. 



The birds are usually fed from two to five times daily, but 

 three is best for the small or amateur feeder. The use of milk has 

 a tendency to produce white flesh, which in certain markets is 

 not as desirable as yellow; this, however, is merely a matter of 



