398 The Feeding of Animals 



is probable that their requirements will be found to 

 correspond fairly well with those of either the duck 

 or of the common fowl. The general food of the tur- 

 key is similar to that of the connnon fowl, but it should 

 be less artificial, and conditions of general feeding- 

 more nearly resembling those which exist in a wild 

 state are required. 



Unsatisfactory as is our present knowledge of the 

 fundamental laws which underlie the science of nutri- 

 tion applied to man and other animals, there are 

 nevertheless volumes of carefully collected data that 

 make it possible to ascribe fairly narrow limits to 

 their operations. Compared with mammals, however, 

 the class of birds has received very little considera- 

 tion. There have been a few careful studies made, 

 but for lack of enough information our feeding nnist 

 be guided by the rules applying in common to all 

 animals. Undoubtedly the accepted laws of nutrition 

 observed for other animals are applicable in a general 

 way to domestic fowls, and it is safe to apply in the 

 light of the specific data we have any general prin- 

 ciples of feeding that have already been established. 

 This has been done in formulating the feeding stand- 

 ards which are here presented, and all available data 

 of a reliable character have been considered. There 

 have not been enough, however, to justify narrow 

 limitations, and the suggested standards should not 

 be considered final and unchangeable. They simply 

 represent the averages of rations which under careful 

 management and like conditions have given better 

 results than various other rations with which they 



