92 



HOW TO FEED POULTRY FOR ANY PURPOSE WITH PROFIT 



hibitor neither takes it for granted that any of his well- 

 fed birds will be all right to take out of the flock and 

 put in the showroom, nor does he put off inspection of 

 the biids from which his entries will be selected until 

 time to begin the work of grooming and training them 

 for exhibition. Long before the time for that he has 

 noted the most likely candidates for competitions, and 

 from the time a bird is thus marked in his mind he 

 watches its condition closely, and if it does not appear 

 to him to be growing and developing, or molting as it 

 should, he takes such measures as seem advisable to in- 

 sure better development. 



In giving exhibition stock the finish in form and 

 plumage that birds must have to stand well in poultry 

 shows of the first class, conditions of life count for as 

 much as feed sometimes more. And this applies not 

 merely to conditions of life in a short period before the 

 exhibition at -which the bird is displayed, but to condi- 

 tions from the time of hatching. Crowding in the coops 

 and houses, confinement in bare yards, and even over- 

 stocking the range for growing chicks as much as might 

 be admissible with birds for breeders (not to be exhibited) 

 if well managed in every other respect, must be carefully 

 avoided. Nearly all consistently successful exhibitors at 

 the leading shows give their stock far more room, both 

 indoors and out, at every period of life, than is generally 

 considered necessary. To one who does not appreciate 

 perfection of finish in fowls, and how much this depends 

 upon natural conditions of life, it often appears that the 

 breeder of first-class exhibition stock is not making good 

 use of his opportunities not half utilizing the capacity 

 of his land and equipment. But the exhibitor has learned 

 by experience that though much may be done to improve 

 a specimen by extra feed and care in a few weeks prior 

 to a show, it is only the specimen that has little "wrong 

 with it when taken in hand at that time that will respond 

 to treatment in a measure that justifies the trouble. 



With experienced feeders and exhibitors who have 

 grown their stock well and kept old birds in good con- 

 dition, special feeding for exhibition is mostly a matter 

 of hastening or retarding development of specimens, as 

 far as that can be done without radical treatment, in 

 order to have them in their best con- 

 dition at the time they are to be 

 shown. Birds are at their best in 

 color and condition of plumage for 

 only a short time after the coat of 

 feathers is fully grown. Hence ex- 

 hibitors plan to have certain birds 

 ready for certain shows. If the birds 

 develop according to expectations, no 

 special feeding is necessary. But if 

 a bird is coming too fast or too 

 slow the poultryman tries to retard 

 or to hasten development according- 

 ly. Also it frequently happens that 

 an accident to a bird selected for ex- 

 hibition at a particular show makes 

 it necessary to substitute a less ma- 

 ture young bird, or an old one not 

 so far advanced in the molt, and per- 

 haps not up in flesh; or a slight in- 

 disposition may put a bird back; or 

 something may interfere with the 

 work of a poultryman to such an 

 extent that through no fault of his 

 the stock generally needs extra care. 



Under any of these conditions the birds that are to be 

 exhibited must have forcing feed to put them in condition 

 seasonably. Finally, as most birds that are shipped any 

 distance to shows lose considerable in weight and condi- 

 tion before they get back home, it is desirable that the 

 bird sent to the show should start with a little reserve 

 of fat. The exhibitor of poultry is, in his field, as much 

 interested and as proficient in "fleshing and fattening" 

 poultry as is the producer of fine table poultry in his. 



In all the literature on this subject there has never 

 appeared a more pertinent and concise statement in re- 

 gard to the feeding of birds in preparation for exhibition 

 than the following from the pen of Mr. A. C. Smith, pub- 

 lished twenty years ago, yet as applicable today: 



"To get the required amount of exercise in confined 

 quarters, a litter of leaves, coarse hay, or rye straw should 

 be placed upon the ground to the depth of four or five 

 inches. A few oats should be scattered in this as soon 

 as the birds are fairly off the roost in the morning, if it 

 is during the short days of winter. Then as soon as the 

 mash can be prepared the birds should receive about two 

 heaping teaspoonfuls each. This small quantity warms 

 them up, and sets the machinery of their digestive organs 

 to work, but .is not enough to destroy their appetite for 

 more. This mash should be made of ground oats and 

 corn meal; or corn meal, flour, middlings, and bran. The 

 proportions should be governed by the quality of the 

 goods. A mash that is so light in substance that it does 

 not cling together is not rich enough; neither is a tough, 

 doughy mash what is desired. This mash should be sea- 

 soned lightly with salt, but no spices whatever should be 

 used, as they tend to intensify the color of the head parts 

 for a time only, and to diminish it in proportion after- 

 wards. It is also advisable to use a small quantity of 

 bone meal in the mash every morning, and twice a week 

 a little icfined fish meal, say, one-twelfth or so. This is 

 a forcing feed and but little should be employed unless 

 it is desired to bring females toward a laying state. Clover 

 meal should be used once or twice a week in this morn- 

 ing mash. It is preferable to cut clover as the latter is 

 too bulky in the crop, and often clogs the passage to the 

 digestive organs. 



"The fowls should be kept scratching until noon, 

 when the green feed should be given. Everyone has his 

 preference. The writer prefers cabbages, as they are the 

 greenest and tenderest things to be procured in the win- 

 ter months. Green feed can be placed before them in 

 two days; it may be chopped and a certain amount fed 



A BREEDING PEN OF RHODE ISLAND REDS ON THE FARM OF LESTER 

 TOMPKINS, CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS 



From a photograph by the author in the spring of 1907. This pen was of 

 birds then eight years old that had been kept mated just as shown in the pic- 

 ture for seven years. 



