POULTRY RAISING CHICKENS 309 



SYSTEMS OF FEEDING. 



(Including Some of the Most valuable Feeding Methods and Formula* Known.) 



There are two systems in common use for the feeding of fowls. One is 

 known as the dry-feed system ; the other the "mash" system. In the former 

 all feed is given dry either whole or crushed while in the latter, one or more 

 of the daily feeds consists of a moistened mash; i. e., the feed is ground. 

 Poultrymen disagree as to the better of these two systems and as to the time 

 at which grain and mash should be fed. Fowls in confinement should be fed 

 three times a day and those having free range twice a day. There are advan- 

 tages to be gained in the dry system in that it saves time and labor, and lessens 

 the danger of bowel trouble resulting from feeding soured or sloppy mashes. 



Dry Feeding. 



In the dry-feeding system, a mixture of whole grains is thrown in the 

 litter early in the morning and again about 11:30 or about an hour before 

 they go to roost at night. A dry mash mixture is opened to them about 10 :00 

 or 12 :30 and they have access to it the remainder of the day. If one cannot 

 feed early in the morning, it is advisable to scatter the grain plentifully in the 

 litter after the birds have gone to roost. This grain will furnish feed for early 

 morning. Fowls should have empty crops in the morning but the crops should 

 never be quite full the rest of the day until roosting time. Keep the birds 

 slightly hungry during the day and do not give them all they will eat until 

 just before roosting time. The birds should be handled once in a while when 

 they are on the perch and if they are either too fleshy or too poor, their rations 

 should be changed accordingly. 



Several feeds for dry feeding are given below. The feed given early in 

 the morning and at 11 :30 we call the "grain mixture" and that given at 12:30 

 the "dry-mash." 



Valuable Feeding Formulas for Dry Feeding. 

 Grain Mixture. Dry Mash. 



(Amount for 100 hens). Wheat bran, 2 parts by weight. 



Middlings, 1 part by weight. 

 Cornmeal,! part by weight. 

 Linseed meal, 1 part by weight. 

 Gluten, 1 part by weight. 

 Beef scrap, 1 part by weight. 



Dry Mash. 



Grain Mixture. 2 parts meat scrap. 



3 parts by weight of corn. 2 parts ground corn. 



1 part by weight of wheat. 1 part bran feed. 



