124 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



by 12 feet, with two windows about 3 1)y G feet on the south, 

 scratching shed, 8 by 12 feet, which is left either entirely 

 o[)en in fine weather or closed l)y folding doors with large 

 glass windows in stormy weather, while the fowls are allowed 

 the run of large yards whene^'cr the weather permits. 



Two tests were made : a so-called winter test, December 

 7 to May 20 ; and a summer test, May 29 to September 10. 

 The feeds used in the two coops were of the same kinds, the 

 intention beino- to o-ive each lot of fowls as much food as 

 would ])G readily consumed. The mash used in these experi- 

 ments was commonly mixed with boiling water about twelve 

 hours before use, but in some instances was given hot im- 

 mediately after mixing. The morning mash was always 

 given as soon after light as possible, the evening mash just 

 before dark. The -whole grain given to both lots of fowls 

 was scattered in the straw in the scratching shed, for the 

 fowls in one coop early in the morning, for those in the other 

 coop about an hour before dark. Both lots of fowls were 

 given a little millet seed scattered in the straw at noon, the 

 object in view being to keep them industriously searching 

 for food in the straw a considerable share of the time. About 

 twice a week a small cabbage was given to each lot of fowls. 

 The eggs were weighed weekly ; all the fowls were weighed 

 at intervals of about one month. Sitters were confined in 

 a coop until broken up, being meanwhile fed like their mates. 

 The prices per hundred weight for feeds upon which financial 

 calculations are based are shown below : — 



Per Cwt. 



Wheat, $1 65 



Corn and corn meal, > 90 



Millet, 1 00 



Bran and middlings, 90 



Gluten feed, 1 00 



Gluten meal, 1 25 



Animal scraps, 2 25 



Clover, 1 50 



Cabbage, 25 



Oats 1 12.5 



The health of the fowls under both systems of feeding has 

 been in general good, although, as is usually the case, there 

 have been a few losses. Two fowls on the morning mash died 



