36 



the losses of birds have been small when the feeding has not been so 

 liberal as to clog the appetite. Much care is necessary in adjusting 

 the quantity of food to the needs of the birds. 



Other methods of feeding young chicks have been tried and the 

 results watched. Method i has been used for several years and no 

 other has been found that gives better growth or less losses of birds. 

 The only objection to it is the labor required in preparing the food 

 and cleaning the dishes"after each meal. 



In the work at this Station, Method 2 is preferred and used. 

 Many weighings of the birds in comparative pens lead to the belief 

 that the growths are as great under this dry mash system as from the 

 moist mash used in Method i. The losses of chicks are small by 

 either method. The labor in Method 2 is considerably less than is 

 required in Method i. Where either Methods i or 2 are used, the 

 liability of injury to the chicks is much less than when Methods 3 or 

 4 are followed." 



In some parts of Plymouth county, poultry rais- 

 A Plymouth ing is more generally followed than in any other 



County Method, part of the state. The production of broilers 

 and capons are leading features of the industry 

 and such breeds as the White and Barred Plymouth Rock and the 

 Light Brahma are very largely kept. A prominent and highly suc- 

 cessful producer gives the following description of the method of 

 feeding the chickens usually followed : 



" For the first few weeks we feed a mixture of two parts by meas- 

 ure of coarse bran and one part of corn meal, also feed a little chick 

 food and beef scraps when a few days old with the bran and meal 

 mixture. When three to four weeks old give cracked corn and grad- 

 ually increase quantity of beef scraps until you keep cracked corn 

 and scraps before them all the time. Also give any and all kinds of 

 vegetables."' 



The bran and meal mixture referred to is fed dry. 



In most lots of chickens raised, the sexes are 

 The usually about evenly divided, and there will be 



Surplus Cockerels, a considerable number of cockerels to be dis- 

 . posed of. The separation of these cockerels 

 from the pullets at a relatively early age is advisable. They will 

 thrive better by themselves than if kept with the females. A con- 

 siderable proportion of the surplus cockerels will usually be sent to 

 market as table fowls. According to conditions, it may prove more 



