39 



At noon and night, cracked corn is scattered in the grass. Artifi- 

 cial grit and shells are kept before the birds all the time. 



The system of feeding on a mixture of dry 



The Dry Meal meals kept constantly before the fowls has not 



(Mash) System, been tried in Amherst, but it has been followed 

 with favorable results in many places. It 

 clearly has the following distinctive and important merits. It saves 

 labor. It prevents crowding at feeding time and reduces the danger 

 of over-eating. This system is followed in the Maine Experiment 

 Station and is preferred to any other. It is thus described :* 



" When the cockerels are taken out for finishing, the pullets of the 

 same age, are moved to the grassy range, still occupying the same 

 portable houses in which they were raised. At this time the method 

 of feeding is changed, and dry food is kept by them constantly, in 

 troughs with slated sides and broad detachable roofs, so it may not 

 be soiled or wasted. The troughs are from 6 to lo feet long, with 

 the sides 5 inches high. The lath slats are 2 inches apart and the 

 troughs are 16 inches high from floor to roof. The roofs project 

 about 2 inches at the sides and effectually keep out the rain except 

 when high winds prevail. 



The roof is easily removed by lifting one end and sliding it end- 

 wise on the opposite gable end, on which it rests. The trough can 

 then be filled and the roof drawn back into place without lifting it. 

 This arrangement is the best thus far found for saving food from 

 waste and keeping.it in good candition. When dry mash is used in 

 it there may be considerable waste by finer parts being blown away. 

 When used for that purpose it is necessary to put it in a sheltered 

 place out of the high winds. 



In separate compartments of the troughs, they are given cracked 

 corn, whole wheat, oats, dry meal mixture, grit, dry cracked bone, 

 oyster shell and charcoal." 



The dry meal is a mixture made up as follows : 2 parts good 

 wheat bran and one part each, middlings, corn meal, gluten meal f 

 or brewers' grain, linseed meal, and beef scraps. 



" The troughs are located about the field in sufficient numbers to 

 fully accommodate all of the birds. 



* Bulletin 144. 



t It IS doubtful if gluten meal can now be found in the market. Gluten feed is likely 

 to be the best substitute, though much coarser and containing more fiber. 



