164 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



of the same, when fed to them in a dry state. This continued, 

 to be sure, but two days, and after that, they, for some cause, 

 only ate about two pint measures. But even if this were the 

 general rule, and should fowls consume three pints a day of the 

 grain when boiled, there would be a saving of about one half. 



Barley is also more economical when given boiled than dry. 

 The fowls which would have eaten two pint measures of dry 

 barley a day consumed but three pint measures of the boiled 

 grain. With the increase of bulk in the boiled barley consid- 

 ered, the saving amounts to two fifths, in favor of the boiled. 



Wheat is augmented in bulk in about the same proportion as 

 barley. The facts brought to view by these experiments, 

 however, show that the saving by boiling this grain is not so 

 great as might be supposed. The fowls which consumed 

 three pint measures of boiled barley in one day ate three pint 

 measures of boiled wheat. But as a pint of boiled wheat is 

 equal to no more than two fifths of a pint of the dry grain, the 

 three pints consumed in a day are equivalent only to six fifths 

 of dry wheat. It follows, therefore, that there is a saving of 

 but one fifth, by feeding with boiled wheat, while the saving in 

 barley is two fifths. 



The results of these experiments conclusively prove that 

 there is the best economy in feeding poultry with boiled grain, 

 in every case, rather than with dry, when either of the three 

 kinds last mentioned can be procured. The expense of fuel, 

 and the additional trouble necessary in the process of cooking, 

 is inconsiderable in comparison with the advantages to be 

 derived therefrom. In the case of the first-mentioned oats, 

 buckwheat and rye boiling is useless, when profit is con- 

 cerned. 



Bran is sometimes given to fowls, in order to save expense. 

 But it is an erroneous notion, that money may be saved in this 

 way. In bran there is so little of the farina of the grain 



