METHODS OF FEEDING 251 



both to production and to health of fowls. Second, it 

 showed that Leghorns, or the active breeds, will do well 

 even though they are not forced to scratch; but that the 

 heavier breeds need some ' ' forced ' ' exercise. 



Feeding yarded fowls in the litter, therefore, is a de- 

 cided advantage with some breeds, and it is an advantage 

 with any breed. A Leghorn given the liberty of a yard 

 and a floor to scratch on, even though all grain be fed in a 

 hopper or box, will take exercise enough to produce fairly 

 well. The chief disadvantage of feeding in the litter is 

 that the grain is liable to become contaminated with the 

 droppings of the fowls, which is a fruitful method of carry- 

 ing disease from one fowl to another. This method, how- 

 ever, is usually necessary with most fowls, and with care in 

 renewing the straw often enough, little danger need be 

 feared from this source. The droppings from the fowls at 

 night should not be permitted to mingle with the litter. 



Ground or Unground Grain. It pays to feed part of 

 the grain ground. It is a saving of energy, and energy is 

 furnished by the food ; therefore, it will save food to grind 

 some of the grain for the fowls. Ground food is more 

 quickly digested and assimilated than whole. The hen can 

 manufacture the eggs faster with ground food than with 

 whole grain. Experiments by "Wheeler showed that fowls 

 having half their grain ground and moistened required 

 20% less food to produce a dozen eggs than fowls having 

 all whole grain. Fowls, however, relish the whole grain, 

 or a large percentage of it whole. Probably one-third of 

 the grain ground would be a safe limit to feed. The danger 

 in feeding one-half or more of it ground would be that the 

 fowls would be liable to lose appetite and not eat enough 

 to fill the demand for heavy egg yield. 



Best Time to Feed Wet Mash. If fed heavily on wet 

 mash in the morning, the fowls would gorge themselves and 



