PRACTICAL FEEDING OF POULTRY 



METHODS OF PEN FATTENING 



The two methods of fattening chickens that are of 

 importance in this country are pen fattening and crate 

 fattening. Pen fattening takes less labor and equipment 

 than is necessary in crate fattening and is a better method 

 for most farm conditions. A better grade of poultry, 

 however, is obtained in crate fattening as the chickens 

 are confined to smaller quarters and their flesh is thereby 

 made more tender. Crate fattening is used entirely in 

 the commercial fattening stations. In pen fattening 20 

 to 50 chickens are usually confined in a pen with a small 

 yard and are fed a fattening mash. This special fatten- 

 ing increases their weight materially while the confine- 

 ment tends not only to soften their flesh but at the same 

 time allows practically all their feed to be used in pro- 

 ducing flesh and fat. 



A good fattening mash for pen fattening is made of one 

 part bran, one part middling, 3 parts corn meal and 

 one-fourth part meat scrap by weight. Green feed should 

 be provided if the chickens are kept confined and have 

 no green feed in their yards. If buttermilk or skim milk 

 is available it provides one of the very best fattening feeds 

 and the same mash as previously mentioned, except that 

 the meat scrap should be omitted, can be used mixed with 

 milk instead of water. When milk is used no green feed 

 need be fed. The best results in fattening are secured 

 where milk is used. Other good fattening feeds are, 

 rolled oats and low grade flour or red dog middlings, 

 either of which may be used in place of the middlings in 



