RATIONS AND METHODS OF FEEDING 217 



Infertile eggs and eggs dying in early stages of incubation may be used in 

 mashes. All sorts of juicy and pulpy vegetable and fruit refuse may be used 

 freely in mashes by mixing with them the kinds of ground foods required to 

 give them proper consistency. 



Small quantities of mash may be mixed in a pail with an iron spoon or with 

 a paddle, but for more than five or six quarts it will be found easier and more 

 satisfactory to use a mixing box and mix with a spade. In this way the mixing 

 is more quickly and thoroughly done, and a much smaller proportion of water 

 is required. 



Standard mashes. While the composition of mashes in use 

 among good poultrymen varies somewhat, the differences in pro- 

 portions are largely influenced and offset by differences in other 

 parts of the ration or by differences in conditions. For convenience 

 of description and comparison three standard mashes may be 

 taken: (i) a standard grain mash, made of ground grains ex- 

 clusively ; (2) a standard gram and meat mash, like the first 

 with the addition of meat scrap or meat ; (3) a standard complete 

 mash, containing ground grain, meat, and vegetable foods in such 

 proportions that it furnishes enough of these elements to keep the 

 birds in good condition, if not as much as they would take if fully 

 supplied and selecting their own ration. The proportions given 

 are by measure. 



1. Standard grain mash. I part corn meal, 2 parts wheat bran. 



2. Standard grain and meat mash. I part corn meal, 2 parts 

 wheat bran, 5 per cent of beef scrap or animal meal added. 



3 . Standard complete mash, i part corn meal, I part wheat bran, 

 i part vegetables, 5 per cent of beef scrap or animal meal added. 



NOTE. Supposing each of these mashes fed to adult birds once a day (all 

 that the birds will eat): Mash No. i requires with it hard grain and animal and 

 vegetable food ; Mash No. 2, hard grain and vegetable food ; Mash No. 3, hard 

 grain. The mash appropriate at any time and place depends upon how far the 

 requirements of the birds are supplied outside of the mash, and whether it is 

 more economical and convenient to supply animal and vegetable foods in the 

 mash or separately. The mashes described represent the minimum requirements 

 under ordinary conditions. The use of whichever of these is appropriate 

 should give good results, though not, perhaps, the best possible results. All 

 are rather light, safe mashes which, if properly mixed, may be fed freely. 

 They are often improved by the addition of other articles, as noted in 

 examples to follow ; but with other parts of the ration as indicated, markedly 

 bad or poor results could not be due to feeding. Nos. i and 2 make good dry 

 mashes for birds otherwise full fed. No. 3 is not adapted to dry feeding. 



