Food Required for Maintenance 393 



Maintenance rations. A number of feeding trials 

 made at the New York Experiment Station supply in- 

 formation relative to the amount of food required for 

 simple maintenance. The amount varies, as might be 

 expected, with the size of the animal. The larger fowls 

 required more food, but much less for each pound of 

 live weight. These feeding trials did not cover any 

 molting period and egg production was, for the time, 

 suspended. From the data secured maintenance ra- 

 tions have been deduced which correspond very closely 

 to those actually fed for quite extended periods during 

 which practically no change in live weight occurred. 

 The data were from an aggregate of fifty -two capons, 

 averaging by different lots from 9 to 12 Ibs. in weight, 

 for 158 days' feeding, and from sixty hens ranging 

 from 3 to 7 Ibs. in weight for 150 days' feeding. 



The rations are stated in the following tabulated 



form : 



MAINTENANCE RATIONS 



Digestible nutrients per day for each 100 pounds live weight 



Total dry Carbohy- Fuel Nutritive 



matter Ash Protein drates Fat value ratio 



Ibs. Ibs. Ibs. Ibs. Ibs. Cal. 



Capons of 9 to 12 Ibs. wt... 2. 30 .06 .30 1.74 .20 4,600 1:7.5 



Hens of 5 to 7 Ibs. weight.. 2.70 .10 .40 2.00 .20 5,300 1:6.2 



Hens of 3 to 5 Ibs. weight.. 3.90 .15 .50 2.95 .30 7.680 1:7.4 



Rations for laying liens. Hens in full laying seem 

 to require rations which have a larger relative content 

 of protein and ash, and which show an increase in 

 fuel value of from 15 to 40 per cent, according to size, 

 over those required for maintenance. The following 

 standards approximate the requirements : 



