no MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I905. 



the day and a full feed of moist mash was given toward? even- 

 ing. The mash was made as above described. 



The other 150 birds were fed the same quantities and kinds 

 of dry grains in the litter, but instead of moist mash they were 

 given all they would eat of dry cracked com in troughs at 

 evening. Dr}' beef scraps were kept within their reach at all 

 times. Both lots were constantly supplied with oyster shell,, dn.' 

 crushed bone, and mica crystal grit. ]\Iangolds were fed 

 through the winter and when the runs were bare in summer, 

 other green food was supplied. 



The materials used by each lot during the full year average 

 per bird as follows : 



Pounds of dry grain, straw, mangolds, etc., per bird for one year. 

 Lot I with mash — ]\Iash, 53.3 pounds; wheat, 23.8 pounds; 

 cracked corn in litter, y."/ pounds : oats, 6.9 pounds ; oyster shell, 

 8.5 pounds; bone, 4.4 pounds; grit, 4.2 pounds; beef scrap, — ; 

 mangolds, 40 pounds ; straw, 36 pounds. 



Lot 2 without mash — Cracked corn, 45.4 pounds; wheat, 23.8 

 pounds; cracked corn in litter, "j.j pounds; oats, 6.9 pounds; 

 oyster shell, 4.4 pounds; bone, 1.7 pounds; grit, 2.9 pounds; 

 beef scrap, 14.7 pounds ; mangolds, 40 pounds ; straw. 36 pounds. 

 Cost of food and straw. Lot i. Si. 73; Lot 2, Si. 69. 

 Cost of food without mangolds. Lot i. Si. 48; Lot 2, Si. 43. 

 Eggs yielded. Lot i, 151 ; Lot 2, 149. 



Comparisons of the costs of the two rations and the egg yields 

 of the birds fed upon them do not show very great advantages 

 of one ration over the other. There were no marked differences 

 in the appearances and health of the birds in the two lots. They 

 were in good general health, aside from the difficulties that arise 

 when birds are induced to overload their crops after a period of 

 partial fasting. The free use of cracked corn cheapened the 

 cost of the ration, and the tgg yield was not depressed suffi- 

 ciently to indicate that that ration was faulty in its production. 

 AA'hen compared with the food required to feed a hen a year in 

 the warmed house, which was about 95 pounds, the 109 pounds 

 used in this test is an increase of nearly 15 per cent. 



