FEED REQUIREMENTS 175 
digested. Pork scraps are digested with great difficulty, yet their 
digestible coefficient is high. (For an account of the digestive 
organs see Chapter XVII.) 
Objects of Feeding.—The feeding of different types and ages 
of poultry may be grouped in accordance with their several objects 
as follows: (1) Growth, which mostly includes the formation of 
lean meat and other tissues incident to the gain in weight exem- 
plified by the growing individual; (2) maintenance, which includes 
the repair of waste in the body tissues resulting from the vital 
processes while performing their necessary functions, but does not 
allow for any increase either in weight or in product; (3) produc- 
tion, exemplified in birds by egg laying, incident to the important 
function of reproduction; and (4) fattening, which covers the 
special preparation of fowls for market. 
Feed Requirements.—Important experiments have been car- 
ried on in America to determine the feed requirements of domestic 
fowls, some reliable work having been done by the New York and 
the New Jersey Stations. The results of these investigations afford 
a basis of various feeding standards. While no rules can be laid 
down for absolute observance under all conditions, their judicious 
observance in a general way will serve as a guide to the feeder. 
The requirements for the growth of chicks for the maintenance of 
adult fowls, and for egg production, are shown in Table IV. The 
following table is by W. P. Wheeler of the Geneva Experiment 
Station: 
TasLe 1V.—Feed Requirements of Chickens per Day for each 100 Pounds 
of Live Weight. 
Digestible nutrients (pounds). 
a ates Nutri- 
irds. Total value tive 
Pro- Carbo- ; (calories).| ratio. 
tein Fat. hydrates Ash. Lee 
Growing chicks: 
First two weeks............ 2.00 0.40 7.20 0.50 10.1 18,800 | 1 to 4.1 
Two to four weeks.......... 2.20 -50 6.20 70 9.6 17,830 | 1 to 3.4 
Four to six weeks... .| 2.00 40 5.60 .60 8.6 15,640 | 1 to 3.3 
Six to eight weeks... 1.60 40 4.90 50 7A 13,780 | 1 to 3.7 
Eight to ten weeks. . 1.20 30 4.40 -50 6.4 11,680 | 1 to 4.3 
Ten to twelve weeks 1.00 30 3.70 40 5.4 10,000 | 1 to 4.4 
Adults (maintenance only): : 
Capon, 9 to 12 pounds...... .30 -20 1.74 .06 2.3 4,600 | 1 to 7.5 
H ie to 7 pounds......... 40 -20 2.00 10 2.7 5,300 | 1 to 6.2 
£213 to 5 pounds......... .50 .30 2.95 115 3.9 7,680 | 1 to 7.4 
Egg production: 
H 5 to 8 pounds......... 65 .20 2.25 .20 3.3 6,240 | 1 to 4.2 
€D 13 to 5 pounds......... 1.00 35 3.75 .30 5.4 10,300 | 1 to 4.6 
