206 PRACTICE OF POULTRY FEEDING 
specialty of egg production, with market broilers and dressed 
poultry on the side, may require under average conditions the 
following equipment in the feed room: Caldron, dry-mash mixer, 
vegetable cutter, hay cutter, bone cutter, and power. 
Caldron.—A cooker or steamer is useful for the cooking of hot 
mashes during the winter, in the preparation of special mashes 
for special feeding purposes, and in heating or scalding any 
moldy or partially injured grains to restore their feeding value. 
Water may be heated in it for the scalding of utensils. Such a 
caldron should be of from thirty to fifty gallons capacity and 
strongly built. 
Dry-mash Mixer. —On plants where a large number of birds 
are fed and where such materials as green cut clover and ground 
bone are used in the mashes, it is necessary to mix them daily; 
where this is done a good power mixer will save labor. There are 
many commercial types of revolving mixers on the market. An 
important feature in the mixer is that the basin can be easily emp- 
tied. The mixers should do the work thoroughly and quickly. 
On small plants such an equipment is not required. One of 
the most economical methods is to mix the ration on the floor by 
means of scoop shovels, mixing from 500 to 1,000 pounds at one 
time and storing it in bins ready for use. 
Vegetable Cutter—A vegetable cutter is often used if many 
vegetables, such as beets, are fed. Birds seem to relish them better 
and eat more of them if they are finely cut and fed in troughs; 
there is less waste but more labor than if they are fed whole. 
Hay Cutter—Fresh clover, alfalfa, and other green, succulent 
materials are often run through a hay cutter, which can also be 
used for the cutting of dry hay, such as alfalfa, and straw for litter. 
Bone Cutter—Either the vertical or horizontal power bone 
cutter will be an economical investment if a fresh supply of bone 
can be assured. Green bone, however, must be fed in limited 
quantities and with care. 
Power.—A plant large enough to warrant the extensive equip- 
ment as outlined should have some source of power to run the 
machines. The gasoline engine will doubtless prove the cheapest 
and best on a farm. Near large centres of population an electric 
motor will probably supply the power more cheaply. In the equip- 
ment of the feed room an effort should be made to reduce the labor 
item to a minimum. This will allow one man to care for an in- 
creased number of birds; in other words, it will lower the labor 
