406 FATTENING, KILLING, AND DRESSING 
Care in Crate Fattening—From six to ten birds, according 
to size, are placed in each division of the battery. They should 
be weighed when placed in the crates so that the gain can be de- 
termined. Many mixtures of grain have proved successful. The 
best rations are usually composed of corn meal and low-grade 
flour, about 60 per cent of the former and 40 per cent of the latter. 
Six per cent of tallow is sometimes added to this ration, with 
varying results. Grit is generally provided, especially if the birds 
are kept on feed for two weeks or more, and four pounds to each 
hundred birds are given twice a week. Clover or alfalfa meal, 
meat meal, blood meal, charcoal, and sometimes salt, are added 
to the ration, according to the ideas of various feeders, but their 
use is not essential. 
The excessive feeding of very concentrated rations often has 
the effect of making the birds pull feathers and pick at each 
other; they often keep at it until they have eaten much of the 
flesh of live chickens. In such cases reduce the concentration and 
substitute greens and a small amount of meat or blood meal. 
Milk or buttermilk is essential in all fattening rations. Milk 
in some form is used to soften the rations, and acts on the diges- 
tive processes, keeping the birds in good condition during forcing. 
If much milk is given, the amount of meat may be reduced. But- 
termilk and skim milk are generally used, and the milk may be 
either sweet or sour, but usually it is sour. The feed should be 
thoroughly mixed, either with a rake or a machine, according to 
the quantity, so that there will be no lumps or dry masses. The 
consistency should be about that of cream, or so that it will drip 
from the tip of a large wooden spoon. Chickens seem to prefer a 
thicker mixture, but it is doubtful if they get sufficient nourish- 
ment from it, for their hunger is much sooner satisfied than when 
compelled to eat the thin one. The percentage of milk to use in 
the mixture depends upon the grains, the weather, and method of 
feeding; about 60 per cent seems to give the best results. Suc- 
cessful fattening depends largely upon whether the feeder watches 
his birds and notes their condition. The first two or three feeds 
should be light and the amount gradually increased until the 
birds can be given all they will eat up clean. 
The birds are usually fed from two to five times daily, but 
three is best for the small or amateur feeder. The use of milk has 
a tendency to produce white flesh, which in certain markets is 
not as desirable as yellow; this, however, is merely a matter of 
