ESSENTIALS OF POULTRY FATTENING 219? 



but not as much as the chickens would consume. 

 The food should be given three times a day, and, 

 after feeding, the troughs cleaned and turned over. 

 After the first week, feeding twice a day as much 

 food as the birds will eat is practiced. Half an 

 hour after feeding, the feed troughs should be 

 cleaned and turned over. Water twice a day and 

 grit two or three times a week should be supplied. 

 Chickens should remain in the fattening crates not 

 longer than 24 days. Some chicks will fatten more 

 readily than others. These should be picked out 

 a week before finished and a little beef tallow, 

 shaved into the trough, given with the mash. 

 About I pound tallow to 50 or 60 chickens daily, is. 

 ample. Before being placed in the crates the 

 chickens should be well dusted with sulphur to kill 

 the lice, and again three days before being killed. 

 Chickens should be starved 24 hours before killing" 

 to prevent food remaining in the crop and intestines ; 

 such would decompose and spoil the flavor of the 

 birds. Several hours after feeding give water. 



METHOD OF KILLING 



Sticking in the mouth is the usual method of kill- 

 ing. The large arteries at the sides of the neck, 

 just below the ears, are cut by a couple of quick 

 motions inside. The blade is then forced through 

 the roof of the mouth into the brain. This makes, 

 plucking easier, since it relaxes the muscles. The 

 bird must hang head down till plucked. As the 

 bird hangs on a level with the operator's chest, the 

 wing is grasped between the thumb and first two 

 fingers of the left hand, holding the neck between 

 the third and little finger. The large wing feathers 



