THE COMPOUNDING OF RATIONS 373 



plants where fattening is carried on on a large scale, rations 

 having a nutritive ratio of 1 to ().2 gave the hest results. In 

 both cases, however, the birds were young and still growing. 



The fattening ration is made up entirely of ground grains 

 and milk, Ijecause it is desirable that the ration be of con- 

 dition consistency and palatability to be consumed, digested, 

 and assimilated rapidly and in large quantities. This is be- 

 cause the fattening period rarely lasts over three weeks, and 

 usually not over two. 



A growing ration for young chicks is similar to a laying 

 ration, save that the ingredients are smaller and the pro- 

 portion of both ash and protein is greater. 



The breeding ration is frequently exactly the same as the 

 laying ration. Many poultrymen, however, hold the \iew 

 that the fertility of eggs and the vitality of offspring are 

 injured by encouraging the laying of large numbers of eggs 

 by feeding a narrow ration, and prefer to widen it somewliat 

 for feeding breeding birds. This view appears to be borne 

 out by experimental evidence. Others feed only whole grain, 

 so that the birds will be kept in good trim Ijy plenty' of 

 internal exercise in grinding the grains, as well as by the 

 usual exercise in scratching for them. 



Effect on Product. — Certain feeds ha\c an undesiraljle 

 effect on the flavor of the eggs and flesh of ft)wls, that arc at 

 the same time nutritious, palatable, and healthful. Onions, 

 rape, turnips and fish scrap, if fed in excess, impart a strong 

 taste to eggs, but otherwise are excellent feed. 



Green feed and yellow corn help to give the rich golden- 

 yellow color which is so desirable in the yolk, while excessive 

 amounts of linseed meal impart a green color to the yolks. 

 Beets give the yolks a pale color. Waite' found that yellow 

 corn, when composing three-sevenths of a ration, gn\e a wry 

 deep yellow to the yolk of the resulting eggs. When it formed 

 three-elevenths of the ration, it gave a noticeable yellow tint, 

 but not as rich a yellow as is desired. 



Wheat, when forming the same proportions as above, gave 

 no yellow color to the egg yolks, and white corn ga\e no 



' Maryland Bulletin No. 157. 



