400 POULTRY PRODUCTION 



A suiiply li()|i])er, lar^c enough to hold p:rain for at least a 

 week's fceiliiip:, is a great eoiivenicncc. While a metal ho])])er 

 is preferable to a wooden one, heeanse it is mouse- and rat- 

 proof, a coxcred ))ox hung on the wall will ser\'e the i)ur]X)se. 

 It should have a sloping to]), so that the fowls cannot roost 

 on it. Sueh a hopper, of proper size to hold 200 pounds of 

 grain, is shown in Figure 179. 



Feed Hoppers. — Hopper feeding is finding its \\ay into 

 all lines of feeding practice with the excejition of crate 

 fattening. In some cases it is restricted to the feeding of 

 mineral foods. Usually it includes the feeding of the dry 

 mash and in the case of growing stock at certain seasons of 

 the year may Ije extendeil to include the feeding of whole 

 ration. 



A hopper should lune capacity enough not to require too 

 frecpient filling, should allow the birds free access to what- 

 e\er it contains, w hen o])en, without ^\aste, and in some cases 

 should be capable of being closed. If in addition it can be 

 rat-])roof, it is a great ad\'antage. 



'Hie most ])opular type of hopper is what is called the 

 Force-feeding, or self-feeding, hopper, by which is meant 

 that only a small part of the feed contained in the hopper 

 can l)e reachetl by the fowls at one time. As fast as it is 

 consumed, however, more feed slips down from the storage 

 compartment to take its place. An outdoor hopjjer covered 

 (jNcr with ])i-e|)ared roofing is shown in Figure 18.3. Figure 

 ISC) shows working jdans of the same hopper, h'igures 183 

 and 181 gives the plans of a home-made indoor hopper that 

 is ca])able of being closed. Figure 187 shows a three-corn - 

 partinent ami l''igufe INN a single-compartment hopper for 

 grit, charcoal, gi'auulateil bone, or oyster shell 



Feeding Troughs. — F(jr those mixtures which ^\ill not ser\e 

 as scratching feeds and are not suited for hopper feeding, 

 troughs or trays of some sort are usually necessary. This 

 ajjplies to moist mashes for young and old stock and for the 

 linely ground dry material fed little chicks before they are 

 big enough to eat from a self-feeder. 



The desirable features of sueh appliances are ease of 

 cleaning where moist feeds are given and the prevention 



