POULTRY FEEDS AND FEEDING 



their growing period to cracked corn and meat scrap 

 which is kept in separate hoppers before them all of the 

 time. It is very essential that a good grass range be pro- 

 vided for chickens so fed because of their long growing 

 and fattening period. This business has not been profit- 

 able since 191 3 when grain became so high-priced. 



CRATE FATTENING 



Crate fattening is a method of feeding used entirely 

 in fattening stations in which from 6 to 10 chickens are 

 confined together in each compartment of a crate. These 

 crates are arranged in tiers for convenience in feeding 

 and cleaning and by such an arrangement a large number 

 of chickens can be fattened in one room or building. 

 This industry has grown to large proportions in the Cen- 

 tral West and is gradually spreading farther South in 

 that territory as well as being carried on to some extent in 

 the southeastern part of this country. The chickens pro- 

 duced on the general farms in these sections are usually 

 underfed and when sold to the fattening stations are 

 in a thin condition which makes it comparatively easy as 

 well as quite profitable to increase their weight and to put 

 them in better shape for market. 



The object of confining the chickens to crates is not 

 only to make their flesh soft and tender by keeping the 

 birds from exercising but also to increase their weight 

 materially. Birds so fed are called milk-fed chickens, as 

 milk is the basis of all the rations used in this commercial 

 crate fattening. The distinguishing character of such 



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