iJ: POULTRY FEEDING A^'D FATTENING 



other cases the bad layers seemed as smart, well formed 

 and vigorous as an}'. The trap nest is the only sure 

 way unless each hen tested can be kept with a flock of 

 another breed laying eggs of different color. 



Feeding in Molting Season — Experiments in feed- 

 ing fowls conducted by the Ehode Island experiment 

 station seem to indicate that the ordinary rations 

 supplied to laying hens confined in yards during the 

 molting season are deficient in animal food material. 

 The importance and value of meat and green bone in 

 furnishing animal protein to balance the starchy grains 

 is evidenced by largely increased egg production of the 

 fowls fed upon a narrow ration, as compared with that 

 of fowls receiving a wide or even a medium ration. 



Whole or Ground Grain — Conclusions of the ISTew 

 York experiment station : Two lots of lading hens, of 

 large and small breeds respectively, having their grain 

 food only dry and whole, ate more food at greater cost 

 per fowl and for the live weight than did two similar 

 lots having about thirty-seven per cent of their grain 

 ground and moistened. 



A pen of Leghorns, which had for the year thirty- 

 seven per cent of their food ground and moistened 

 grain, produced eggs at a greater profit than did an 

 exactly similar pen fed whole grain. 



Of two like pens of Cochins, the one fed whole 

 grain produced eggs at much less cost than did the pen 

 having ground grain, which result is attributed partly 

 to the exercise assured in feeding whole grain. 



With the kinds of whole grain ordinarily available 

 it is not possible to feed a largely gi-ain ration having 

 as narrow a nutritive ratio — that is, containing as large 

 a proportion of the nitrogenous food constituents — ns 

 is perliaps necessary for Ix'st ivsults from laying hens. 



By using some of the highly nitrogenous )iy-prod- 

 ucts (such as cottonseed jiieal, pea meal, gluten feed, 



