342 PRODUCTIVE FEEDING OF FARM ANIMALS 
poultryman pay more serious attention to the fowls’ diet, in order 
that they get the materials they need to produce most profitably. 
The principal points to be considered in formulating a poultry 
ration may be set forth as follows: 
Variety.—It pays to feed a ration consisting of a well-blended 
mixture of a number of different feeds but it is not advisable to 
change the ration from day to day or week to week in order to secure 
such variety. Continual changing of the ration necessitates a re- 
adjustment of the fowl’s digestive system every time a new kind of 
feed is eaten. If fed a definite ration regularly, the digestive tract 
becomes thoroughly adjusted to the handling of that definite ration 
and a more economic digestion of the feed results. Variety in- 
creases palatability. Palatability produces a more efficient use of 
the feed consumed because it stimulates a more copious secretion 
of the digestive juices. Variety tends to reduce the cost of the 
ration. If at a time when wheat, barley and corn are selling for 
$36, $26 and $32 a ton, respectively, “A” feeds only wheat as a 
grain, whereas “ B ” feeds equal parts of the three, then “ A” is pay- 
ing $1.80 per hundred pounds for his poultry grain, whereas “ B” 
is only paying $1.57 per hundred. Variety makes it possible to use 
in the ration feeds which of themselves might be unpalatable to the 
fowls, although very desirable from other points of view, but which 
could be put into a variety ration and disguised by other very pala- 
table materials. 
Suitability—Every ration should be suitable to the purpose 
for which it is fed if the highest efficiency is to follow, just as in the 
mechanical world every piece of machinery must be exactly adapted 
to the work required of it to reach a high efficiency curve. The 
feed mixtures fed to birds that are being fattened will differ some- 
what from rations fed to secure rapid growth of young chicks or a 
full egg-basket from laying hens. To illustrate, in crate fattening 
best results are secured by feeding a sloppy mash ration mixed with 
buttermilk to such a consistency that it will run off a spoon. Set- 
ting hens should be fed a mixture of grains only and no mash, 
because they take so little exercise that an easily digested ground 
mash would cause them to become overfat. Ducks would suffer if 
they were not able to take a mouthful of feed and then rush to the 
water trough to wash it down. 
Bulk.—The ration should contain enough bulk to enable the 
digestive juices to easily penetrate it, but should not contain an excess 
which must be eliminated with a waste of energy. 
Grain to Mash Ratio.—All rations but quick-fattening rations, 
