FEED-HOUSE IMPLEMENTS 181 



and forward, while the other fellow turns it over. A large, half- 

 bushel grain scoop is the most efficient implement for the shovel- 

 ing, because it handles such a large quantity in a single operation. 



Storage in Hoppers. — ^As soon as the mash is mixed, it should 

 be stored in a bin ready for use, though a good plan is to have self- 

 feeding mash hoppers in all of the poultry houses of such capacity 

 that they will accommodate the bulk of the mash mixed at each 

 operation. Unnecessary handling is eliminated in this way, for 

 the mash is carried right from the mixing floor to the hoppers, 

 and only a small surplus is stored in the feed-house bins. Savings 

 of this sort are considerable in the course of a year's work. 



Unless automatic feeders are installed throughout the plant, 

 it is not practicable to handle the scratch grain mixtures the same 

 as the mash. See Fig. 124. Scratch grains are usually dis- 

 tributed by hand twice a day, morning and evening. Sometimes 

 the grains are fed separately. If mixed, which seems to be the 

 most accepted practice, these scratch grains usually consist of 

 but a few grains, such as corn, wheat and oats (except the chick 

 feeds), which are much easier to mix than the mash, which con- 

 sists of meals. Dumping the grains into a barrel or bin and stir- 

 ring them with a potato fork will perform all the mixing neces- 

 sary. 



Need for Power. — On plants of considerable size it is poor 

 economy to mix and prepare the feed by hand. Power should be 

 installed. If electric power is available, this will probably prove 

 the cheapest, otherwise a gasoline engine is necessary. Get a 

 motor or engine plenty large enough to handle all of the machines 

 without danger of over-loading it, and so arrange it that it can 

 be hooked up to each machine with the least amount of time and 

 worry. An overhead system of belts and pulleys is the safest 

 and most convenient arrangement. Provide a tight and loose 

 pulley for each machine, so that the drive can be thrown on and 

 off at will. An engine or motor of three or four horsepower will 

 take care of the average poultry plant equipment. 



The machines necessary to lighten the burden of hand labor 

 are as follows: Bone Cutter, for grinding fresh bones, com- 



