FATTENING METHODS 



351 



corn meal, lOO pounds of wheat middlings, and 40 pounds of 

 animal meal. The fowls should have access to plenty of sharp 

 grit to aid digestion, and as a blood purifier, some poultrymen 

 mix a little sulphur in the mash once every two weeks. At the 

 close of the fattening period, which usually lasts about six weeks, 

 a little tallow may be added to the feed. 



It is unquestionable that the breeder of heavy fowls, such as 

 Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes and Rhode Island Reds, has the 

 advantage over the Leghorn breeder when it comes to disposing 

 of cockerels. If desired, the heavier breeds can be caponized, 

 or they can be held for roasters, and made to weigh six or eight 



^ {Courtesy U. S. Dep't Agriculture) 



Fig. 227. — Pouring feed into the troughs of fattening crates. 



pounds. Furthermore, breeders of heavy fowls usually hatch a 

 month or two earlier than Leghorn breeders, consequently their 

 young stock can be made to weigh four to five pounds to the pair 

 at a time when broilers and fryers command top prices. 



Squab Broilers. — -March, April and May are the best months 

 for hatching . Leghorns, hence cockerels from these hatches are 

 not large enough to be sold as broilers or fryers until June or 

 July, at which time market prices have materially declined. In 

 some localities there is a fair outlet for Leghorn cockerels as 

 sqiidb broilers, weighing about three-quarters of a pound each, 

 during April and May. They are sometimes called asparagus 

 chickens, and the price is about a dollar per pair. 



