FEEDING PRACTICES AND APPLIANCES 397 



In the routine of fattening, as many birds are placed in 

 crates (see p. 418) as can find room to stand along the front 

 of the crate to reach out to the trough for feed. They are 

 starved 24 hours before the first feeding. The feed, which 

 usually consists of about two parts by weight of buttermilk 

 to one of ground grain, is in the form of a porridge, which is 

 poured into the troughs before the birds, the feeder being very 

 careful not to supply more than the birds will consume, or, 

 in case of an oversupply, removing what remains just before 

 the birds have had all they desire. The development of that 

 judgment which enables the feeder ;to sense when the birds 

 are almost through eating and remove the feed just before 

 they secure the last mouthful, which they desire, is the mark 

 of the skilled fattener. 



The practice as to the number of times stock is fed daily, 

 varies. It may be either two or three times. For the 

 beginner, three times is probably advisable. 



As shown in Table XXXVII, Lee^ found that on a ration 

 consisting of 60 per cent, corn meal and 40 per cent, low-grade 

 wheat flour, stock averaging 2.42 pounds in weight and fed 

 for periods ranging from six to ten days, made an average 

 gain of 18 per cent, at an average feed cost of 6.45 cents per 

 pound. 



Table XXXVIII.^ — The Results of Milk Feeding Fowls in Small 



Gkohps. 



Cost of ration per pound 



Average weight of twelve birds, beginning . 



Average weight of twelve birds, end of first week 



Average gain per bird ... . . 



Average weight of birds, end of second week 



Average gain for second week 



Total gain per bird 



Per cent, gain for entire period . 



Amount of ration eaten, first week . 



Amount of ration eaten, second week 



Total amount of ration eaten 



Cost of ration for twelve birds 



Cost per pound of gain 



' Bureau of Animal Industry, Bulletin No. 140. 

 ' Unpublished data, Iowa State College. 



