io6 Housing and Feeding of Poultry. [may, 



Hopper v. Ordinary Feeding. 



In this case more definite conclusions can be stated, as 

 comparisons were made between two breeds kept under 

 identical conditions, fed in different ways. Further, as the 

 eggs were kept for hatching, records are available in 

 respect to fertility. The experiment was designed to 

 compare the results obtained by feeding (i) on the dry mash 

 hopper system, and (2) in the ordinary manner, in order to 

 determine as far as possible (a) the comparative cost of the 

 two systems, (b) the egg production, and (c) the fertility 

 of the eggs so produced. The experiment commenced 

 on December 1st, 1906. 



Location. — Four of the open-fronted scratching shed houses 

 were devoted to this experiment, in each of which one lot of 

 fowls was kept. These houses are 10 ft. square, 8 ft. 6 ins. 

 high in front, sloping to 6 ft. 6 ins. at the back. They are 

 well built, and have netted fronts so that the birds have nothing 

 between their roosting place, at the back, and the open air. 

 The front portion of each shed is laid down in gravel, upon 

 which cut chaff and straw are littered, and in this the grain 

 fed is thrown to induce exercise by scratching. In front of 

 the sheds, which face south, are open gravel yards. Large 

 grass runs are given on the west, each of which averages 

 345 square yards, and during the summer months luxuriant 

 belts of artichokes gave excellent shelter from sunshine, and 

 afforded a natural scratching ground. 



Birds used. — Four lots of yearling birds were selected, each 

 lot consisting of 1 male and 8 females, namely, 2 lots of 

 White Wyandottes and 2 lots of Buff Orpingtons. Table III 

 gives the particulars. 



Table III. — Breeds. 



Lot. 



Breed. 



When Hatched. 



How Fed. 



I. 

 II. 

 III. 

 IV. 



White Wyandotte 

 Buff Orpington 

 White Wyandotte 

 Buff Orpington 



April, 1906 



Late March, 1906 



April, 1906 



Late March, 1906 



Dry mash. 



Dry mash. 



Soft food and grain. 



Soft food and grain. 



On December ist, 1906, when the test commenced, the 

 pullets were in ordinary condition, but had not attained 



