io8 



Housing and Feeding of Poultry. [may, 



waste, reducing the cost from 2s. 2'gd. in the first quarter, to 

 is. r8yd. in the last quarter. 



Although the hopper boxes were not introduced until 

 August, an estimate may be based on the 3rd and 4th quarters 

 by doubling the cost from June 1st to November 30th, in 

 which case the result would be : — 



Average Cost. 

 s. d. 



Lot I. Hopper fed ... ... ... 5 2 "88 Revised estimate. 



„ II. „ 5 1 "84 



,, III. 1 Z r , ; \, , . 14 io'i2 Actual cost. 



„ IV> } Soft food and grain | 4 gm ^ ? ^ 



Whilst, therefore y the ordinary method of feeding is cheaper 

 than the Hopper System even when the greatest care is taken 

 to avoid waste, the difference is not a very serious one, only 

 5^. per bird per annum, which might find its compensation in 

 other ways, more especially where labour is costly. These ex- 

 periments have, however, proved abundantly that fowls can be 

 kept in confinement t where natural food is less abundant than 

 if the birds are at liberty, at a cost not exceeding 4s. lod. per 

 annum, or a fraction more than the proverbial penny per week. 



In all cases the cost was heaviest in the first (Winter) 

 quarter, falling considerably in the second, with, in the case 

 of the ordinary fed birds, comparatively little variation after- 

 wards. Whilst in Lots III and IV the quantity of soft food 

 was equal, the grain consumed was heaviest in the winter 

 quarter, falling appreciably during the rest of the year, even 

 though no mangolds were given after March 1st, 1907. Their 

 place, however, would be taken by the grass in the runs. In 

 respect to Lots I and II, the results are unreliable, as it is 

 impossible to estimate how much food was wasted before the 

 boxes were fitted to the hoppers. 



Egg Production. — The dates upon which laying commenced 

 were as follows : — No. I, December 27th, 1906 ; No. II, 

 December nth, 1906; No. Ill, December 13th, 1906; No. IV, 

 December 8th, 1906. 



It will thus be seen that Buff Orpingtons were a little 

 earlier than the White Wyandottes, due to their being a few 

 days older, but the difference was not very marked. In no 

 case were the pullets precocious, as they were upwards of 8 

 months old, but no attempt had been made to force produc- 



