374 



Fattening Fowls in Ireland. 



fattening fowls, and the following results of the first experiment 

 were recently published in the Irish Homestead. 



The experiment was conducted by the Windgap Co-operative 

 Poultry Society, Co. Kilkenny. Four special fattening coops 

 were erected, each coop having a capacity for seven fowls. 

 Twenty-eight large, healthy, lean fowls were then purchased, 

 and, having been weighed, were put into these coops in four lots 

 of seven each. The following table shows that at the end of 

 seven days' fattening the 28 fowls had increased in weight by 

 18 lb. 13 oz., and at the end of the tenth day they had increased 

 by 26 lb. 5 oz., or nearly one pound each. Not only was there 

 an increase in weight, but there was also a great improvement 

 in quality : — 





When put in. 



7th day. 



10th day. 





lb. 0%. 



lb. oz. 



lb. oz. 



Coop No. 1 — 7 cockerels 



30 6 



35 8 



37 8 



,, 2 — 7 pullets 



24 13 



27 8 



30 12 



5j •>■> 3 — 7 cockerels 



27 0 



32 0 



33 0 



4—7 pullets ... 



27 8 



33 8 



34 12 



The fowls were not " crammed," but merely fed from a trough 

 placed along the barred front of the coops, with semi-liquid 

 food, consisting of four parts Indian meal and three parts 

 pollard wet with separated milk. At the end of ten days the 

 fowls were put into the fasting pen to prepare for killing, as no 

 arrangements had been made to continue their fattening by a 

 cramming machine, and it is only for ten days or so that they 

 will continue to fatten by feeding from troughs. The cost or 

 the food used during the whole time amounted to 6s. 8d., i.e., at 

 the rate of iod. per stone, which is rather high, but the amount 

 of flesh gained was worth 6\d. per lb. net, or a total of 14s. 2d. 

 profit. 



The foods used were the only ones available at the time of 

 the experiment, but other trials will be made with barley meal, 

 ground oats, and various other substances ; and it is probable 

 also that the cramming machine will be used at a later date. 



