Poultry Fattening Experiment. 



Poultry Fattening Experiment. 



During the months of October and November, 1898, an 

 interesting experiment was conducted by the Poultry depart- 

 ment of the Canadian Experimental Farm in the fattening of 

 thirty-six young fowls by natural feeding and without arti- 

 ficial cramming. Among the 36 fowls were eight barndoor 

 chickens and four cockerels of a first cross between light 

 Brahma and buff Cochin, the cockerels were probably hatched 

 about the same time as the barndoor chickens, but were 

 nearly double their weight. The remaining fowls consisted 

 of barred and white Plymouth Rocks, light Brahmas, silver- 

 laced and white Wyandottes and four crosses of white Indian 

 Game with white Java. The birds were fine specimens, some 

 of the Plymouth Rocks and Light Brahmas weighing six 

 and six and a half pounds each. The fowls, which were 

 divided into nine groups of four each, were placed in suitable 

 fattening pens with a narrow trough in front, and were fed 

 three times daily on rations composed of two parts of finely 

 ground oatmeal, one part finely ground barley meal, and one 

 part ordinary corn meal. After the fifteenth day, beef-suet, 

 in the proportion of one ounce to each group, was added to 

 the ration ; the whole being mixed with sweet milk made 

 hot. Of this ration the birds were given all they would eat, 

 no forcing machines being used. Without giving all the 

 details of the experiment, which extended over five weeks, 

 the general results may be shown by the increase in the 

 weight of certain of the fowls. 



The two sets, each composed of four barndoor fowls, which 

 weighed respectively on entering the fattening pen 14 lbs. 

 5 ozs. and 19 lbs. ozs., showed an increase at the end of five 

 weeks of 6 lbs. 3 J ozs. and 5 lbs. ozs. respectively, or an 

 average of about lbs. per fowl. Four barred Plymouth 

 Rocks, weighing 23 lbs. 12 ozs. when they went into the pen, 

 at the end of five weeks weighed 30 lbs. 4 ozs., making a gain 

 in that period of 6 lbs. 8 ozs. The barnyard chickens con- 

 sumed food to the amount ot 36 lbs., and the Plymouth. 

 Rocks consumed about 1 lb. more. The most satisfactory 

 results were obtained from the four fowls of the light Brahma- 



