BULLETIN 657, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
of l^ pounds. Very few were pure bred, but practically all had a 
predominant utility breed strain. Barred Rock blood was the 
most common. Birds showing markedly low vitality or deformity 
or sickness were excluded, but a commercial liberality was exercised 
in selecting stock for the feeding cages. Such a selection is advan- 
tageous when feeding large numbers of birds, and should be prac- 
ticed as a part of routine management. Birds which are not adapted 
to gain weight ordinarily lose weight, regardless of the care given; 
hence to feed them is a loss to all concerned. They should be 
slaughtered as soon as received. 
As a general rule the nearer the poultry packing house feeding 
station is to the farm, the better. A haul, generally by tram, is, 
however, often necessary in the transfer of feeder stock from the 
farm to the feeding station. Accordingly, all the birds used in these 
experiments were subjected to a haul requiring from a few hours 
to more than 24 hours. The birds were selected as promptly as 
possible after arrival, placed in the feeding cages, and fed corn 
meal and buttermilk for 24 hours, to eliminate stuffed crops, undue 
thirst, and restlessness, before beginning to feed the three experi- 
mental rations. 
The cages were entirely of metal, with compartments for indi- 
vidual birds, and feed cups so constructed that the splashing of the 
thin feed was impossible. In essentials they were comparable with 
the feeding batteries in commercial use, one of which is shown in 
figure 2, Plate I. 
TOTAL GAINS IN WEIGHT. 
All the birds were fed for 14 days. To determine the rate of gain, 
the birds were weighed on the first, fourth, eleventh, and fourteenth 
days, The results in detail are shown in Table 3, in which 13 experi- 
ments, comprising from 30 to 42 birds each, are summarized. The 
experiments were begun in May, and were repeated until October^ 
that the climatic conditions might have their usual effect on the 
birds. Each group of birds is designated in accordance with the 
ration received as A, B, or C, respectively. 
Table 3. — Summary of changes in weight of 100 head of young chickens. 
Ration ' Ration Ration 
A. B. C. 
Initial number of chickens 
Period of fleshing (days) 
Death loss (per cent of initial number) 
Initial live weight (pounds) 
Final li ve weight (pounds) 
Total gain in live weight: 
Difference between final and initial live weights (pounds) 
Calculated as per cent of initial live weight 
Dressed weight (pounds) 
Chilled weight (pounds) 
Average initial live weight (pounds) 
Average final live weight (pounds) 
Average dressed weight (pounds) 
Average chilled weight (pounds) 
1 Average weight of the surviving chickens 
100 
14 
2.4 
172.1 
180.7 
8.6 
5.00 
162.7 
161.8 
1.7 
i 1.9 
i 1.7 
i 1.7 
100 
14 

169.7 
221.3 
51.6 
30.41 
199.0 
197.7 
1.7 
2.2 
2.0 
2.0 
100 
14 

171.1 
231.0 
59.9 
35.01 
207.3 
1.7 
2.3 
2.1 
2.1 
