INCREASE OF FLESH ON YOUNG CHICKENS. 7 
throughout the entire 14 days and a deposition of flesh which is 
practically uniform. It is probable, also, from additional observa- 
tions which are not sufficiently numerous to tabulate, that gains in 
weight and good appetites are maintained with Ration C for a period 
much longer than 14 days. Whether a longer period than 14 days 
is profitable remains to be determined. The results at hand, how- 
ever, indicate that young birds should be fed at least 14 days if 
profitable results are to be obtained. 
LOSS IN WEIGHT DUE TO KILLING AND CHILLING. 
The practical feeder is frequently called upon to decide whether 
his fleshing gains are sufficient to be profitable. To do this he must 
know not only the live weights before and after feeding, but the final 
weight after dressing and chilling, since it is on the basis of the latter 
that his sales are made. The losses due to the removal of blood 
and feathers and the loss by evaporation during cold air chilling are 
shown in Tables 7 and 8. 
The birds designated " before fleshing" in Table 7 were selected at 
the same time and from the same stock as the birds to be fed. They 
were killed at once and the carcasses studied as described on page 8. 
The shrinkage due to dressing was also determined. 
Table 7. — Loss in weight on killing and chilling young chickens, before and after fleshing . 
- 
Ration. 
Blood. 
Feathers. 
Loss on 
chilling. 
Total 
shrinkage 
in killing, 
dressing, 
and 
chilling. 
Per cent of final live weight. 
4.1 
3.5 
3.9 
3.9 
5.7 
6.4 
6.2 
6.3 
0.7 
.6 
.6 
.7 
10.50 
After fleshing 
Be 
10.46 
10.67 
10.92 
It will be seen from Table 7 that feeding stimulates feather growth, 
a fact well known to the practical man. It is difficult to determine 
J exactly the amount of blood which the chicken loses, but the figures 
presented may be taken as fair. While there is but little difference 
between the slaughter losses of fleshed and ranger chickens, the 
former probably lose a little more weight. Of the birds considered 
in these experiments, those fed Ration C lost a little more weight 
than their companions on Ration A or B. 
Such being the case, a further analysis becomes necessary to 
determine the relation of this loss to the ultimate weight of chicken 
ready for the consumer. These figures, which are presented in 
Table 8, indicate that the 0.25 per cent increase in dressing loss is 
more than compensated for by the 3.77 per cent greater gain in total 
weight remaining when Ration C is used. Table 8 shows also the 
