THE FATE OF GRIT IN THE FOWL 
Since the fowl has no teeth with which to grind its feed it is common knowledge 
that the muscular walls of the gizzard contracting upon its contents, namely, food 
and grit, reduces the food to fineness. The problem is to make an effort to determine 
how long such grit is useful in the gizzard and how often it must be replenished. Does 
a hen constantly consume more than she really requires, and if so, is there a tendency 
to a residual amount constantly kept in the gizzard? 
Fowls of the American breeds were used in the experiment. Only hens were tested 
and birds two to three years old were used in the test. The hen could not be expected 
, to lay under the conditions in which they were required to be kept. 
Thirty-six hens, all Barred Plymouth Rocks, were kept in coops eighteen inches 
square The coops were provided with one inch mesh wire netting bottoms so that the 
excreta would immediately pass through to a second floor as soon as voided. This 
prevented a possible reconsumption of any grit passed in the excreta. Hens were killed 
j at different times and the gizzard content examined for the grit which still remained. 
Analyses of the intake and outgo of the feed, and the weight of the birds, were taken 
i as an indication as to whether the grit content of the gizzard was sufficient foi normal 
physiological process of that organ. 
The feed for 365 days, the duration of the test, consisted of regular scratch feed 
and dry mash used on the College and Station poultry plant. 
Since the detail tables are quite voluminous it is thought best to give only the 
: summary table and to show the entire series of tubes showing the amount of grit 
; left in the gizzard at the end of the various periods. The following tabulation will 
• serve the purpose of a comparative study of the amount of grit. 
TABLE II 
The Amount of Grit Remaining in the Gizzards of Hens at the End of Each Period 
Number Days 
Without Grit 
Weight of Hens 
at Start (lbs.) 
Weight of Hen 
When Killed 
Weight of Grit 
in Grams 
Remarks 
14 
5.2 
5.4 
9.5012 
Killed 
14 
6.4 
6.3 
13.1136 
Killed 
21 
4.5 
4.8 
8.3126 
Killed 
21 
5.3 
5.8 
16.9326 
Killed 
28 
4.6 
4.9 
11.8763 
Killed 
28 
7.0 
7.3 
22.6531 
Killed 
36 
4.8 
5.7 
16.4389 
Killed 
35 
2.7 
4.0 
5.0378 
Killed 
42 
7.0 
4.2 
8.4531 
Died of Sarcoma 
93 
3.6 
3.2 
11.6341 
Killed 
120 
3.8 
6.2 
4.9643 
Killed 
124 
5.8 
6.1 
5.6321 
Killed 
143 
5.6 
4.9 
4.7532 
Died of Mites 
144 
7.0 
5.8 
9.5923 
Killed 
150 
5.7 
5.7 
6.5120 
Died of Mites 
153 
7.1 
5.6 
4.5644 
Died of Mites 
154 
6.5 
5.5 
5.9633 
Killed 
156 
6.8 
5.8 
14.0326 
Died of Mites 
170 
2 
2 
9.8670* 
Died 
248 
6.2 
6.1 
2.5200 
Killed 
* 270 
6.3 
6.6 
5.0000 
Killed 
300 
5.7 
5.9 
3.9525 
Killed 
330 
5.1 
6.1 
1.9530 
Killed 
365 
6.2 
5.2 
2.5610 
Killed 
375 
6.7 
7.1 
5.8915 
Killed 
*This cockerel was sent to the laboratory when about two pounds in weight. It remaine 1 i ^ 
till it died on the 170th day after coming to the hospital. It was affected with partial paia >sis 
w r hich it never entirely recovered. 
