The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1907-11-08

about is desirable, for the less exer-
else the bird obtains the more readily
does it fatten. The top, back, and ends
of the crates should be solid If they
are to be placed outdoors, but If they
are to be in building they may be
built of lath or Stats. These Stats
should be two inches apart in front,
SO as to permit the birds to eat from
the troughs, which are hung just out
side of the coop. The Stats of the
bottom of the coop should be about
one inch apart to permit the droppings
to fall through. In indoor feeding the
crates should be placed in dark
room, and just before feeding enough
light should be admitted to allow the
birds to see 70 eat. They are usually
fed three times day, and are permit
ted to eat for half an hour at a time,
when the room is again darkened and
the uneaten food removed.
For the best results a machine is
essential, especially for the last ten
days, for otherwise the birds will not
eat nearly SO much as they can digest
and assimilate.
Our ILLUSTRATION shows examining
machine in operation at one of the
large poultry establishments in New
York state. A reservoir under which
is placed small force pump operated
by means of lever worked by the
foot Is placed on a tripod. A tube is
fixed to one end of the pump, through
which the feed passes when the lever
rod is lowered. This tube is of rub
Der or metal. If rubber, it may have
metal point. Metal tubes are more
easily kept clean. The feed is placed
in the reservoir, and is made into the
consistency of thick cream. There
IRE several WAYS OF holding the bird
but the following will be found simple
grin the bird firmly either between the
right elbow and side of the body, As
shown in the illustration or between
the left elbow and the body, which.
ever is the more convenient. Tha
lcad is grasped in the left hand. the
first finger being placed in the mouth
70 keep it open. The tube is placed il
he mouth and the bird is drawn or
until the end of the tube reaches the
crop, the neck being elongated as
much as possible. The lever bar i,
gently lowered by the foot and the
food is thus forced into the crop One
ie, IN hn
as it is sufficiently full the foot is
removed from the lever and the bird
is gently removed. The operator soon
learns to know when the crop is full
No stated amount that should be fed
to an individual can be given, for the
quantity varies with the size or the
crop. Great care should be taken in
preparing the feed to see that there
are no Jumps, for the tube is small
and easily becomes blocked
Hand examining is a good system
where but few fowls are being fatten.
ed, but would be found rather labori
GUS where many are fattened The
feed is made into boluses, or balls
which should be about two inches
long and one-half inch in diameter.
A large number of these are prepared
)7fo"c commencing to feed. Tie or
orator sits on stool or box. firmly
trips the fowl between his knees
and elongates the neck, holding the
head in similar manner to tina,
described in using the examining ma
chine. He then dips a bolus In skin
milk or water and forces it into the
birds mouth, pressing 1t down the.
throat with his fingers. The necF
above the bolus is then gripped with
the thumb and first finger. which are
run downward along the neck. forcing