Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-21
AdUlCe
From
The
Poultry
Doctor

for the packers to put them lhlo
feeding station, but the bulk OF the
chickens produced on the farm are 100
thin to make frst-class dressed poultry
without special fattening.
The farmer could produce a much
better quality Of chicken and make
more money IL he would feed his chick
ems regularly before marketing, or con-
fine those to be marketed for two or
three weeks. and feed freely either on
corn or on a mixture Of one part wheat
shorts, two parts Of corn meal and three
parts OF low grade wheat -four
Broiers bring almost twice az much
per pound than roasters when sold TO
the poultry packers, so that many farm
ers would make more money II they
sold their coCkerels when they weighed
from two to three pounds rather than
to wait until Thanksgiving or Christ
mas time, when there is always glut on
the poultry market
All varieties and types Of chickens
are fattened in this CountrySno special
attention being devoted to developing
strains or special types peculiarly adapt
ed to fattening. Several breeds give
good results i'm fatteninR and these are
preferred by men who make spe-
cialty Of fattening poultry in the fol-
lowing order: Plymouth Rocks, Wyan-
dottes, Rhode Island Reds or taken az
whole birds Of the general purpose
class The poultry packers often pay
from one to three cents pound less for
light weight hens, thus discouraging the
farmer from keeping birds Of the Medi-
terranean class, such as the LeghOrn
and MinorCas.
The common practice in poultry pack
Ing houses is to feed each lot seventeen
days or less. The market or trade sup
piled and the results secured by the
feeder determine the length Of the feed
ing period Most milk-fed chickens are
fed fourteen days but results secured
In feeding indicate that a more profita-
BILE gain can be secured in a shorter
feeding period, provided the same price
per pound can be secured for the I'm
ishCd product. As the feeding season
advances the tendency among feeders is
to shorten the length Of the feeding pc
riod, reducing It as low as seven days in
many cases
Crate fattening from trOughs is the
method Of feeding employed in this
country by most of the large Cattening
establishments. From six to ten chick
ems are placed in the crate or battery
and given light feed at the next regu-
lar feeding period. When the birds are
large. not over eight should be placed in
one division.
Rations For Milk Feeding.
Very good results in fattcning are Sc
cured in the following rations:
Ca) Cornmeal ................... } 60 lbs
Low grade wheat flour ...... 40 lbs
| CD Cornmeal observation-disclosures. IS lbs
Oat Hour ....,..,........... 80 lbs
IaIloW ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, y lbs
| Co Wheat middlings (shorts) " 30 lbs
Low grade wheat flour. ..... 100 lbs
('OInmp11 1E0 his
The proportion Of Cornneal In the
third ration can be increased in cool or
cold weather
Milk is used entirely I'm mixing these
rations, and is considered essential both
in this country and in England Con-
densed buttcrmilk is used TO a consid-
cradle extent In fattening. with very
good results Fresh buttcrmilli con-
denscd buttermik. and skim milk are
preferred in this relative order The
milk produces the bleach appearance
which is characteristic of milk-fed
chickens and is trade asset
The feed Is mixed to the consistency
of thick cream or SO that it will drip
from the tip Of a wooden spoon In very
hot weather. II is advisable to mix the
feed thinner than in cooler weather and
results appear 20 indicate that one feed
daily of thin mixture with one or
TWO thicker reeds makes the best feed
ing system The percentage of milk
used seems to depend on the kind OF
grains in the mixture, on the weather
and on the feeder. 1t varies from So to
20 per cent. and an average OF 80 per
cent, or a tri1e higher, seems to give
very good results. A good many birds
die when on feed, especially during Ger
tain seasons. The loss Is greatest dur
ing hot summer weather when the birds
become Frustrated with the heat. and
later during October and November
when many Of the birds develop some
form Of sickness
Lessons From Crate Feeding.
Some of the conclusions drawn from
the study of the fattening Of poultry
are given below:
l. The Plymouth Rock and other va