Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 164, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1919 — HINTS FOR THE POULTRY GROWER [ARTICLE]

HINTS FOR THE POULTRY GROWER

The Pennsylvania experiment station recently conducted some tests on the fattening of cockerels for market. Two types of breeding and care were represented by the fowls selected, viz.: ordinary farm-raised and closely managed, egg-laying types. Various rations and methods of confinement were compared. The number of fowls forming the group representing a particular method was ten in each case. The results showed that farm-raised poultry of the Plymouth Rock and Rhode Island Red breeds may be fattened In crates or pens at a cost for food of 10 to 12 cents per pound of gain. No difference appeared in the gains from crate and pen-fed fowls, but with fowls of these kinds close confinement resulted in greater economy per pound of gain. Thin fowls made the cheapest gains. Fine-ground grain and fations rich in protein gave the better results. Milk was superior to meat scrap as a source of protein. In the case of the more active, egglaying breed, represented by Leghorn cockerels, fattening Was profitable with fowls weighing up to two and a half pounds, but not beyond that limit, at present food and poultry values. The cost of gain with this breed ranged from 3.25 to 12 cents per pound. With the lighter birds, regular growing rations were superior to special fattening mixtures, and close confinement was not as advantageous as conditions permitting some exercise.