[Footnote 1: This article is condensed by permission from a thesis
prepared for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, by
James Edward Rice, a graduate of the class of 1890. The work was
planned and wholly carried out in the most careful manner by Mr. Rice
under the immediate supervision of the Director. The results have been
thought worthy of publication in the _Cornell Station Bulletin_.]
On July 2, 1889, ten Plymouth Rock hens, one year old, and as nearly
as possible of uniform size, were selected from a flock of
thirty-five. At the same time ten chickens, hatched from the same hens
mated with a Plymouth Rock cock, were similarly chosen. The chickens
were about six weeks old, healthy and vigorous and of nearly the same
size. Up to the time of purchase both hens and chickens had full run
of the farm. The hens foraged for themselves and were given no food;
the chickens had been fed corn meal dough, sour milk and table scraps.
A preliminary feeding trial was continued for twenty-five days, during
which time both hens and chickens were confined, all together, in a
fairly well lighted and ventilated room, and fed a great variety of
food, in order that all should go into the feeding trial as nearly as
possible in the same condition. During this preliminary feeding both
hens and chickens increased in live weight. The ten hens from a total
of 44 lb. 12 oz. to 47 lb. 1.5 oz., or 3.75 oz. each, and laid 93
eggs. The chickens from a total of 9 lb. 15 oz. to 18 lb., or 12.9 oz.
each.
Food, shells and water were kept constantly before the fowls. Basins
which contained the food and water were kept within a box constructed
of lath, so arranged that the fowls could reach between the slats and
procure food and drink without wasting or soiling.
July 26th the hens and chickens were each separated into two lots of
five each, as follows:
Hens, nitrogenous ration, weighed 23 lb. 8.5 oz.
Hens, carbonaceous ration, weighed 23 lb. 9 oz.
Chickens, nitrogenous ration, weighed 8 lb. 15 oz.
Chickens, carbonaceous ration, weighed 9 lb. 1 oz.
The four lots were placed in separate pens where they remained during
the entire experiment, which lasted 125 days. They were fed and
watered once daily, and an account kept of the food eaten and water
drank. At each feeding the food and water remaining were weighed back
and deducted from the amount charged at the previous feeding.
The hens and chickens fed a nitrogenous ration were given daily all
they would eat of the following mixture: 1/3 part wheat bran, 1/3 part
wheat shorts, 1/3 part cotton seed meal, 2 parts skimmed milk, and
will be designated Lot I.
The hens and chickens fed a carbonaceous ration were given daily all
they would eat of a ration of cracked maize and maize dough, and will
be designated Lot II.
Both groups were given a small amount of green clover as long as it
lasted, and afterward cabbage.
For convenience the experiment was divided into five periods of twenty
five days.