SKIM MILK FOR CHICKS.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 18, 11 October 1901, Page 5

SKIM MILK FOR CHICKS.

At the Indiana station a test of the value of skim milk for chickens was made by W. B. Anderson, with two lots containing ten Plymouth Rocks and ten Houdans. Each lot received all they would eat of a mixture of crushed corn, bran, and ground oats —2-1-1. Both lots received cracked bone, cabbage, and lettuce, and had access to water. The two lots received the same treatment in every respect, except that lot two received all the. skim milk they would eat in addition to the grain ration. The test began on July 11 and closed on September 5. During the test one chicken- in lot one died. Lot one consumed 179 - 8 pounds of grain, and the average weekly gain per chicken was 2.62 ounces. Lot two consumed 217*3 pounds of grain and 90*4 pounds of skim milk, and the weekly average gain per chicken was 4-46 ounces. The following conclusions were drawn : —lf skim milk be added to the ration fed to 'young chickens it will increase the consumption of the other foods given. The great increase in average gain was coincident with the periods when the greatest amount of skim milk vas consumed. Skim milk is especially valuable as a food for young chickens during the hot, dry weather, and becomes of less importance as the chickens grow older and the weather becomes cooler.