Hopper Versus Litter Feeding of Grain

A SERIES of experiments was conducted to compare the feeding of grain in hoppers and in the litter of laying pullets. Two series of tests were conducted; from September 1, 1930, to August 31, 1931 and from September 1, 1931 to August 31, 1932. Four pens, each containing 100 pullets, were used in the first series; two of these contained White Leghorns, and two, Barred Plymouth Rocks. In the second series there were two pens each containing 75 Barred Plymouth Rock and 50 Rhode Island Red pullets. All birds were housed in open-front shed-roof poultry houses with each pen in a 20 ft. by 20 ft. section, with access to bluegrass range except on very cold or rainy days. The grain mixture fed consisted of 50 pounds of shelled yellow corn and 50 pounds of wheat. In the pens receiving grain in the litter one-third was fed in the morning . . .