94 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



At a later stage, where there is ample range 

 it is better to avoid all boards and vessels what- 

 ever, scattering the grain broadcast as it is, so 

 that none may be bullied out of their share, and 

 kneading the mash or meal into lumps the size 

 of cricket balls or a little smaller. These also 

 are cast about, and break when they reach the 

 ground ; a ball of meal food that holds well 

 together, and thus breaks up without sticking to 

 the ground, is mixed right, and ishow meal food 

 should be prepared. It is to get this consistency 

 that we like to add a little sharps, or even maize 

 meal, to ground oats or oatmeal, which are the 

 most difficult to mix in a friable state. Such 

 balls are thrown here and there so long as they 

 are eaten up promptly, and no longer. But this 

 method of feeding requires both space and time. 

 Pans may be used in default of space ; but time., 

 to see that they get enough and not too much, 

 is really necessary to rearing fine chickens. At 

 the same time, they can be looked over and note 

 made of any that need attention. Where time 

 is wanting, it is better to give rather too little 

 food than too much. 



The seed or grain portion of the diet will also 

 have to be adjusted during the early and tender 

 days, after which it can be more varied. Whole 

 groats, chopped smaller wdth a knife 

 Chickens'^ '•'^^ '^''^'^ '^"'° days, then given whole, 

 may be varied by such small seeds 

 as canary and millet with advantage, and such 

 seeds might indeed be continued rtrt'//i!>2V///;/, were 

 they not too costly. When millet is fairly cheap 

 it is worth its price. But after a few days we 

 can introduce for a change cracked wheat or 

 barley, or even cracked maize, for young chickens 

 are so active and grow so fast that, in moderation, 

 little need be dreaded from maize at this age. 

 Then they will come on to whole wheat, buck- 

 wheat, and now and then a feed of dari ; but 

 there is too little substance in the latter to re- 

 commend it often. Care should be taken that 

 chicks do not gorge themselves with wheat, as 

 it swells in the crop, and may so cause mischief 

 A little sunflower-seed is much relished at 

 times, chopped or cut if too large, and is much 

 safer than hemp-seed, as well as more nourish- 

 ing. For the reasons already given as regards 

 fowls, it should be arranged that the last feed at 

 night consist of dry seeds or grain. 



To rear fine birds there is one simple rule. 

 The meals must be far enough apart for real 

 appetite to return, but not so far as to check 

 nourishment ; and enough must be given to 

 fully satisfy the appetite at that moment, and 

 no more. The chickens must not really be left 

 to hunger ; neither must any food be left by 

 them, after they have eaten what they want. It 



is well to gratify the appetite by judicious 

 changes. Such changes make food to be more 

 eagerly relished and better digested ; but the 

 golden secret lies in the above, and in all the 

 food being nicely prepared. 



Early chickens, for either exhibition or 

 market — let us say if hatched much before the 

 middle of April — require extra feeding and 



attention, to cope with the cold and 

 at Night ^^^^ shorter days. The meal may 



be mixed with milk, or skim milk, 

 so long as cold weather lasts, or a drink of warm 

 milk may be given in the morning. Care should 

 be taken to feed them as soon as ever it is light 

 enough ; and they should have an extra special 

 feed by lamp-light, at nine or ten o'clock. 

 Early chickens especially need this extra feed, 

 and it makes an immense difference to them. 

 The first time or two, the hen may have to be 

 lifted or stirred up ; but they rapidly get to 

 understand the business, and run eagerly out 

 from under her as soon as they see the light of 

 the lantern. Groats or wheat are the best for 

 these last feeds, and a little may be left for 

 them to peck at first thing in the morning. 



Animal food should not be forgotten, unless 

 a wide range gives them plenty of insects, when 

 it is not really necessary, though even then a 



portion helps growth, and early lay- 



Foo?^ '"S '^ ^§&^ ^""^ '" vis^^'- For the first 



week, lean cooked meat finely minced 

 or shredded is the proper thing, and for a single 

 brood a small slice from the house, or a piece 

 about the size of a walnut, cut up very small, 

 will sufiice. In dry weather this should be 

 scattered on the ground in front of the coop and 

 board, that the hen may not get it, and the 

 chickens may all get their share, and run about 

 in getting it. Later, any cheap sound stuff 

 bought for the fowls will do, or one of the many 

 kinds of granulated dried meat sold as "crissell,'' 

 " meat meal," or by other names. These should 

 be soaked a little in warm water before being 

 given, and if any sample should be accidentally 

 fourd offensive, as may happen to any brand 

 now and then, it should be discarded. Not till 

 they are at least a month old should they have 

 green cut bone, if that is used for the older 

 fowls ; before that age the latter is apt to cause 

 bowel disorders, and even then chickens seem 

 more prone to this result from cut bone than 

 laying hens appear to be. 



In regard to water, where this is given the 

 best plan is generally to place a small fountain 

 on one end of the feeding-board, where the hen 

 can reach it as well as the chickens. Care must 

 be taken that it is always fresh and clean, and 

 the fountain shaded, as sun-warmed water is ant 



