Food and Exercise 181 



although it is somewhat more expensive and 

 answers the purpose no better than straw. Dur- 

 ing the winter months, the floor of the poultry 

 house should be covered to a depth of a few 

 inches with some kind of litter. This litter 

 should be changed whenever it becomes soiled 

 or damp. 



FEEDING FOR MEAT OR FATTENING 



Feeding fowls for meat production may prop- 

 erly be discussed under two rather distinct heads 

 so far as exercise is concerned: fattening ma- 

 ture fowls, and feeding young growing fowls that 

 are to be sent to the market when a few months 

 old. Mature fowls will require little or no ex- 

 ercise during the process of fattening, while 

 young fowls that are growing rapidly will re- 

 quire considerable exercise in order to keep them 

 in a healthy and vigorous condition, except per- 

 haps for a short time during the last of the 

 fattening period, which is sometimes called "the 

 finishing." 



Whenever a choice quality of meat is to be 

 produced, little or no exercise should be given 

 for a few weeks immediately preceding the kill- 

 ing. When the fowl is shut up or closely con- 

 fined, the muscles soften and the flesh becomes 

 more tender. It is conceded by those who most 



