Uniformity in Size Desirable 183 



tion for fattening matured fowls. In one case, the 

 object is to produce large quantities of tender 

 flesh; in the other, to improve the quality of the 

 flesh by confinement, and to induce the fowls to 

 fatten readily. 



Separate the sexes. The sexes should be sep- 

 arated before the fattening period begins. It is 

 always advisable to have the individuals as nearly 

 uniform as possible as regards age and size. Un- 

 even flocks are not nearly so satisfactory to feed 

 as uniform ones and are quite as unsatisfactory to 

 sell, particularly if they are sent to market alive. 



If it is desired to fatten cocks or cockerels 

 that show a disposition to fight, they should be 

 confined in coops which are provided with slat 

 bottoms or bottoms made of poles near enough 

 together so that the fowls cannot drop between 

 them . These coops should be placed at some dis- 

 tance from the ground, so that the droppings will 

 not foul them. While attempts may be made to 

 fight, yet as one or both of the combatants will 

 almost surely step between the slats the combat 

 will not be carried far. 



Cramming. The English and French resort to 

 the system of forced feeding, known as cramming, 

 for the production of the choicest poultry for the 

 London and Paris markets. The English learned 

 this process from the French, and now carry it 

 on to a large extent in some parts of southern 



