274 Farm Poultry 



and ground oats (the hulls removed) which have 

 been thoroughly soaked. Freshly moistened meal 

 foods are not equal to the same food that has 

 become thoroughly softened by soaking or scald- 

 ing. Thick sour milk or curd may. be mixed with 

 the soft foods to good advantage. 



When the birds are beginning to "feather out," 

 cracked corn may be 'added to the ration. Some 

 successful poultry raisers, however, - recommend 

 soaking the cracked corn at first. Later in the 

 season whole corn may be fed. Old corn is pre- 

 ferred to new. 



GUINEA FOWLS 



Under ordinary farm conditions the domes- 

 ticated guineas can hardly be called profitable 

 farm fowls. Tney lay fairly well during the sum- 

 mer time if given a wide range, but owing to 

 the disposition of the hen to hide her nest the 

 eggs are often entirely lost. Many instances are 

 known in which the hen has secreted her nest 

 and continued to lay until it became well filled, 

 when it would be abandoned for another. This 

 in turn might be left to the same fate as the 

 first. Instances are known of three nests being 

 well filled with eggs before the hen showed any 

 disposition to incubate. 



Objections have been made to the fowl on 

 account of its sharp, screeching voice. It is true 



