CHAPTER XII 



THE KINDS OF FOOD. 



When poultry are kept upon a large scale, they can 

 obtain but few insects, for the latter are attracted and 

 supported by vegetation, of which there is next to none 

 near the adult fowls, though care is taken to rear a part 

 of the chickens among growing crops. The ample 

 grounds around each station house, and the areas 

 inclosed by the yards for sitters and for breeders, give 

 space to secure cleanliness and exercise, but that is about 

 all. As far as affording insect foraging is concerned, a 

 paved court in a city, or a continuous rock, would be 

 almost as good. Ground room out of doors upon our 

 farm, whether inclosed in yards or not, is principally 

 for air, sun and exercise. These secured, it matters not 

 whether there is more or less space, so long as there are 

 so few insects to be procured. We hear much about the 

 number of fowls proper to an acre some say fifty, and 

 others one hundred ; but in order to give one hundred a 

 good forage, they should have the range of no less than 

 four or five acres, containing grass and a variety of 

 other crops. 



Now, if we give up as impracticable, as we must, pas- 

 turage of this sort, and afford nothing but a field 

 entirely bald, save for a few patches of clover and such 

 other green stuff as may be plucked when young and 

 tender by the birds, under such circumstances one acre 

 is as good as four. We go further, and say that fifteen 

 or twenty square rods of ground, and the grain for the 

 fowls buried to induce exercise, will answer the purpose 



