1040 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



mode fowls may be fattened to the highest pitch, and yet preserved in a healthy state, 

 their flesh being equal in quality to that of the barn-door fowl. To suffer fattening fowls 

 to perch, is contrary to the general practice, since it is supposed to bend and deform the 

 breast-bone ; but as soon as they become heavy and indolent from feeding, they will 

 rather incline to rest in the straw ; and the liberty of perching in the commencement of 

 their cooping, has a tendency to accelerate that period, when they are more inclined to 

 rest on the floor. Fowls, moreover, of considerable growth, will have many of them be- 

 come already crooked breasted from perching whilst at large, although much depends 

 upon form in this case, since we And aged cocks and hens of the best shape, which have 

 perched all their lives with the breast bone perfectly straight. 



6713. The privation of light, by inclining fowls to a constant state of repose, excepting 

 when moved by the appetite for food, promotes and accelerates obesity ; but a state of 

 obesity obtained in this way cannot be a state of health' nor can the flesh of animals so 

 fed, equal in flavor, nutriment, and salubrity, that of the same species fed in a more na- 

 tural way. Economy and market interest may perhaps be best answered by the plan of 

 darkness and close confinement ; but a feeder for his own table, of delicate taste, and 

 ambitious of furnishing his board with the choicest and most salubrious viands, will de- 

 clare for the natural mode of feeding ; and in that view, a feeding-yard, gravelled and 

 turfed, the room being open all day, for the fowls to retire at pleasure, will have a decid- 

 ed preference, as the nearest approach to the barn-door system. 



6714. Insects and animal food form a part of the natural diet of poultry, are medicinal 

 to them in a weakly state, and the want of such food may sometimes impede their thriv- 

 ing. 



6715. For fattening the younger chickens, the above feeding room and yard is well cal- 

 culated. These may be put up as soon as the hen shall have quitted her charge, and 

 before they have run ofi^the sucking flesh. For generally when well kept and in health, 

 they will be in fine condition and full of flesh at that period, which flesh is afterwards 

 expended in the exercise of foraging for food, and in the increase of stature, and it may 

 be a work of some time afterwards to recover it, and more especially in young cocks, 

 and all those which stand high upon the leg. In fact, all those which appear to have 

 long legs, should be fattened from the hen, to make the best of them ; it being extreme- 

 ly diflBcult, and often impossible, te fatten long-legged fowls in coops, which, however, 

 are brought to a good weight at the barn-door. 



6716. In the choice of full-sized fowls for feediyig, the short-legged and early hatched 

 always deserve a preference. The green linnet is an excellent model of form for the do- 

 mestic fowl, and the true Dorking breed approaches the nearest to such model. In course 

 the smaller breeds and the game are the most delicate and soonest ripe. The London 

 chicken butchers as they are termed, or poulterers, are said to be of all others, the most 

 dexterous feeders, putting up a coop of fowls and making them thoroughly fa,t within the 

 space of a fortnight ; using so much grease, and that perhaps not of the most delicate kind, 

 in the food. In the common way, this business is often badly managed, fowls being hud- 

 dled together in a small coop, tearing each other to pieces, instead of enjoying that repose 

 which alone can ensure the wished-for object ; irregularly fed and cleaned, until they are 

 so stenched and poisoned in their own excrement, that their flesh actually smells and tastes 

 of it when smoking upon the table. Where a steady and regular profit is required from 

 poultry, the best method, whether for domestic use or sale, is constant high keep from 

 the beginning, whence they will not only be always ready for the table, with very little 

 extra attention, but their flesh will be superior in juiciness and rich flavor, to those which 

 are fattened from a low or emaciated state. Fed in this mode, the spring pullets are 

 particularly fine, and at the same time most nourishing and restorative food. The pullets 

 which have been hatched in March, if high fed from the nest, will lay plentifully 

 through the following autumn, and not being intended for breeding stock, the ad- 

 vantage of their eggs may be taken, and themselves disposed of thoroughly fat for 

 the table in February, about which period their laying will be finished. Instead of 

 giving ordinary and tail corn to fattening and breeding poultry, it will be found 

 most advantageous to allow the heaviest and best, putting the confined fowls upon a level 

 with those fed at the barn door, where they have their share of the weightiest and finest 

 corn. This high feeding shows itself not only in the size and flesh of the fowls, but in the 

 size, weight, and substantial goodness of their eggs, which in those valuable particulars 

 will prove far superior to the eggs of fowls fed upon ordinary corn or washy potatoes ; 

 two eggs of the former going further in domestic use than three of the latter. The 

 water also given to fattening fowls should be often renewed, fresh, and clean ; indeed, 

 those which have been well kept, will turn with disgust from ordinary food and foul 

 water. 



6717. Barley and wheat are the great dependence for chicken poultry ; oats will do for 

 full grown hens and cocks, but are not so good as barley ; both, when they have their fill 

 of corn, will eat occasionally cabbage or beet leaves Steamed potatoes and oatmeal 



