FOODS AND FEEDING 



fowls. In short, it may be said that for general 

 use the dry-feed system is 'handier, cheaper and 

 usually better than the old way. 



There is another way of dry-feeding, and that 

 is the use of self-feeding hoppers, such as are illus- 

 Feeding from trated and described in Chapter Five. 

 Hoppers This system involves the least time 



and labor of any, and for that reason is a special 

 favorite with busy people or business men who are 

 compelled to be away from home except of morn- 

 ings and evenings. The hoppers need not be filled 

 oftener than once a week, and the feeding matter 

 requires no attention other than that. As many 

 different kinds of grain as possible should be kept 

 in the hoppers, either separately or mixed together 

 in the proportions suggested at the beginning of 

 this chapter, and the birds will pick out the amount 

 of each kind that instinct teaches them they need. 

 The entire idea is to let the fowls exercise their 

 natural tastes and inclinations in the feeding mat- 

 ter, and they may go to the hoppers whenever they 

 want to, eating whatever kinds of grains they want 

 to, and as much of each kind as they want to. The 

 supporters of this system claim that Nature never 

 guides falsely, and that therefore the bother and 

 worry of " balancing " the ration is done away 

 with. 



The plan is very good for chicks and growing 

 stock, and has so been used on the author's poultry 



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