FIR 1ST LESSONS IN POULTRY KEEPING. 17 



will work only for what is necessary to sustain life. One reason why some people get better 

 results from evening mash is because the fowls get a full feed before going to roost, when if fed 

 in litter (as they use it) they cannot get a good meal, or cannot get it in the time allowed them. 

 Generally speaking, the depth of any loose and easily worked litter should not be less than 

 three or four, and not more than six inches. 



Exercise by Jumping. A practice handed down since before the days when scratching 

 litter was generally provided, is to hang a cabbage or fasten a root of beet or a piece of meat 

 just out of reach of the fowls so that to get at it they must jump for every mouthful. I think 

 this form of exercise of questionable value. A heavy hen carrying a lot of partly developed 

 eggs is likely to be averse to taking exercise that way, or, if she does try it, to hurt herself, and it 

 appears that, sometimes jumping for exercise is responsible for the prevalence in a flock of corns 

 and bumble foot, particularly when that is the only exercise provided, and the floors are not 

 littered. 



Exercise for Occupation. 



So far we have considered exercise, especially with reference to its effects on the condition 

 of the fowl, and as a check to rapid feeding. It serves another purpose which indirectly has 

 quite an important relation to the matter of feeding as well as to production. The fowl with 

 something to do keeps busy much of the time and is contented. With moderate exercise fowls 

 probably more completely digest and assimilate their food, and are productive and keep in good 

 condition on less food either than when not taking any exercise or when taking too much 

 exercise. Contentment aids digestion and economizes food. But we need not depend solely 

 upon exercise dependent upon eating. Fowls given the opportunity to do so will take vigorous 

 exercise dusting themselves. In fact, when the sun shines in on the earth floor they will work 

 and wallow there by the hour, and this exercise does them just as much good as scratching. 

 So occasionally on bright days rake the litter clean from a space on the floor where the sun 

 shines, and give the fowls a chance to put variety into their exercise. 



