

154 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



trial, they had no other food, except a few boiled potatoes. 

 Fowls of common size will consume of corn, wheat, rye or 

 barley, about a gill a day, in the months of January and Feb- 

 ruary. 



The most full and accurate information, in regard to the 

 whole subject of the food proper for fowls, and as to the quan- 

 tities consumed by different individuals under different circum- 

 stances, is derived from the researches and experiments of M. 

 Reaumur, a French writer of considerable distinction. A brief 

 account of his proceedings and opinions will bring into view, 

 in the most complete manner, what is desirable to know on 

 this subject. To Mr. Dickson is due the credit of making this 

 valuable matter generally accessible. 



It appears that Reaumur was desirous of ascertaining the 

 quantity of each sort of grain which a fowl would consume, 

 when supplied in ample quantities during the whole day. He 

 found, on experiment, that individual fowls varied much in the 

 quantity consumed, and that this diversity was usually in pro- 

 portion to their size. The quantity, for instance, consumed in 

 one day by a large fowl, was found to be to the quantity of the 

 same grain eaten by one of ordinary size, in the proportion 

 of four to three ; and of a dwarf or bantam, as two to one. 

 Amongst fowls of the same size and kind, there are individuals 

 which require more food than others, and this depends upon 

 various circumstances. Reaumur says that four common fowls 

 ate as much as eight others ; and of these last, three were of 

 the largest size, and three more, out of the remaining five, 

 were but a little smaller. In order to determine with accuracy 

 the quantities of food taken, Reaumur confined fowls, sepa- 

 rately, under basket coops, and others in hutches, enclosed 

 with wooden gratings, where they had every convenience, and 

 might even lay, if disposed. In each hutch containing hens he 

 put a cock, in order that the experiment might be complete. 



