FOOD OF POULTRY. 155 



In some hutches he placed seven hens, and in others different 

 numbers, even as low as two. For several consecutive days, 

 he gave to the fowls in coops, and to those associated in hutch- 

 es, the same quantity of grain, measured so as to be more than 

 would fill their crops ; and the precaution was taken that the 

 box into which the grain was put for them should never be 

 empty. This box was of greater length than breadth, with a 

 bottom, and a piece of board on each side, projecting some five 

 or six inches, in order to prevent the chance of upsetting it by 

 the fowls hopping upon it, while the sides were sufficiently 

 high not to allow them to scrape the grain out of the box. By 

 this careful contrivance the experiment; might be made with 

 perfect accuracy, and every grain of corn could be accounted 

 for. Gravel was also spread on the bottom of the hutches and 

 coops, and also in a separate vessel, in order that it might be 

 used as when the fowls were at liberty. 



The result of this experiment was, that nearly the same 

 measure of grain was found sufficient for a fowl every day, of 

 whatever sort it happened to be. Whatever, therefore, is 

 cheapest, at any given time, may be given, without regard to 

 other considerations. Different circumstances and different sea- 

 sons may produce variations in the appetite of fowls, but, as 

 already observed, a gill is about the usual daily portion. Some 

 very voracious fowls, of the largest size, will need the allowance 

 of a third of a pint per diem. 



It is allowed that wheat, with perhaps the exception of rice, 

 is the most nutritive of cereal grains, as an article of human 

 food. It is natural to suppose, therefore, that it is the best for 

 fowls ; and the avidity with which they receive it would induce 

 the conclusion that they would eat more of this than any other 

 kind of grain. Yet it appears that when fowls have as much 

 wheat as they can consume, they will eat about a fourth part 

 less than of oats, barley, or buckwheat : the largest quantity 



