FOOD OF POULTRY. 163 



on boiled grain ; and this he effected by ascertaining, in the first 

 instance, how much dry grain sufficed one or more fowls, and 

 then by boiling the same quantity, and by feeding it to them, 

 to find out how much was required by them. The results of 

 these experiments with the different grains will now be stated. 



Rye was found to be considerably increased in bulk by boil- 

 ing ; but as fowls eat more of it in this state than when dry, it 

 is demonstrated that the process of boiling does not render it 

 more sufficing. The fowls already mentioned as the subjects 

 of these experiments, which consumed only three fourths of a 

 pint measure of dry rye per diem, ate, in the same time, three 

 pint measures of the boiled grain. It would therefore cost one 

 twentieth more to feed fowls with boiled than with dry rye. 



Oats are increased by boiling nearly one half, but it was 

 found that the increase of bulk makes them no more satisfying 

 to the fowls who feed on them. The fowls in question, which 

 in two days would have eaten four pint measures of dry oats, 

 consumed in the same time seven pint measures, when boiled. 

 Oats have been recommended for promoting laying ; but in the 

 opinion of Mowbray, there are objections to this grain as a con- 

 stant food, from its effects on the intestines, and young fowls 

 will not long continue to relish it as a constant diet. 



Buckwheat is yet more increased in bulk by boiling four 

 pint measures will swell to fourteen ; but it was found that this 

 last quantity was consumed by the fowls in about the same time 

 that four pints of the dry grain was despatched. It appears, 

 therefore, that it is not good economy to boil these varieties of 

 grain for food. 



Indian corn, on the contrary, is much more profitable when 

 boiled than when given in the raw state. The fowls used in 

 Reaumur's experiment consumed only three pint measures of 

 the boiled corn, which are scarcely equal to one of the dry, 

 while they found no difficulty in devouring a pint and a quarter 



