FOOD OF POULTRY. 171 



METHODS OF FEEDING FOWLS. 



It is the advice of Richardson, whose counsel is always valu- 

 able, and to whom we acknowledge great indebtedness, not to 

 feed hens too highly before they begin to lay, or while laying, 

 or immediately after ceasing to lay, unless the design is to fatten 

 them for the table ; for as soon as a fowl begins to fatten, she 

 stops laying. " You must, therefore," says he, " separate the 

 two classes of fowl, layers and fatteners, at all events at feeding 

 time. Make some separate provision for your cocks ; if they 

 are only fed in company with the hens, they are apt to think 

 too much of their mistresses, and to neglect their own appetites ; 

 and recollect that to have strong chickens, you must have a 

 strong cock, which an ill- fed bird cannot be expected to prove. 

 You should also make separate provision for such fowl as are 

 bullied or oppressed by the rest. Fowl are much given to 

 jealousy ; the cock's favor is sometimes the cause of this, but 

 by no means invariably so ; and, indeed, the cause is not at all 

 times to be ascertained : however obscure the cause, it is incum- 

 bent on the poultry fancier to prevent the effect, by adopting the 

 separative system at the times indicated. 



In such an occurrence, which is easily recognizable by the 

 cock's continually running at that particular bird, to the neglect, 

 or comparative neglect, of the others, it is better to remove the 

 favorite at once; if not, quarrels will ensue ; this hen will 

 nearly always be made a victim, and in many cases the quarrels 

 on her account will give rise to other and more general affrays. 

 On such occasions, the cock usually interferes and endeavors to 

 establish peace ; he almost invariably does so when the contest 

 is carried on per duello ; when, however, a number of his mis- 

 tresses fall upon one, his interference is of little avail ; and, as 

 if he were conscious of this, in such cases he usually leaves the 

 poor favorite to her fate. I would not be so minute, but that I 



