FATTENING OF FOWLS. 181 



" The well-known common methods are, to give fowls the 

 run of the farm-yard, where they thrive upon the offals of the 

 stable, and other refuse, with perhaps some small regular daily 

 feeds ; but at threshing-time they become fat, and are thence 

 styled Barn-door fowls, probably the most delicate and high- 

 flavored of all others, both from their full allowance of the finest 

 corn, and the constant health in which they are kept, by living 

 in the natural state, and having the full enjoyment of air and 

 exercise; or they are confined, during a certain number of 

 weeks, in coops, those fowls which are soonest ready being 

 drawn as wanted. 



Feeding-houses , at once warm and airy, with earth floors, 

 such as will be hereafter described, well raised, and capacious 

 enough to accommodate twenty or thirty fowls, have always 

 succeeded best, according to my experience. The floor may 

 be slightly littered down, the litter often changed, and the 

 greatest cleanliness should be observed. Sandy gravel should 

 be placed in several different layers, and often changed. A 

 sufficient number of troughs, for both water and food, should 

 be placed around, that the stock may feed with as little inter- 

 ruption as possible from each other, and perches in the same 

 proportion should be furnished for those birds which are 

 inclined to perch, which few of them will desire, after they 

 have begun to fatten, but which helps to keep them easy and 

 contented until that period. In this mode, fowls may be fattened 

 to the highest pitch, and yet preserved in a healthy state, their 

 flesh being equal in quality to that of the barn-door fowl. I am 

 aware that to suffer fattening fowls to perch is contrary to the 

 general practice, since it is supposed to bend and deform the 

 breast-bone ; but as soon as they become heavy and indolent 

 from feeding, they will rather incline to rest in the straw ; and 

 the liberty of perching on the commencement of their cooping, 

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