SELECTION OF STOCK AND PAIRING. 185 



Attention should also be paid to what is said in the chapter 

 on food, in reference to the bulk of the food given to fowls. 

 When fattening, let it not be forgotten, that sufficient bulk is 

 necessary to effect a proper distension of the stomach, as a nec- 

 essary condition of healthy digestion. 



CHAPTER X. 



SELECTION OF STOCK AND PAIRING. 



WE are not sufficiently acquainted with the habits of the 

 common fowl, in a wild state, to know whether the cocks 

 always associate with the hens, or only occasionally. Though 

 hens will lay some eggs without pairing, as this is not natural, 

 the number will, for the most part, be less, and the laying 

 uncertain ; and hence it is indispensable to attend to the laws of 

 nature in this respect. 



Columella is perhaps among the earliest authorities who can 

 be cited on the subject of the breeding and management of 

 poultry. The following is his opinion as to the number of 

 hens which should be allotted to an individual cock : 



" Twelve hennes shall be sufficient for one good cocke, 

 which will cause them to be rather of one coloure, and yet," 

 sayeth he, " our auncestors did use to give but five hennes to 

 one cocke, which caused them rather to be of divers coloures, 

 some white, some gray, some reddish, and some tawny e, some 

 blacke, and some of a speckled coloure, which are not thoughte 

 to be so good as the red and gray speckled : and to have the 

 hennes all of one coloure (some the white) are best, and they 

 are counted the best laiers." (Mascall, c. 15.) Stephanus 

 repeats the directions of Columella. 

 16* 



