20 GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF POULTRY. 



amount to at least <4 4s. in the course of twelve months ; 

 and taking eggs at the high average of a penny each all the 

 year through, every one of the five hens must lay at least 200 

 eggs to repay the mere cost of their subsistence. When we 

 say that 150 eggs per annum is as much as can be obtained 

 from nine hens out of ten, it will be seen at once that poultry 

 could not be made profitable did they consume so enormously ; 

 and, in point of fact, we had the curiosity to try this dietary 

 upon six fowls " of the larger kinds," and found it rather more 

 than double what was amply sufficient. 



The fact is, all fixed scales are delusive. Not only would 

 Cochins or Crevecreurs cat twice as much as many other sorts, 

 but different fowls of the same breed often have very different 

 measures of capacity, and even the same hen will eat nearly 

 twice as much when in active laying as when her egg-organs 

 are unproductive. 



The one simple rule with adult fowls is, to give them as 

 much as they will eat eagerly, and 110 more ; directly they 

 begin to feed with apparent indifference, pick over it, or cease 

 to run when the food is thrown at a little distance, the supply 

 should be stopped. In a state of nature they have to seek far 

 and wide for the scanty morsels which form their subsistence ; 

 and the Creator never intended that they, any more than 

 human beings, should eat till they can literally eat no more. 

 It follows that food should never be left 011 the ground. If 

 such a slovenly practice be permitted, much of what is eaten 

 will be wasted, and a great deal will never be eaten at all ; 

 for fowls are dainty in their way, and unless at starvation 

 point always refuse sour or sodden food. 



The number of meals per day best consistent with real 

 economy will vary from two to three, according to the size of 

 the run. If it be of moderate extent, so that they can in any 

 degree forage for themselves, two are quite sufficient at least 

 in summer, and should be given early in the morning and the 



