FEEDING PRIZE CHICKENS. 127 



porridge, with small tail wheat, good heavy oats, and plenty of 

 green food. Good potatoes boiled and mashed are also excel- 

 lent food for a change. 



" A little camphor put in their drinking water will help 

 very much to keep them in health." 



We have little to add to the above remarks. We do not 

 ourselves approve of giving bread sops so long, and feel sure, 

 after trial, that chickens get on better by substituting oatmeal 

 after the first day or two, or indeed from the day they break 

 the shell In cold weather also a little sulphate of iron, or 

 " Douglas mixture," should always be added to the water, and 

 a little bread soaked in ale will be found beneficial. The 

 warm milk is excellent, and is much better than the plan 

 recommended by many of giving custard; the latter is too 

 pampering, and after it chickens will sometimes refuse plain 

 wholesome food. For weakly chickens, however, it is most 

 strengthening to mix up a raw egg with their oatmeal Above 

 all, unless they have a good run on grass, the supply of green 

 food must be unlimited. Spratt's well-known Poultry Meal is 

 an admirable addition to the dietary, and " Spratt " and good 

 oatmeal mixed, scalded with boiling water, is perhaps the best 

 staple food of all, where the lowest cost is not a consideration. 



Feed often every two hours, if possible, from daybreak, 

 and let the food be always fresh, nothing being ever allowed to 

 remain. When a month old, gradually reduce the number of 

 meals till it comes down at three months to four times a day. 

 If this is neglected, appetite will fall off. Also, leave off milk 

 with the warm weather. 



With such treatment and good shelter, if the stock 

 be good and the number has been judiciously limited, the hen 

 will not fail to bring a fair proportion through the most in- 

 clement season, and they will be sure to reach a good standard 

 in point of size, having the best time of the year before them 

 when they really begin to grow. 



