OTHER HEALTH REQUISITES. 35 



bottle of the celebrated "Douglas* mixture," respecting 

 which we can speak with unqualified approval, as a most 

 valuable addition to the drink in cold weather of both fowls 

 and chickens. It consists of half a pound of sulphate of 

 iron and one ounce of sulphuric acid dissolved in two 

 gallons of water ; and is to be added in the proportion of 

 two table-spoonfuls to each pint of water in the fountain. 

 Whilst the fowls are moulting, the above mixture, or a little 

 sulphate of iron, should always be used ; it will assist them 

 greatly through this, the most critical period of the whole 

 year ; as also does a good pinch of powdered brimstone to 

 each bird (mixed in the soft food) every other day, till the 

 new plumage is nearly complete. With this aid, and a 

 little pepper on their food, with perhaps a little extra meat, 

 there will rarely be any lost at this time. With hardy kinds 

 and good shelter such precautions are scarcely necessary; 

 but they cost little, and have their effect also on the early 

 re-commencement of laying. 



In addition to their regular food it will be needful that 

 the fowls have a supply of h'me, in some shape or other, to 

 form the shells of their eggs. Old mortar pounded is 

 excellent ; so are oyster-shells well burnt in the fire and 

 pulverised ; of the latter they are very fond, and it is an 

 excellent plan to keep a large pan full of it in their yard. 

 If this matter has been neglected, and soft shell-less eggs 

 have resulted, the quickest way of getting matters right 

 again is to add a little lime to the drinking water, or pound 

 up some oyster-shells raw. 



One thing more must on no account be forgotten. This 

 is, some proportion of sharp grit or gravel, or other hard 

 substances. Such small stones constitute hen's teeth, and 

 without them the gizzard cannot perform its office of 



* So called because published in the Field newspaper by Mr. John 

 Douglas, then superintending the Wolseley Aviaries. 



