Animal Food. 37 



be employed to imitate the example of the rooks, by fol- 

 lowing the plough or the digger, and collecting the worms 

 which are disclosed to view ; and also to collect cock- 

 chafers, " and, what would be more advantageous, they 

 might be set to collect the grubs of this destructive insect 

 after the plough, and thus, while providing a rich banquet 

 for the poultry, they would be clearing the fields of a most 

 destructive insect." 



Fowls are very fond of shell snails. They are still more 

 fattening than worms, and therefore too many must not be 

 given when laying, but they do not injure the flavour of 

 the flesh. Some will eat slugs, but they are not generally 

 fond of these, and many fowls will not touch them. 



One great secret of profitable poultry-keeping is, that 

 hens cannot thrive and lay without a considerable quantity 

 of animal food, and therefore if they cannot obtain a 

 sufficient quantity in the form of insects, it must be sup- 

 plied in meat, which, minced small, should be given daily 

 and also to all fowls in winter, as insects are then not to 

 be had. Mr. Baily says : " Do not give fowls meat, but 

 always have the bones thrown out to them after dinner ; 

 they enjoy picking them, and perform the operation per- 

 fectly. Do not feed on raw meat ; it makes fowls quarrel- 

 some, and gives them a propensity to peck each other, 

 especially in moulting time if the accustomed meat be 

 withheld." They will peck at the wound of another fowl to 

 procure blood, and even at their own wounds when within 

 reach. Take care that long pieces of membrane, or thick 

 skin, tough gristle or sinew, or pieces of bone, are not left 

 sticking to the meat, or it may choke them, or form a lodg- 

 ment in the crop. " Pieces of suet or fat," says Mr. 

 Dickson, " are liked by fowls better than any other sort of 

 animal food ; but, if supplied in any quantity, will soon 

 render them too fat for continuing to lay. Should there 

 be any quantity of fat to dispose of, it ought, therefore, to 

 be given at intervals, and mixed or accompanied with bran, 

 which will serve to fill their crops without producing too 

 much nutriment." It is a good plan when there are plenty 

 of bones and scraps of meat to boil them well, and mix 



