28 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GEORGIA. 



GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE FLOCK. 



The variety to be grown having been decided upon, the breeder 

 should fully determine upon a definite system of management, and 

 provide for housing, feeding, and otherwise caring for the birds in 

 such manner as will insure success and profit. 



The variety to be grown should depend upon the surroundings 

 of the breeder, as regards the extent of the range available. As a 

 general rule all of the smaller birds require a liberal range for 

 maximum production. The larger breeds, such as Cochins, Brah- 

 mas, etc., thrive better with reasonable liberty, but suffer less from 

 close confinement than the smaller varieties, such as the Leghorns, 

 Games, etc. If it is necessary to confine the fowls to a contracted 

 area the breeder must, as far as practicable, supply by artificial 

 means the conditions of this natural range. 



Birds that have the liberty of a farm, supply themselves with 

 three classes of food, and gravel, by means of which their food is 

 prepared for digestion. They find on the natural range seeds of 

 various kinds, a variety of green vegetable matter, and insects, the 

 three together supplying for them bread, vegetables and meat. If 

 the birds are deprived of making their own selection of these classes 

 of food in a natural manner, by reason of confinement within lim- 

 ited inclosures, they must be supplied by artificial means or the 

 fowls will suffer from the privation, and be unprofitable to their 

 owners. Generally there will be no practical limit to the range 

 available for fowls on the farm, and hence it will be assumed that 

 poultry have free access to grass or small grain throughout the year, 

 and that, except during the winter, they will be able to secure a 

 reasonable supply of meat in the form of insects. Daring the 

 winter, scraps of meat from the table will supplement the short 

 supply of insects. 



If there is not an abundant supply of perennial grass to which 

 the fowls have daily access, small grain of some kind should be 

 sown to supply pasturage for them during the fall, winter and early 

 spring. 



