28o BIRDS 



Either a wet mash, crumbly moist, or the more modern dry 

 mash, is a valuable addition to the fare, particularly during 

 the laying and molting season. Suitable balanced mixtures 

 are obtainable from all dealers. Green food, such as finely 

 cut grass, clover, cabbage, lettuce, cress, chickweed, etc., 

 should be given daily. Grit and clean drinking water 

 should always be available. 



It goes without saying that cleanliness and constant dili- 

 gence in detecting the presence of lice and incipient disease 

 are essential to success. 



Breeding 



Bantam hens of most breeds are excellent layers. Their 

 eggs are very large in proportion to the size of the bird, 

 and it is a common assertion of their admirers that the eggs 

 are superior in quality to those of larger birds. 



It was once the universal custom among bantam breeders 

 to mate each male with about four females. This practice 

 is still followed by the great majority, but a few of the more 

 advanced are using the single-mating system ; that is, match- 

 ing the birds in pairs. This, of course, insures the accuracy 

 of knowledge concerning parentage, which is necessary in 

 line breeding. With bantams there is not the incentive 

 to produce large numbers, a few of the best quality gener- 

 ally proving the best policy. 



Hens are usually mated in February or March, but May 

 is really the best month for hatching bantams, the weather 

 then generally being the most salutary. Most breeders keep 

 a few inferior hens for rearing purposes. Hens of large 

 breeds are not suitable for rearing bantams, as they are 

 likely to break the eggs or crush the tiny chicks. It is best 

 to start several at one time, as with pheasants, so that the 

 ghicks m^y be doubled up in case of a poor hatch. Bantam 



