BOOK VIII. III. 7-iv. I 



the poles should be fixed in holes in two walls which 

 face one another, so that they may be a foot in 

 height above the loft floor and two feet in breadth 

 away from one another. 



Such will be the arrangement of the hen-house in 8 

 thepoultry-yard. But the poultry-yard itself, through 

 which the hens wander, should be free not so much 

 from dung as from moisture ; for it is extremely 

 important that there should be no water in it except 

 in one place, namely, the water for them to drink and 

 that water should be very clean (for water which has 

 dung in it gives fowls the pip), yet you cannot keep 

 it clean unless it is enclosed in vessels made for the 

 purpose. But there are leaden troughs which are 

 filled with either water or food, and it has been found 

 that they are more useful than troughs of wood or 

 pottery. These are closed by having lids placed over 9 

 them and are pierced with small holes above the 

 middle of their height a palm's breadth apart from one 

 another and large enough to admit the birds' heads. 

 For if they are not provided with covers, any small 

 quantities of water or food that is inside is swept out 

 by the birds' feet. Some people make holes above 

 in the top part of the covers themselves ; this should 

 not be done, for the bird leaping on the top befouls 

 the food and water with its excrement. 



IV. The best foods to be given to hens are bruised How to feec 

 barley and grape-husks, likewise chick-pea and also *^^^' 

 millet and panic-grass, but these last two only when 

 the low price of cereals permits. When cereals are 

 dearer, small refuse " from wheat is a convenient food 

 to give ; for this grain by itself, even in places where 

 it is very cheap, is not a suitable food because it is 

 injurious to fowls. Boiled darnel can also be put 



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