BOOK VIII. VII. 2-5 



Very clean chaff should be spread under them or 

 soft hay, that is, hay of the second crop ; for if their 

 bed is hard they do not easily fatten. All the 

 feathers should be cleared away from their heads 

 and under their wings and hind-quarters, from 

 the head and wings so that they may not breed lice, 

 and from their hind-quarters so that sores may not 

 be caused by dung in the private parts. 



Barley-meal is given as food, which, sprinkled with 3 

 water and kneaded, is formed into pellets with which 

 the birds are crammed. They should, however, be 

 given somewhat sparingly for the first few days, until 

 they become accustomed to digest more of this food ; 

 for indigestion niust above all things be avoided and 

 only as much given them as they can assimilate ; nor 

 ought fresh food be put before them until it is 

 apparent, from feeling the crop, that none of the old 

 food has remained behind. Then, when the bird has 4 

 had its fill, the coop is lowered a little and the bird is 

 let out, not in order that it may wander at will but 

 rather that it may pursue with its beak anything that 

 stings or bites it. The latter is the common pre- 

 caution taken by fatteners of birds : but those who 

 wish to make the birds not only plump but also tender, 

 sprinkle meal of the kind already mentioned with 

 fresh honey-water and then cram them with it. 

 Some people mix one part of good wine with three 

 parts of water and fatten the bird with wheaten- 

 bread soaked in it. If the process of cramming is 

 begun at the new moon (for this date too should be 

 observed), the fowl is quite fat by the twentieth day : 

 but, if it takes a dislike to its food, you will have to 5 

 lessen the amount for the same number of days as the 

 cramming has already proceeded, but only provided 



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