Various Klvds of Grain. 29 



the difficulty his fowls experienced in drinking from a fountain without damage or inconvenience 

 that led Mr. Jones to adopt this vessel, which we can strongly recommend as a most useful, 

 simple, and cheap addition to the poultry-yard. 



With regard to grain, we prefer buckwheat as a staple to any other. We often see it stated 

 in the poultry organs that it "is not good food;" we can only say we have used it largely for 

 years, and find it as a rule both cheapest and best. All fowls become very fond of it as soon as 

 they get to recognise its strange colour ; and the fact that the French, who send such immense 

 quantities of eggs and even poultry to the English market, use buckwheat almost exclusively both 

 to feed and to fatten is alone enough to dispose of such absurd prejudices. Next to buckwheat in 

 value stands good barley — such, we mean, as is used for malting — not inferior, husky, foreign samples. 

 Then comes heavy white oats, thirty-six to forty pounds per bushel, and any of these may be . 

 changed for each other occasionally with advantage. Wheat is too dear to be used except for 

 fancy poultry ; and maize must be used, if at all, very sparingly indeed, on account of its tendency 

 to make fat. We lay great stress on this caution, because it is a very favourite food, and the birds 

 eat it greedily. Light-framed breeds, such as Spanish or Hamburghs, may have it in moderation, 

 and even larger fowls may get it as an occasional change ; but Asiatic breeds, especially if kept 

 in confinement, should not be regularly fed upon it, or fat instead of eggs will be the almost 

 invariable result. We need only give one further caution against the use of "mixtures" of grain, 

 often so "strongly recommended" by advertisers. If all the grains be mixed, no change of diet 

 becomes at all possible ; therefore give each by itself, changing the sort at discretion. Sweepings 

 or damaged corn, unless the damage be very slight indeed, will inevitably prove a losing 

 speculation, besides occasionally poisoning the fowls ; but if really sound " tail " or small wheat 

 can be procured, it is cheap and valuable food, and promotes laying much. 



Small white peas may be given occasionally with great benefit, provided the fowls will eat 

 them, which they will generally but not always do? - For an occasional change, barley may be 

 steeped in water and left till it has sprouted a little, in which state it is greedily devoured by the 

 fowls ; but this must not be continued very long. It is sometimes said that much barley may be 

 saved by leaving it in water to swell : but water is not food ; and if the birds, as we insist, are only 

 allowed the handful they really require— not as much as they will eat — to substitute water for part 

 of the'^'r allowance is no economy. Brewers' grains, if fresh and good, may be given with advantage 

 qnce or twice a week in winter, rather sparingly, as a mid-day feed. 



Merely to keep adult fowls in health and good condition, they do not even in confinement 

 require animal food ; but if a regular supply of eggs be desired, birds penned up must have this. 

 It is not to be made a regular meal of, and in ordinary households the kitchen scraps will furnish 

 ample supply, as already hinted. If this be not sufficient, bullock's liver well boiled, chopped up 

 and slightly seasoned with pepper and salt, will be the cheapest and best material generally, but 

 in some localities sheep's pluck, or other parts of various animals, may be obtained at a less rate. 

 The quantity to each hen should be about a cubic inch daily, in winter ; in summer less, or it may 

 be even discontinued, with little loss, at that time. The broth obtained from boiling the me=>t 

 should always be used, so far as it will go, in mi.xing the food. Some meat thus given even evel 

 • other day will make a considerable difference to the number of eggs in winter time, and in getti..^ 

 birds through the moult. Tallow-makers' greaves are often advertised, but we would give a 

 caution never to use them in their entire state for fowls, as they cause loss of condition and a rank 

 taste to the flesh when killed.* Fowls with good range need no animal food whatever, except in 



• The proper use of greaves in gettinj fowls into " condition " for show will be mentioned in a subsequent chapter. 



