FOOD AND DRINK 43 



corn. The afternoon feed contains equal parts of 

 the same grains with the addition of millet. On 

 Thursday and Sunday we substitute hemp for millet 

 in the afternoon feed. Many breeders object to the 

 cost of this ration. Sometimes peas and kafir corn, as 

 well as the other grains, fluctuate much in price, and 

 whenever one advances the temptation is to reduce 

 the quantity of that particular grain in the ration. 

 Our success is largely due to sticking to this ration, 

 irrespective of the cost, for it gives larger and plumper 

 squabs than any other we have ever tried. We used 

 many different rations before hitting upon this. 



Grit and other materials. — But the best birds fed 

 only of the above ration would not long continue in 

 health. They need a cons^^nt supply of sharp grit so 

 that the gizzard may grind the food. Cracked oyster 

 shells, or' some other equivalent, are also 

 needed to furnish li»Tie for egg shell. Charcoal 

 is an excellent purifier and aid to digestion. 

 Common fine table salt is good for the 

 . same purpose. The first three articles are broken into 

 pieces about the size of half a grain of wheat. Small 

 shallow cigar boxes are convenient and when filled 

 will last a week. A self-feeding box with four com- 

 partments may be used. Many breeders are timid 

 about using table salt in free supply, saying that 

 birds have been known to gorge themselves when fed 

 in this way. This is true, but it is also true that no 

 bird in our pens ever died from eating too much salt. 

 If birds have been deprived of salt until they are 

 very hungry for it, some will doubtless eat too much. 

 When fine salt is kept before them in full supply they 

 eat no more than is necessary. To birds just bought, 

 we are very careful to give a limited supply until they 

 have gradually satisfied themselves. 



