104 POULTRY-CRAFT. 
in the fowl are specially adapted to grinding dry, whole grain. When the 
digestion goes wrong everything begins to go wrong. Cooking is a part of 
the preparation of commercial meat foods. Fresh meat may be fed either 
cooked or raw; when cooked, the water in which it was cooked should be 
used in the mash. The notion that raw meat makes fowls vicious, is absurd. 
144. How Often to Feed.— Unless the foraging ground is uncommonly 
good, fowls at liberty should be fed twice daily. Fowls in confinement should 
be fed two or three times, according to the manner of feeding the whole 
grain. When grain is fed on bare ground or scantily littered floors, it is better 
to give the grain for the day in two feeds. When floors are heavily littered, 
once. feeding grain may be enough. Occasional light feeds between meals 
are good, but to regularly give four or five mea/s daily to adult fowls is poor 
method. Chicks should be fed from six to three times daily, according to age 
and circumstances. The length of interval between meals can be gauged by 
the appetites of the chicks. 
145. How Much to Feed.— The common rule for a full feed of mash 
is: AW they will eat clean and quick. Vf mash is left before fowls, they 
will after having satisfied their appetites once, go away, and a little later 
come back and eat more. It is better to give only what they will take at one 
‘* feed.” Of a properly compounded mash as much as they will eat at one 
time can safely be given. When grain is fed in heavy litter, a quart gives a 
full feed to a dozen average fowls. A quart of grain fed thus in the evening 
is not all eaten that day. One-fifth to one-fourth of it will remain in the 
litter to be scratched out next morning, early —if the feeding of the mash is 
delayed ; not till toward noon if a full feed of mash is given the first thing in 
the morning. Adult fowls, except when being fatted, should not be allowed 
to gorge themselves; growing chicks may safely be allowed to eat all they 
will of a fairly balanced ration,— and it will do no harm to encourage them 
to eat more. 
146. Tested Rations.— Remarx.— Most of the rations described here 
have been many times in print, though not in the exact words here given. 
The arrangement, and to some extent the wording, is changed in the endeavor 
to make all conform to a common pattern. Comparison of some of the 
similar rations will show that some good feeders use unnecessary ingredients. 
The great variety of rations given here makes it very improbable that any 
inexperienced feeder will be unable to find at least one thoroughly tested 
ration suited to his circumstances. 
(1). Ration for Breeding Stock.—(FELcu).—Summer —Morning,— mash of boiled 
vegetables, wheat bran and corn meal; meat in some form added three days in the week. 
Mash fed hot,—as much as will be eaten before g o’clock. Afternoon,—at 4 or 5 o’clock 
