1 62 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



be found most satisfactory in the end. Barley, wheat, buck- 

 wheat, oats, and dari, both whole and ground, are all first- 

 rate foods, and may be relied upon as best for the purpose. 

 If the birds are in runs, where insect life cannot be got very 

 freely, then a very little meat may be given to them, but not 

 otherwise. And on wet or cold mornings, a little stimulating 

 powder is very helpful, but upon no account should it be used 

 when the weather is warm and dry. Green food is also very 

 essential, and a barrow load of cabbages will be greatly re- 

 lished, as well as be highly beneficial, even when the grass run 

 is an extensive one. For a system of feeding we prefer the 

 following : — First, a meal of soft food, mixed with boiling 

 water, early in the morning, the sooner after the birds leave 

 their roosts the better; second, a handful of grain in the 

 middle of the day ; and, last, a good feed of grain about an 

 hour before they go to roost at night. 



A question is sometimes asked, How much food should 

 be given to each fowl every day ? This it is impossible to 

 answer, by stating any quantity, as the appetites of the birds 

 vary with the season of the year, and with the different 

 kinds of fowls, some being much greater eaters than others. 

 The only safe rule is to either throw the food down in hand- 

 fuls, or put it in dishes or troughs, and to cease giving, or 

 remove it, as soon as the birds cease to eat eagerly. There 

 is just one exception to this rule, and it is one that needs to 

 be very especially mentioned here, for there are some cocks 

 of a very gallant nature, which will not touch any food, until 

 all their hens have been served. They call their mates to it, 

 and see that they get enough, but do not attempt to touch 

 it themselves. Therefore, unless the attendant is very 

 observant, the bird will get very little to eat — certainly not 

 enough, and will go down in condition, infertile eggs being 

 one of the results. Where this is observed, either a little 

 more food must be given to the cock or he must be fed by 



