Choice of Food, 201 



alternately, with some crushed hempseed, which, when they 

 are three weeks old, can be substituted by dari or buckwheat, 

 both of which, and the latter especially, make capital chicken 

 foods. Some correspondence has appeared in poultry journals 

 of late, in which the rearing of chicks on grain alone was 

 advocated, and some writers stated, as their experience, that 

 it is better than soft foods. We believe too much pampering 

 does takes place, but, at the same time, we think that, for early 

 broods especially, these warm, nutritious foods are of immense 

 service. Kice is a food which chicks are wonderfully 

 fond of, if properly prepared ; but as it is entirely deficient 

 in bone-forming qualities, some bone meal should be mixed 

 with it, or leg weakness will probably ensue. The best way 

 to prepare it is, to put a pint of poultry rice into three pints 

 of water, and allow it to simmer (not boil), on the stove or 

 side of the kitchen fire, for a couple of hours, when it will 

 be found that the rice will have swollen out and absorbed all 

 the water. If the soil upon which the chicks are kept, 

 contains plenty of worms and slugs, it can be dug up a little, 

 and there will be no need to provide any animal food ; but if 

 it is sandy, or the birds are kept in a confined space, then 

 some provision must be made in this way. Dead fowls come 

 in very useful for the generation of gentles, and should be 

 allowed to hang a few days, when thousands of fresh flies' 

 eggs will have been deposited. If buried in the run the 

 maggots will soon begin to show themselves, much to the 

 advantage of its inmates ; though upon no account should 

 a diseased fowl be used in this way. Green food should also 

 be supplied, and can take any form that is most convenient. 

 Grass is, of course, to be desired, but not cut grass, if any- 

 thing better can be got. Lettuces, cabbages, and, in fact, 

 any garden stuff of this nature may be given ; and we know 

 of one of the largest breeders in the kingdom, who puts down, 

 in his chicken run, a barrowful of lettuces every morning, 



