202 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



and he declares that he would never be able to raise such 

 fowls as he does, were it not for this. A spare corner of the 

 garden may very profitably be set on one side for growing 

 lettuces, and a plentiful supply thus secured. 



There can be no question that the best system which can 

 be adopted in feeding chickens is little and often. For the 

 first fortnight they ought to be fed every two hours, for the 

 next month every three hours, and after that, until they reach 

 maturity, four times a day. As already stated, the first food 

 should be given as soon after daylight as possible, and the 

 plan, or rather want of plan in some yards, of allowing 

 chicks to run about three or four hours before getting their 

 first meal, is calculated to do more harm than most people 

 think of. The leaving of seed overnight is better than 

 nothing, but a warm meal is very much to be preferred. 

 In large yards, where the food takes some time to prepare, 

 the following system, which we saw recommended some time 

 ago, may be adopted with advantage : — Get a square wooden 

 box, strongly made of thick wood, and line this out with felt, 

 or felt carpeting — sides, bottom, and lid, so that the centre 

 compartment may only be about one-fourth the size of 

 the box itself, the dimensions of which must be regulated by 

 the requirements of the owner. Last thing at night, half 

 cook some food in a tin kettle or pan with lid, made to fit the 

 centre of the box, and put kettle and food just as it is into it. 

 Then close the box, and next morning the food will be found 

 perfectly cooked, and quite hot, whenever opened. By this 

 means, all the trouble consequent upon lighting a fire and 

 getting water to boil will be obviated, and the chicks can be 

 fed as soon as any one is astir, at least half an hour before 

 food could be prepared for them. The last feed at night 

 should be given about an hour before dusk, except to the 

 birds less than a month old, who need a feed by candle- 

 light, and this feed must consist of grain, as it takes longer 



