214 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



meat is injurious, for, on the contrary, if not tainted it is 

 much easier to digest, and better in every way than newly- 

 killed meat ; but we are using the fact simply as an illustra- 

 tion of our point, namely, that fat, unless soon consumed, is 

 of itself a tendency to disease. 



In addition to what we have already said, namely, that the 

 conditions under which the birds are kept must be considered, 

 the object for which they are fed needs to be regarded also. 

 The various foods have many different qualities, some grains 

 being well balanced, and others having an excess of one or 

 two elements. Thus it is necessary to consider what is the 

 object in view, for it will be obviously manifest to all, that 

 foods which may be useful for one purpose will be useless for 

 another. Thus where eggs are to be produced, for which 

 many elements are needed, chiefly albumen and oil, with no 

 one element greatly in excess, then a well-balanced food is 

 needed. But where birds are being fattened for killing, 

 then it is best to give foods which contain a large quantity 

 of flesh or fat-forming qualities, as these cause the plumpness 

 which is so desirable in table fowls, and where such foods are 

 not given, then if the birds do get into good condition, there 

 must be a large waste of unneeded qualities before this can 

 be secured. And when chickens are being reared, it is most 

 desirable that they should have food which will develop bone 

 and muscle, not merely fat, except when intended to be early 

 killed for the table, for birds fed upon flesh-forming foods 

 only, have not strength of frame to support the flesh, and 

 though they may thrive for a time, will soon die off for want 

 of stamina. Birds forced too much go back in the same way, 

 and, therefore, forcing should only be employed with birds 

 intended to be killed early. 



What is required in the food given to fowls, is well 

 described by Mr. Tegetmeier in his Poultry book, when he 

 says : — " To supply the materials required for the growth of 



