38 FOOD. 



likely to produce eggs, early, and in abundance. 

 During moult, give hemp-seed freely ; it strength- 

 ens greatly. 



Groats also form an item in the food of these 

 omnivorous creatures, but are not to be consi- 

 dered ordinary feeding. They should be reserved 

 for the basket of the lady manager. 



Linseed steeped is occasionally given (chiefly 

 to birds destined for exhibition), to increase 

 the secretion of oil, and give lustre to their 

 plumage. 



The best sort of soft food is composed as fol- 

 lows :^Mix equal quantities of thirds (sharps) 

 with Indian, oat, or barley-meal, into a paste 

 with water. This should be worked up into 

 balls, which, if of proper consistency, break when 

 thrown on the ground, and are thus equally 

 divided among the fowls ; the size of the balls 

 secures accuracy as regards quantity. 



Another advantage also is, that, if a lady per- 

 sonally distributes the food, these balls are more 

 agreeable to manipulate than the porridgy mass 

 generally seen, and which fowls by no means 

 relish : soft food should always be friable. 



