FEEDING. 259 



feeding is necessary — the birds must be forced 

 into featlier at the proper time at any expense ; 

 but where one pure variety of fowl only is kept 

 — however numerous the stock — from having 

 full liberty during the day, when they pick up 

 much food in farm-yards, fields, &c. (which 

 makes them in a great measure independent of 

 the provision commissariat), the cost of keep is 

 obviously less, and the birds never do better, 

 are in greater health, or feather more quickly, 

 than when treated thus. But they will not be 

 in exhibition condition — they will be merely 

 in good buying and breeding order. It is im- 

 possible to lay down exact rules as to feeding ; 

 some varieties eat more than others. At all 

 times feeding well is positive economy. Hens 

 lay better and earlier when abundantly fed, and 

 the eggs (on a yearly average) will always more 

 than repay the extra cost. Now I shall give 

 the details of the weekly diet of a cock and 

 fourteen hens, set apart for the purpose of arriv- 

 ing at the exact expense of their weekly food. 



For a cock and fourteen hens, confined en- 

 tirely to their yards, the following description 



