FEEDING. 261 



early-hatched pullets (some pure Dorking and 

 Cochin, others crosses between, the Brahma- 

 pootra and Dorking), all laying regularly. The 

 cock is of the Dorking breed, aged eighteen 

 months, and is in full health and vigour. It 

 may be thought that one male bird is not suffi- 

 cient for so large a flock of hens, but in the par- 

 ticular case given, the object being merely the 

 produce of eggs, and to ascertain the actual cost 

 of the food consumed, the domestic arrange- 

 ments are quite satisfactory. The yard should 

 be frequently dug over, and the floor of the fowl- 

 house swept every day, and sprinkled with ashes 

 or sand, and occasionally a little lime. This 

 keeps the house perfectly pure and free from 

 taint. Cleanliness is indispensable; and there 

 can be no doubt that the more we attend to the 

 comforts of domestic animals, the more will they 

 repay our care. 



One bird will not eat barley, another rejects 

 Indian corn ; so that a mixed diet in that case 

 is necessary. No one kind of food can be forced 

 upon fowls ; their likes and dislikes must be 

 studied. Peed at regular hours, and watch them 



