THE INTENSIVE SYSTEM 175 
intensively, but as a rule it has not been found profitable to 
keep fowls on a large scale intensively so far as this country is 
concerned. 
Let us examine what appear to be the weak points of the system, 
and then we will compare them with the stronger points and try 
to strike a balance. First of all there is the question of expense, of 
capital expenditure. Birds kept in strict confinement naturally 
need more cubic feet of air space and more floor room than fowls 
that use their houses mainly for roosting and shelter in bad weather. 
The difference in capital cost will not be denied. For every 
hundred pounds spent on housing by other methods, the intensivist 
will have to spent at least £150, perhaps £200. A much smaller 
number of birds per house means a much larger expenditure of 
‘labour. Double the number of houses will be required. Again, 
where the birds are always confined it is essential that the houses 
be kept scrupulously clean, and instead of removing the droppings, 
say, twice a week, they must be removed every day. The litter 
must also be more carefully examined and the soiled portions 
taken away and clean litter put in its place. As dry-mash feeding 
is almost universal under this system, the difficulty of feeding wet- 
mash indoors does not arise. Watering the birds, however, is 
more difficult, excepting an opening is made through which the 
fowls can drink from vessels placed outside. The difficulty of 
management is largely increased. That is all that need be said 
about cost of management. On the problem of feeding it is mani- 
fest that birds which are never allowed outside cannot get what 
we call natural food, while every scrap that they eat has to be 
provided. It is well known that birds with a grass run eat large 
quantities of grass with beneficial results. They also, during eight 
months in the year, find the best kind of food in worms, grubs and 
insects of all kinds. It is difficult to estimate precisely how much 
natural food a bird at liberty may pick up for herself, as it varies 
with her opportunities ; but if one put down from one-fourth to 
one-fifth it will not be an excessive calculation. In addition, the 
free bird has access to grit and shell-forming material which the 
confined bird must have brought to her and placed within her 
