76 FOOD. 



They are very partieuiar about their toUets. This may sound to 

 some absurd, but it is most important. No fowls will keep, in 

 health unless they are clean, and by rolling in fine dust and ashes^ 

 and (Havering themselves with them, they clean themselves and 

 get rid of the fleas and parasites with which they are always more 

 or less infested. Fowls that are allowed their entire freedom 

 always make dust-heaps for themselves, and retire to them 

 daily. 



If it is possible to have a little mnning stream conducted 

 through this yaid then you may indeed consider yourself fortu- 

 nate, but most likely you will have to content yourself with jwts 

 and pans for water. Let these be shallow, and change the water 

 frequently. The question of coops f dr chickens I have considered 

 in the chapter on Hatching, but I may mention here that the 

 shed in the yard would be a 'very good place for mother hen and 

 her funily when the weather was damp. A shed need not be as 

 expensive building. -A few rough poles, with a felt mrf,. could 

 be easily made by any one, and it is a very great boon to fowls. 

 It need not be of any great size or height, only the roof should 

 have a considerable slope for the rain to run off. 



FOOD. 



Overfeeding is as great a mistake as underfeeding. Tbiee 

 times a day is quite enough to feed old fowls: a good meal in 

 the early morning, another before going to roost, and a midday 

 feed. Many people, however, only feed twice; this, if the fowls 



