FOOD. ft 



have a farmyard to dig and forage about in, is enough, but in 

 limited space I should certainly feed three times, giving grain 

 for the last meal as more sustaining and stimulating. Chickens, 

 of course, require Jood much more firequently. 



Before I describe the various sorts of food suitable for poultry, 

 a few general directions will be advisable. 



Med regvlarly — that is, at stated hours — aid do not get into 

 the habit of giving handfuls of grain in and out in the course of 

 the day; if you do so you will spoil the birds' digestion. 



A supply of pure fresh water is another absolute necessity. 

 Svery day in winter the pans should be washed out and filled 

 with fresh water, twice a day in summer if the weather ip very 

 hot. 



All poultry like a ehcmge of diet, and should on no account be 

 fed day after day with the same food; as fowls are not fastidious, 

 but will eat nearly any food, there is no possible reason why a 

 variety of- food should not be given them, and it is certain they 

 will thrive and do better when their tastes are consulted a 

 Uttle. 



Siee is a cheap food, but is not very nutritious, therefcare 

 should be given mixed with other foods; it may, however, be 

 considered as an excellent food for fowls which are not kept up 

 for show purposes, and if poultry axe suffering at all from diarr- 

 hoea should be at once given instead of their ordinary food. Bice, 

 whenever given, should hp cooked as the raw grain is most inju- 

 rious, and by swelling in the crop after it has been swallowed ~ 

 often makes the fowl "crop-bound." It should be prepared 

 thus: — ^Boiled until the grains are completely separated, not in 

 hard lumps, but easy for the birds to pick up when scattered 

 about in the yard; a piece of dripping dissolved in the water in 

 which the rice is boiled has a wonderfully softening effect on it. 

 In winter I always mix a little coarse black pepper with the 

 cooked rice. Fowls in cold weather need stimulants; and 



