100 FATTENING. 



of fattening fowls^ or tHey will lose appetite. If they are dnly 

 fed at stated times, and when they have eaten as much as they 

 *eciuixe the board is carefully cleaned and the water-itrough 

 replaced in the niche, the birds will feed agam, when the time 

 comes round for their food, with eagerness, which will not be the 

 case if the food is left there for them to peck at. 



I have had plenty of experienoe with fowls, having reared them 

 for show, for eggs, and for table, and have therefore no hesita- 

 tion in recommending iny "adaptable shelf," as I feel certain it 

 is an addition of the greatest use to an ordinary feeding-coop. 

 It adds very little to the expense, is so simple that any carpenter 

 could easily make it from a pl^in drawing, avoids waste of food, 

 and insures cleanliness. As soft food is mostly used in- fatting' 

 chickens, it is all the more necessary that none of it should be 

 allowed to remain after the meal to turn sour, disagree with the 

 birds, and take away their appetite. In a trough it is hardly 

 possible to prevent a little lodging in the corners and sides, as if 

 the trough is a fixture it cannot be removed to be washed; on a 

 shelf remains of food need never be left, as the application of a 

 hard brush for a few minutes would remove every particle, a 

 little sand jbeing afterwards sprinkled lightly over the board 

 tq^ render it perfectly sweet before the watpr-trough is slipped 

 in. 



Water should be constantly changed, and boiled water should 

 be always used instead of that just pumped or drawn from a 

 well or spring, as this will plfevent the chickens getting diarr- 

 hoea. 



' , You should hstve some plan of darkiening your pens, either 

 by letting down a tarpaulin over the top or having sliding 

 boards to run in and out, so that the light can be regulated at 

 ■will. 



Some people keep their chickens separately, having their pens 

 divided. I do not think this is really necessary if ' you ohoosa 



