22 



.THE OOMPL'MTE P^OULTEY BOOK. 



If the chickens are confined in coops a very little finely chopped meat should 

 be given once a day, — a piece as large as a walnut wUl be sufficient for a dozen 

 chicks — and also some form of green food, as chopped grass, cabbage leaves, or 

 lethice. Whether confined or not a little cracked corn or wheat screenings 

 should be added to their food after they are a few days old, and the quantity 



Fis. 7. 



gradually increased as they grow older. Soaked bread should only be given in 

 very small quantity, as it tends to produce tliarrhoea. Milk should be given but 

 sparingly at first, and then only in the shape of cottage cheese, but the quantity 

 may be increased as they grow older, and for fowls two months or more of 

 age it maybe given sweet or sour, and will be found a cheap and acceptable food. 

 If the hens are quiet, and other circumstances do not forbid, the chickens will 

 be more thrifty if allowed to range at will ; but it the hens are inclined to take 



Fio. 8. 



them so far from the house as to worry them out, or to expose them to Ijawks and 

 vermin, or if neighbors are so close as to render confinement necessary to pre- 

 vent trespass, it may be necessary to coop the hen. In this case the coop should 

 be located upon grass land if possible; but it will be found an advantage to have 

 a plot of plowed land near by, by stirring which occasionally, and placing the 

 coops upon it in dry weather, the chickens will soon be taught to hunt for 

 worms. The coops should be moved &ailv. as the souring nf thn fnn.1 a^„A <i,o 



