On the Rearing and Management of Poultry. 201 



round, the board on which the bird stands beins: only one-third 

 part of the size of the bottom, leaving two vacancies of equal 

 size, one before and the other behind. To prevent the accumu- 

 lation of, and to admit of the excrements being taken away with- 

 out disturbing the birds, the coops are raised about 12 inches 

 from the floor ; and as I so strongly object to the cruel practice 

 of cramming, a small moveable trough, about 3 inches deep, 

 extends across the front of the coop, and divided into four parts, 

 one part for small gravel, one for milk or water_, one for grain, 

 and the other for porridge. The grain should consist of equal 

 quantities of oats and barley or tail wheat. The trough should 

 always contain the grain, gravel, and milk or water, but the 

 porridge should be given in small quantities. Grease, fat, or 

 suet, quickens the process of fattening very much when mixed 

 with the porridge, but I object to it on account of the flavour 

 imparted to the flesh. In the course of three weeks a sufficient 

 degree of fatness is attained, provided the house be dark, warm^ 

 and quiet. 



Turkeys should be so fed as to be ever ready for the spit. 

 This is our practice, and we always procure the best prices in the 

 market — not for them only, but for all sorts of poultry. It 

 "would be useless to say more. However, I should remark that 

 many people after harvest turn the turkeys into the adjoining 

 stubble fields, where they pick up a great deal which would be 

 wasted. From the position of our farm-buildings we have not 

 been able to do this, and therefore cannot give a decided opinion 

 on the practice. 



Geese can be made fat enough for the palate of most people 

 without being cooped or crammed, but v/hoever chooses this mode 

 of fattening is at liberty to do so. The greatest portion attain 

 a sufficient degree of fatness with nothing more than what they 

 pick up in the stubble fields : when there is nothing of consequence 

 in the fields for them to g^et. then of course hand feedino- must be 

 resorted to. It matters little what sort of food they get so long 

 as they have plenty of it. Let such food as is cheapest to accom- 

 plish the purpose be chosen. We have found barley-meal to 

 answer well ; of course we give them, at the same time, water in 

 a vessel. 



Ducks as well as geese are exceedingly voracious, and will 

 eat almost anything — animal matter half decomposed, such as 

 butcher's offal, fish, frogs, &c. ; but these, imparting a disagreeable 

 flavour to the flesh, should not be given or allowed to be taken : 

 it is therefore necessary (to prevent them from getting such 

 filth) to curtail their walks for about ten days before being 

 wanted, and feed them on a clean diet. They do not fatten so 

 w^ell when allowed to swim in water. 



