Poultry Management on a Farm. 



keep up the supply of winter eggs. During the spring the 

 pea- and maize-meal is lessened, and brewer's wet grains are 

 used as a substitute, and in the place of swedes, mangels cut 

 in half are given in a raw condition. 



"During the summer months the morning soft food is given 

 cold, and the pea- and maize-meal altogether discontinued. 

 The quantity of brewer's wet grains is increased, for we find 

 that this is very suitable during the summer time, when a 

 bulky food satisfies the birds, without, at the same time, 

 making them too fat. Short, plump, white oats are occa- 

 sionally given in the afternoon as a change from wheat, and 

 in very hot weather the wheat is steeped — a change which 

 satisfies the birds at a time when they are not able to find 

 worms, and has also the further purpose of checking them from 

 drinking too much water. During the last two very hot 

 summers, when the birds have been unable to find worms, 

 granulated meat has been given. For birds in pens a supply 

 of sharp flint grit is given ad libitum, as only those birds 

 which can wander round the homestead usually find sufficient 

 from the constant; wear and tear of the roads. Chalk, bone 

 meal or old mortar are provided in such a way that birds 

 have always free access to shell-forming material, which is 

 especially necessary at the time of the year when most eggs 

 are laid. 



"The soft food is served in wooden troughs, which have a 

 bar across the top to prevent the hens from standing on the 

 food. 



" The rations of soft food and corn which we have given 

 work out at about one penny farthing per bird per week, and 

 adding to this another farthing for the grit and shell-forming 

 materials, the cost per bird per week during the winter time 

 amounts to about three-halfpence. The amount for summer 

 foods works out at a rather less sum, as the hens during that 

 time of the year require a smaller proportion of concentrated 

 foods, and the worms which they find take the place of the 

 meat diet. After the corn has been cut, the birds are placed 

 upon the stubbles, and no food is given, as they entirely find 

 their own. 



