Regular Diet or- the Chickens. 
7 * 
which lock small hooks driven in the edge of the board. In a coop thus sheltered chickens 
may be left out in any weather, as we have proved for years. Much depends upon a dry floor, 
however, and this can only be secured by an inside raised floor. Fig. 42A shows the con- 
stiuction. The boards a a are nailed on the pieces of quartering, b b, c c, so as not to reach 
the edges, as shown. They are cut such a size also that the coop fits down on the quartering 
outside the floor, loosely, all round, the quartering being also sloped off so as not to retain wet 
under even the edges of the coop. Such a floor will be quite dry in any weather. Or the floor 
may stand up inside the coop, on the ground. But it is better as drawn, because the long ends 
of the quartering in front, shown in both figures, are convenient for laying another board upon, on 
which the food and water can be placed. Or this feeding-board may be hinged to the bottom of 
the coop, and fastened up at night against the front to keep all in until attended to in the morning. 
Cooping the hen with her chickens has been condemned as an evil by some who have written 
on the subject without much practical knowledge, and who have alleged that the “natural” plan cf 
allowing her to wander at will with them is to be preferred. We have tried both ways, and assert 
without hesitation that this notion is altogether a fallacy, and that a brood placed with a hen 
properly cooped, with a moderate and fresh grass-run, well sheltered if possible by a few shrubs, 
and regularly supplied with suitable food, will thrive better and grow much faster than if left at 
liberty. Game and Hamburghs, in which size is no consideration, may be exceptions perhaps, and 
do well with free range : but nearly all hens over-tire their chickens if left to their own discretion ; 
and from this most chickens suffer severely, besides being often surprised by showers where there 
is no adequate shelter. Our own practice latterly has been to give the hen about an hour’s liberty 
some convenient time during the day when the weather is fine — in the afternoon is perhaps best — - 
and in her absence to have the floor or ground thoroughly cleaned ; this does all parties good, 
without the evils of unrestricted liberty. 
After the first day or two the chopped egg and bread-crumb will have to be discontinued, and 
the chicks placed upon a regular diet. For this a good cheap staple will be the ground oats already 
described in Chapter III., the only objection being that it is almost too clammy, being so finely 
ground, for their tender beaks. This drawback can be easily removed by adding a little sharps or 
middlings and Indian meal, to impart a more crumbly character. Still better than this is oat- 
meal, rather coarsely ground, and mixed with about one-third of barley-meal. The addition of the 
last is rather important, oatmeal alone being rather too dry — at least we have never found our 
chickens fledge so kindly on oatmeal by itself as when mixed with a little barley or bread-crumbs. 
The latter food is perhaps too expensive for ordinary market chickens, and every purpose of good 
and rapid growth may be obtained bv feeding on a mixture of equal parts sharps or middlings and 
barley-meal. Spratt’s Poultry Meal also makes a most excellent food. The grass mentioned in 
cur last page must on no account be forgotten, unless a plot makes it unnecessary. 
For a little time at least the food should be mixed with milk instead of water, and a little meat 
of some kind be given every day. For early chickens, new milk warmed, given to drink early in 
the morning, has a wonderful effect in bringing them through cold weather, and they get very fond 
of it ; but neither this nor the food must be left so long as to become sour, which it will soon do, 
and if so cause serious trouble. The longer such food and delicacies can be continued the better ; 
but for market chickens it is often too expensive, and the plain food already described, with a grass- 
run,, will answer every needful purpose. 
After a few days at most, some kind of grain must be given in addition to the soft meat, or the 
gizzard will not have healthy exercise. Even the first day some whole grits chopped up with a 
knife will be greatly relished, and the day following may be given entire. For a week or two this 
