The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
136 
therewith, will be highly beneficial : but except the meat, which may be regularly given, these 
things should be carefully regulated by the daily weather ; not given indiscriminately, but as helps 
on wet or cold days. A teaspoonful of tincture of iron to each gallon of water will also be very 
beneficial, and dry housing is of the first importance. We have mentioned these things before, and 
allude to them again here only because for stock which are expected to breed in the cold of winter 
or early spring it is all the more necessary to attend to them. 
We need say very little in regard to the hatching or rearing of the birds in the early stages, 
having already treated of these points. The stock being supposed to be of value, it is only 
needful to insist on special care being taken that no neglect be ever allowed to occur ; but that the 
best food, in proper quantities and at proper intervals, be regularly given, and the greatest 
cleanliness scrupulously observed. For very early chickens a house partially protected with 
glass is of the greatest service ; but as commonly made, with the whole front glazed in, the 
atmosphere is generally too close to be beneficial. In our own case we had two sheds twelve feet 
long each, one being glazed for four feet in length from each end, and the other from one end only, the 
remainder of the front being boarded up for a foot and the rest wired, the roof being loose tiles. 
By this arrangement ventilation is all that can be desired, and whatever be the direction of the 
wind the chicks are thoroughly protected, while they can bask behind the glass, on cold but bright 
days, with the greatest enjoyment. A large shed by way of nursery, as shown in the plan of Lady 
Gwydyr’s yard given in Chapter I., is also of the greatest benefit ; but whatever be the accommoda- 
tion of this kind, in fine weather a door should always be open to allow the chickens to run out at 
pleasure, except perhaps in the case of very delicate breeds, such as highly-bred Spanish, and 
even these many of the best breeders prefer to allow their liberty. Milk should be freely used, 
both in the food and as drink. Buttermilk is excellent where it can be had ; it causes more or less 
scouring at first, but this quickly passes off, without ill result. Custard we have already spoken of, 
and can only advise its employment for one daily meal. Mr. Douglas, for whose authority we have 
the highest respect, has by a mistake in another work been represented as advising it far more 
liberally than he has personally assured us is the case. He chiefly employs it, as directed in his 
notes on the Game Fowl, for the morning meal, and then to be squeezed as dry as possible. The 
number of chickens lost by liver disease through this unfortunately mistaken advocacy of wet 
custard, has been very great, and has led us to make these remarks. At night or early morning, 
and with the zvhey strained out , as really prepared by Mr. Douglas, the case is different, and custard 
thus used will do wonders during cold weather. About ten o’clock is the best time for the night 
feeding of the early chicks. At first they will not come out of their own accord ; but by lifting the 
hen off bodily, and immediately putting the food down among the chicks, they will soon be hard 
at work, and after a night or two will come out eagerly of themselves. Chickens hatched at or after 
the end of March do not require this attention. 
The “ condition ” and forward growth of Lady Gwydyr’s young stock are well known to all 
English fanciers ; and we have much pleasure in giving the following description of the manner in 
which they are reared, which has been kindly furnished us by Mr. Frederick Wragg, the superin- 
tendent of her ladyship’s poultry-yard, and a veteran poultry-fancier and breeder. “You must 
get up very early in the morning to beat Freddy,” is a remark we have heard on many 
occasions ; and the emphatic stress laid on plain and wholesome feeding by such authority will 
we trust be regarded by many an amateur. 
“ In giving my system of feeding, it will be as well to commence from the shell. I very seldom 
remove the chickens from the hatching-nest until they are twenty-four hours old ; they are much 
