The Cecil Whig., 1873-11-15
FEEDING FOWLS.

The best standard soft food is ground
oats, if procurable; barley meal will
make an excellent food, and if mixed
occasionally with potatoes well wash
ed, turnips, beet or mangold-wurzel, so
much the better. this food should be
given only in the morning, and then
warm, especially in the winter season.
Buckwheat as grain is excellent food.
and when fowls get accustomed to it,
eat it readily, SO is good barley and
oats; peas, beans, and Indian corn may
also be supplied; but as already men
toned, to supply only such wastes of the
body as these materials are capable of.
Spiced food is frequently recommended
by poultry writers; some advocate the
giving of raw onions at least two or
three times week, with good supply
of cayenne pepper in their food; others
advocate the use of condiments, all of
which are largely made up of stimu-
lants of various kinds. There is no
doubt all kinds of spiced food materially
tend to hasten maturity, whether it be
to the chicken, the pullet, or the hen
that they are supplied. Chickens when
thus fed when young, will attain to
large size and lay earlier, commencing
at about four months old, and hens will
laying, but breeders will do we'll to
bear in mind that the continuance of
stimulating fowls beyond reasonable
time will result prejudiciously to both
old and young fowls. 1t cannot be
denied, however, that when judiciously
and moderately given, used at certain
times only, such food is highly benefi-
cial. If given to chickens when ledg
ing, it greatly assists in this, to them,
exhausting process; and when given to
dropping fowls has marked effect, quick
ly restoring them to their former healthy
condition 1t is a good thing, too, to
give stimulating food to old fowls in
cold or wet weather, and when mout-
ing, and to hens that do not lay in due
time in early spring; but in any case
when the desired effect is produced,
spiced food should be discontinued and
the usual plain food be again restored
In old birds, if given too frequently or
continued beyond the time already men
toned, it produces diseased organs,
and in pullets stunted growth. In the
care of chickens of all the larger breeds,
the longer maturity can he postponed
the larger the birds are likely to be, and
no matter what may be said to the con-
trary, the same feeding which produces
forced and rapid growth during the
very early period of chickenhood, will
of necessity, if continued beyond this,
result in stunted, because precocious
adults-large size and early maturity
cannot be had in the same bird-they
are Incompatible. For many purposes
then it is well to have stimulating food
always on hand, or the means by which
it may be prepared at moments
notice. The following condiment mix
ed with oatmeal will be found highly
beneficial: Take of ground allspice
two ounces; ground black pepper two
ounces; ground ginger half pound, and
brown sugar one pound; mix together
and add to usual food in sufficient
quantity to cause slightly sweet and
hot taste. When prepared it should be
kept in a well corked bottle, ready for
use when required. The profits of the
poultry yard, then, depend on the pro-
per feeding of fowls; inattention in this