On the farm. — In the summer fowls on the farm with free range
will get plenty of animal food in the nature of grubs, insects, etc.,
which must be allowed for by working to a ratio of 1 in 6. Two meals



88 POULTRY-KEEPING ON MONEY-MAKING LINES

per day in the summer will be all that fowls on free range require,
the morning mash being dispensed with. The morning and evening
foods in such cases can consist of grain. Fowls that are semi -confined,
i.e. only have a limited grass run, can in the summer have soft food
on, say every other morning, grain being given on other mornings.
In the winter clover-hay meal, fish-meal, meat-meal, and occasionally
boiled maize may be included in the mash, the poultry -keeper ringing
the changes on them. The following are given as examples of what
the ingredients of the mash for winter use may be for fowls on free
range : —



Bran .. .. •• 2 ] (Bran

Clover hay meal . . . . 1 1 I Middlings

Middlings . . . . 4 i j Biscuit meal

Biscuit meal . . 2) ' Fish or meat-meal



Farts.
2

4
2
1



Swedes, mangels, etc. — green-food — can be given at mid-day in
the winter when clover-hay meal is not in the morning mash, and a
little meat can be given at noon on days when fish or meat-meal is
omitted from the mash. Occasionally a handful or so of grains can
be scattered at noon in the litter. There is nothing like variety
so long as the change is not too sudden, as it were. Breeding stock
must not be forced if fertile eggs are the objective ; they must be kept
racy and fit.
