Where birds are necessarily confined to a small yard, one method that has been worked out satisfactorily, is to fence the yard off into two or more divisions, and to plow up the land. Then various crops can be sown at different intervals, so that when one range, or division, is consumed by the chicks, they can be turned into another division where the forage crop is up and ready to be consumed. As soon as the chicks are turned out of the first lot, this lot can be immediately plowed up again, and some more seeds planted, so that this range will be ready for the chicks when the second lot furnishes no more nourishment for them. It might be added here that many town flocks of full grown birds are maintained, by this very system, and it has worked out very nicely. Such grains as buckwheat, rye, oats, peas, and soy beans are all excellent crops to sow in this manner, using oats and peas for the first crop, because they mature quicker than the other crops mentioned. If the chicks have access to a fair amount of range they will not need a great deal of grain as a ration. However, it is always advisable to feed some grains to keep the birds continually growing as fast as possible. It has been proved conclusively that the first gains made by the growing chicks are the cheapest, in regard to the cost of feed, so let us keep this in mind during the time when we have them on range. To accomplish this end, it is well to have a dry mash of the kind of grains that are fairly rich in the substance called protein always available in the hopper. The reason for this need of protein feed is simply that the growing bird uses this element largely in the growth of its body. Protein goes to make up the bony framework of the body, and the muscles, tendons, etc. Therefore, feeds containing protein, or a fair amount of it at least, should be ground up, and kept before the birds. Oats, bran, or middlings, wheat and barley, are all fairly rich in protein, and some of these feeds, in a finely ground condition, should be included. It is also well to add some corn meal, although this feed is not high in protein, it supplies a great amount of energy for the bird to move around with. As soon as the birds are old enough commence to feed cracked grains. As has been said in a previous chapter, the bird has no teeth, so must rely upon grit to grind this feed in the gizzard. Therefore, unless the birds have a wide range, this grit must be artificially supplied. Then the birds can help themselves to their needs, and suffer no digestive troubles. Fresh water must be before the birds at all times, and if no natural source is available, such as a running stream or brook, then fresh water must be placed in some sanitary container out in the yard or range.