Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1847-11-06
aDrtcuIturaI.

tFrO1n the London Gardener Journ III
PoULTRY.-Tho economy ofpoultry may
be classed under three heads, first, in their
natural state, which IL the department d
the naturalist second, in their domestic
state in the country, with a full range d
the farm.yard and field, In which the poul.
try keeper is concerned, for his profit and
third, In their artificial state, in or near
towns. IN pens or yards, which will chiefly
engage my attention in the present article.
The best and cheapest mothod Of feeding |
must leave to be detailed by those VIII o
keep poultry In large quantities.
Sheher.-Fowls should always be kept
in a dry, warm, sheltered situation-a
southerly aspect is to be preferred-for
they enjoy and benefit greatly b. the
"warms in the sum-" as we'll as requiring
protection from its scorching rays, and a
secure (storm) shed for rainy weather.
The westinghouse and laying house, If
separate, should communicate, that early
layers may have early access to the nests.
and also communicate with the storm shed
for The fowls to run IN for security, if they
should leave their roosts early in the morn.
ing. The nests should be numerous. either
in boxes or barrels, not too deep, but roomy.
some situated high, some low, and az indie.
pendent Of each other as possible, each
supplied with sweet, short, and soft straw
and a small nest-egg or two of chalk, the
size of a pigeons egg. IF the nest be too
deep they break the eggs in jumping in and
out, and II the nests arc not roomy, sitting
hens have no room TO turn easily, and con.
s~equcntly break eggs by not being able to
got to them softly. They then eat the
broken eggs, which gives them the habit Of
doing so at other times They should roost
warm at night, the perches high from the
ground and Of easy access, by means of
lower mes or ladders. The more lirhtsome
the house the better for promoting dry air
and free circulation F.; besides, fowls cannot
see at all, being quite Supplied and helpless
in the dark, consequently the feathered
tribe always retire to roost before the sun
goes down. Shutters to the glazed win.
lows are unnecessary, except for better
security, or to prevent fowls from leaving
their roosts too early in the morning, TO
disturb ticklish neighbors, otherwise they
come out almost as soon as daylight begins
to appear. The feeding places, il under
cover, SO much the better, as a ~precaution
for wet weather, and as far as possible re.
moved from the nests, that the hens which
happen to be laying at the time, or which
may be sitting, may not be disturbed and
snticed off their nest and eggs at improper
times. Being evidently natives of a warm
country. they are scarcely yet perfectly ac-
climated to our variable and colder re.
although so widely difused from
immemorlial over the whole face of
the globe, they have retained a peculiar
susceptibility of damp and chillness, most
of their diseases arising from rheum, or
catching colds. The lungs of fowls
are particularly tender; the finer the spe.
cies the less is it hardy.
CIeGnlinesS.-Fowls, being clearly by
nature, thrive when regularly attended, but
degenerate and sicken if NEGLECTED. In an
artificial state of existence, they require to
be supplied by art wl.h what in nature they
would obtain for themselves. Forthis pur.
bose they should have . regular supply, in
ZONE convenient part Of the shed, Of sifed
daily to roll in and cleanse them.
and which should be often chang
ID. This ~precaution will keep them en-
rely free from vermin of any description.
Green Food.-This being quite as ne.
for health as corn, supply this re-
Of nature, they should have daily
! good supply of sweet and fresh green ve-
Cabbage and lettuce are the
oest-turnip tops and water cresses-but
m no account any sou plants, which scour
hem as do spinach, the cuttings from grass
,Iants, and most sorts Of garden seeds, as
heir instinct does not serve them to choose
he wholesome from the noxious weeds,