West-Jersey pioneer., 1867-04-19
POULTRY RAISING.

The farmers of this section of the State are
turning their attention, of late years, more to
poultry raising than formerly, and find it much
more profitable than raising pork. The opin-
ion seems to be gaining ground that poultry
raising can be made profitable business. at
least with those who live contiguous to market.
1t can be made as profitable in this section as in
any other part of the country. There is a
ready market for all that can be raised. The
highest cash price is paid by dealers who are
constantly buying up poultry and eggs for the
New York market. The present price of old
chickens is twenty-eight cents per pound, and
spring chickens command about double that
price. We should think it would pay farmers
and others who have an opportunity to raise
chickenS to get as many as possible in the
market early in the season when they bring
such enormous prices. We know farmer
residing near Bridgeton who few years ago
""s quite poor man, and who is now well to-
uo' y. IL other words has made money and is
'n nl' "a' - greater prosperity, largely
| owing 10 the pron'> IF poultry which his man.
aging wife had succeed, ;. ~
is one of the most extensive ,S's,. pay ~
the county, and while attending
farm is not neglected as that also show mo
persevering industry and skill will accomplish
The principal credit, however, for poultry rails
hug 10 due to his wife, who is the best man O
the two in the department of poultry raising
Turkies are said to be very valuable in de-
stroying insects that infest the crops, and
when proper attention is given them they are
very profitable. That poultry does not receive
more attention from our farmers NAV be &C.
| counted for from the fact that the men gen.
orally feel dislike to attend to anything but
their crops, regarding poultry as being too
small matter to claim its share of their at
tention. Usually from difficulty of getting
help in doors the women do not have the time
to attend to it, so that between them both if is
almost entirely neglected. This subject does
not receive near the attention it demands. If
1t was profitable to raise chickens in this conn
ty few years since for five cents per pound it
certainly will pay well now to raise them at
twenty-eight to fifty cents per pound. Too
many OF our farmers keep the same old stock
on hand from year to year, when the system of
breeding in-and-in will deteriorate flock of
chickens in few years. The stock should be
crossed or sold and a different breed intro
duced. There are many choice and distinct
breeds of chickens, all of which will ssrun out,'
lfnot properly attended to. While there is
vast difference in the breeds of chickens. vet
'nere Is much In the manner in which they are
cared for. Very large numbers of chickens
do not answer so well as smaller numbers do
in proportion. Poultry raising has frequently
been tried on a very large scale but seldom sue
ceeds well. Every family living where they
can make good sized enclosure should have
a number of laying hens which would supply
them fresh eggs daily. The extensive demand
for chickens and eggs in the large cities will
keep up the price, and it is much more econ
omlcal to raise chickens and supply eggs than
to purchase them at the present high prices.
Among the best breeds of hens for LAYING is
the Black Spanish and the Careel. The
English Dorking has long been regarded as
the best table fowl, all things considered, yet
there are various crosses which combine the
good qualities of layers and table fowls
1t is surprising to know the numbers of tons
ofpoultry and thousands of dozens of which
are sent annually from this county to Phila-
delphia and New York, and yet there is not
one fifth what there might be if all oe our far
mers would raise as many as they conveniently
could. There is no danger of overstocking
the market, as the demand is constantly in
creasing.