The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-10
DoHaessio poultry.

poGesafc poultry.
The subject of barn-yard poultry ana lts
general interest to the country is one that
has been seriously neglected in Virginia
for many years, and one that demands 'ne
universal attention of the farming com
munity. :,
That domestic poultry" may he made !"
source of handsome profit TO farmers 'n'
writer of this has not shadow of DOUBT.
Blu. to be made profitable, some attention 70
III. comfort of the birds is necessary.
Chickens will not flourish unless properly
housed and fed and supplied with fresh
wafer to drink and as one of their greatest
nests is "vermin," they must have con-
venent cash heaps" IN which to make
their additions and keep themselves clean.
The ordinary "dung-hill fowl" cult
waited in Virginia for the past thirty years,
has been bred in and in till a sound,
healthy, we'll developed bird is the excep-
ten in almost every poultry-yard rather
than the rule. We have paid some atten-
ton to this subject for the past few years,
have visited many farms and examined the
poultry thereon, and we cannot call 10 mind
single instance in which we did not dis
cover roup, gapes, pip, vermin, or some
other disease doing its work of destruction
in the feathered family. Farmers generally
seem to neither know nor care anything
about this branch Of their animate posses
sions. Their wives and daughters complain
that they get but few eggs and no chickens,
but as the husband and father makes no
complaint, the causes are never inquired
into, and the poor birds are left to suffer
and die.
We will not attempt in this Introductory
notice to furnish remedies for the ordinary
diseases OF poultry, our object being, first,
to awaken attention to the subject, and then
to give the reader a few hints on the prac-
teal cultivation Of chickens.
To be successful, the birds should have
comfortable shelter for lodging, variety Of
sound food, 4 good range, and an abundance
of pure, fresh water. These necessarlcs
furnished, the entire stock should be care
fully examined to see if they are infested
by vermin and then MI the old hens, all
diseased ones, and all Uniformed ones,
should be taken from the yard and either
fattened for use or destroyed. The next
step is to secure one or more male birds OF
improved breeds to rear fresh stock from.
OF all the breeds of poultry OF which we
have any knowledge, none compare to the
pure " Brahmas" for barn-yard purposes.
Large, cheerful, Industrious, and hardy,
they are less liable to diseases than any
others known TO US; and, besides, Icing
admirable layers in winter as well as sum-
mer, good sitters and careful mothers, they
grow off rapidly when young, are ready for
the pan or griddle at six weeks old, and
their flesh is equal in flavor to the finest
game.
Many of our friends have purchased
mixed Brahmas,' ani many others
would purchase if they could be assured of
getting the pure breed, but such al as
surance is difficult to procure. We know
of but one yard of genuine pencilled Brain
mas in this sectiou--that at Grove Cot
,aec," on the eastern suburbs of this city
and they could not be bought at any price.
Having relieved the yard of all hut
Young, wcll-formed birds, and procured
Brahna cock, it is only necessary to select
the best "sitters," have clean sitting
boxes, and putting eight or nine eggs under
a hen, see that they are undisturbed by
other fowls during their period Of incnba-
ton. When the young chicks are hatched,
remove rhcm to the garden, keeping the
hen cooped, but allowing the young chicks
to ramble ut pleasure among the growing
plants, destroying thousands OF insects ana
eggs, and fattening on their prey.
AT Gnothsr time we propose giving " re
mcdics" for poultry diseases, 81 brief his
tory Of the Brahma" aud other popular
fowls, and such practical suggestions III
regard to rearing and breeding, az may oc-
cur 10 us.