The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-07-27
The farmer.
How to Raise Poultry.

We need not allude TO the profit of
raising fowls for family consumption in
these expensive times, where one has
couple OF hundred feet square of land
to lay out 10 miniature farm, which
will help him largely in crops where.
with to feed these fowls, while their
manure will be Of great value in pro-
ducing these crops. There ure six
months chickens of the Brahma and
Dorkiug cross, which often weigh FIVE
pounds, and the eggs of a couple doE-
en- Of hens year old, will 20 M i'm.
mense way towards lessening the drafts
upon the household exchequer, where
beef is 20 to 30 cents pound Indeed,
the profit of three dozen laying hens,
and good COW, in family of halfa dozen
persons, few can realize unless they have
triedit. But it takes some knowledge of
fowls to get the eggs steadily, especially
in winter. Wehave had CONSIDERABLE
perieuce in this liue, and excellent"luck !"
A warm hen house for the cold season.
well lighted, with the earth for floor,
which if under glass, will be protect.
ed from frost, and remain friable, food
seasoned once week with red pepper,
plenty Of corn or other grain, ia their
reach at all times (and when such is the
case fowls will never stuff their crops
full, aud burnt oyster shells, or shell
lime scattered over the earth for the
fowls to peck daily, their droppings
daily removed, and the premises white
washed to such degree that the very
atmosphere Of the house will smell of
lime-with these precautions 10 winter,
eggs may be obtained to within twenty
per cent the same number of fowls
would discount in summer. Winter
breeding demands more stimulating
diet; more meat scraps and mere grain,
especlally-corn, because corn is heating
aud as we have before observed, warm
house, which is ouly to be obtained by
haviag for that season a southern expo
sure Of glass, aud last but not least
fresh pure water at all times where the
fowls eau get it. There is az immense
amount OF suffering among the poultr,
tribes during winter for want Of water
Deprived oil this, the economy Of theil
system is deranged aud laying ceases.
Warren Leland, Esq, of Rye, N. Y.
who probably raises poultry on larger
scale than any other person in thi,
country, says:
/ have found that for every hundred
fowls you must give up 1T least an acre
But rough land is as good as any
Hens naturally love bush, and lor
young trees, but leave shred BY wLic!
they live year or more. These form
hiding places aud retreats for them
ln such places they prefer to lay.
have great success, aud it depends on
three or four rules, by observing which
| believe good living can be made BY
hens aud turkeys. l. | give my fowls
great range. Eighteen acres belong to
them exclusively. Then the broods
have the range Of another big lot, and
the turkeys go half mile or more from
the house. The eighteen acres of poul
try yard is rough land, Of little use fo,
tillage. II has a pond in it, aad many
rocks and bushes, and weeds, ash heaps
lime and bones, grass, and place which
l plow up to give them worms. 2
When hen has set, l take her box
throw out the straw aud earth, let it b,
out in the sun and rain few days, ant
give it good coat of whitewash on botl
sides. In winter When it is very cold
| have an old stove in their house, ant
keep the warmth above freezing. Ther,
is also an open fireplace where bull,
a IRE in cool, wet days. They dr.,
themselves aud when the fire goes ou
there is bed Of ashes for them to wal
low in. Summer aud winter my hen
have all the lime, ashes aud sand the
want. 3 Another reason why hav
, such luck is because my poultry var,
, receives all the scraps from the Nc
tropolitan Hotel. Egg making is n
easy work, aud hens will not do muc
| Of it without high feed. They neet
! just what man who works requires :
wheat bread aud meat. Even whel
wheat costs two dollars, believe il
feeding it to hens As to breeds, / pre-
fer the Brahmas, light and dark.
] change roosters every spring, aud ma
on the farm has no other duty than I,
take care Of my poultry. l irequeutl
turn of 5000 spring chickens in
einfrlo canena.