Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1871-11-25
which tells the whole story.
Cetldr Rapids, Io,Cd, NoU. l, 1871.
ABOUT POULTRY.
TO The Ed,tor ofMe Vermont Farmer:

POULTRY raising Ike any other brancn OF
business, to be successful, requires attention
requires in the attendant or manager IN at
tractive interest and sympathy for the birds
under his or her care; with this and the nee
cssary means and Intelligence, success is al
most certain, but without these necessary
qualifications in some considerable degree,
success will be always doubtful.
Birds in II wild state are taught by the
instinct of their nature to provide for and
take care of themselves; they have the wide
world for their home; they choose the lati
tude that best agrees with their system; can
go south to winter and north to breed and
rear their young in summer; can select their
food in such variety as their taste and the
requirements of their health direct; they are
their own servants, doctors and architects;
the young are duly guarded and provided for
with the strongest maternal affection. The
domestic bird is deprived of these natural
advantages and is dependent on its keeper
for such care and attention us he or she may
supply the best care given will always be
the best rewarded
The keeper of domestic poultry has much
to learn, both theoretical and practcal he
should read to learn the experience of others; ;
he should carefully note his own experience,
and use us much common sense as he can
bring to bear in their application. 1t is not
only necessary that poultry should have food
but they should have it in proper quantities,
proper variety and ut proper times; small
feeds and often; clean troughs, clean floors,
clean nests and clean roosting poles COM
Portable houses, well ventilated, to keep
warm in winter and cool in summer, always
clean and free from vermin.
Experience has shown that it is not good
economy te keep too many fowls together
From seventy-fve to one hundred hens with
one cock to every ten, will yield larger
profit in proportion than greater number.
Poultry raising for several years past has
been very profitable, the demand has eX-
cecded the supply ms evinced by the high
price in market of both poultry and eggs, and
the demand seems quite likely to keep pace
with the supply, so there is but little danger
of n glut in the market.
The floor of the poultry house should be
frequently sprinklcd with plaster or lime to
keep the atmosphere pure. The roosting
poles and the whole inside of the building
should be frequently whitewashed to destroy
the vermin. Nest boxes should be so con-
structed that the hen will not be seen, and so
located as to be easily reached by her.
The person who undertakes to rear poultry
should delight in it. But one, and always the
same member of the family, should take care
of them, and let no other business interfere.
They should be seen to early in the morn
ing, and have their evening meal before their
usual time of going to roOst, and also that all
are properly housed before dark. Much
practical information will be gained by the
attendant which would be lost if the duties
were divided among the different members
of the family. No stock pays better for keep
ing than hens, and no person ought to keep
them who cannot find time to give them
proper and liberal attention. BE sure your
poultry are well housed, with good window
on the south side us fowls love plenty OF
cheerful light They will neither lay nor
thrive in dark, dirty house. j. S.
Br0aCni7lgt0n.