The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-05-24
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POULTRY AS FARMING STOCK.

From the american Stock Journal.
How many farmers might obtain lots
of new accommodations for poultry, by
simply making use of the buildings
they already possess? and how many
farmers consider fowls unworthy OF
consideration, because of some suppos-
ed difficulty or expense in erecting suit
able houses And worse than this,
how many farmers try to make poultry
pay, without any result beyond con-
tinual vexations, merely from lack of
ingenuity in bringing ordinary appli-
ances into play" Why, bother"
they ask, "about raising chickens in
cowsheds and outbuildings, when you
can set out as many coops as you like
on the grass of paddock, the gravel
of q stable yard, or upon the scattered
rickyarI straw"
Because, generally speaking, half your
chickens die under the common farm
yard treatment, They get wet feet, and
die of cramp; they drink rain-water
out of cart ruts, or drink the high-color-
ed saltwater of manure heaps, OF
strawyard DRAWINGS and other filthy
slops, and consequently sicken and die
by dozens. We have troop OF adult
breeding fowls loose in the barnyard !;
they pick up large part of their llv-
ing there But they do not thrive so
we'll or keep so healthy as other troops
of breeding stock which we have sta
toned at houses purposely erected IN
grass fields, far from the homestead.
For very small sum you may knock
I'D square boarded house, tarred out
side, lime-whited inside, and covered
with asphalted felt. Each of the four
sides is in separate piece, the root
(if of gable form) in two pieces all
hooked together at the corners by
staples and pins. So house (say SIX
feet or seven feet cube) can be popped
into a cart. and temporarily set up in
pasture on a stubble, or wherever
there may be good picking for the
fowls. A couple of perches, few
nests and drinking pan form the fur
niture while the ground covered in by
the house (for there is no wooden foor)
is spread over with loose earth, ashes
and mortar. Such is the home for one
cock and eight or ten hens and pullets
during the breeding season, or the
home of double this number of half
grown chickens. The house should be
placed against fence, or in corner
where two fences meet, so that few
poles and posts may protect it against
cattle.
Or, if you wish to move the house
about to avoid killing the grass, have
each house raised about two inches
from the ground, resting on the axles
of two wooden rollers so that every
few DAYS it can be moved, by the aid
of a lever, on to fresh soil, thus avoid
ing the destruction of the grass under
meath, and preserving the air of the
roosting house in condition of purity.
There can be no good reason against
grazing fowls as well as other "anl-
mails" and the farmer who tries it for
tho first time will be surprised at the
amount of grub" Qiterally, perhaps,
which the active scratchers and peck
ers find in a grass field, in and under
the droppings of sheep and cattle
among hedge-roots, upon ditch-sldes,
and so on; only small supply of
grain being necessary twice day.
We wish that many farmers may take
our advice-procure what hardy sort
YOU most fancy, Cochins or Brahmas
that endure close quarters, Game that
are strong birds, Dorkings or some
other good breed, and try this mode.