The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-02-05
Profits Of Poultry

While the attention Of farmers and es-
pecially dairymen is eDgrossed with the
great question of which is the best breed
of cows for butter or for milk, | would
say a word about poultry. These have
proved to be with me very profitable part
of the years receipts, but my poultry
account met with mishap, so that [
am not able to give your readers the fig
ures, rs | expected to do this time.
| raise my poultry for both meat and
eggs, and after trying several new and
fashionable breeds, got back-last spring,
to my first love, and cleared Oft all except
the old fashioned Dominique This
breed is said to have originated in the Is
land of Dominica. 1t is evidently an
original breed, as have never had one
which breed so entirely true to feather. or
was so little injured by in-and-in breeding.
The prevailing marks are carried through
large flock, of nearly fifty hens, and
their uniformity Of color and style i'll both
sexes, attract the admiration of visitors.
Two of my best hens have laid 100 eggs
In l21 days. have never had any chol-
era among my poultry, which | attribute
to their hardness, as my houses for roos-
ting and shelter are ofthe toughest descrip-
ton.
The Dominiques are hardy, fatten up
quickly, are of full medium size. and ten
der and delicious in flesh. Every season
kill off the older stock, and have i sue
cession all the time coming on to keep up
the numb fifty hens, for which [ allow
six roosters. One reason of poor success
with poultry, think, is attributable to 80
many of our farmers keeping on their old
hens, which can be retained for no other
reason then the good they have done. 1t
seems pity to make a stew of an old fam
lily hen, and these are sometimes regarded
almost with as much affection as an old
and faithful horse. | consider ii true
kindness, after they have outlived their
usefulness, TO have both old hens and
horses put out of the way When such
conclusion is come TO, ut the family sit
ting round the stove OF an evening. | usu-
ally have the execution fixed, and then
lind It convenient TO visit neighbor. SO
as to be out of sight and sound.
To my friends who inquire nv secret
of success with poultry, / say, first secure
good breed and then attend to proper,
not close, shelter and then food. | be-
heve variety in this latter is very impor
tant, more so than with any other kind of
live stock. So as to make variety. /
bring out now and then from marketa bush
ell or so of brewers grains, and also feed
largely of small boiled potatoes. Scalded
bran we have also been very successful
with, IN promoting egg-laying.
always keep on hand, in boxes, ground
oyster shells. coarse ground bone, i cake
of cracklings, and besides corn and oats
mixed, which | always keep within reach,
in covered box, for them to 90 to at
pleasure. They have run in an orchard
laid down TO grass, where they pick up
the fallen fruit, and both summer and
winter | give them green food. chiefly
cabbage leaves. A chicken half fed. #
suddenly introduced to an abundance Of
food, will gorge itself to no profit; but |
have found with poultry, as with cows,
that the more they can be induced to eat,
the better for them and their owner. If
they always have plenty, they will eat on
~ what they require for health and thrift
-Practical Farmer.