The Portland daily press., 1874-06-08
Poultry Keeping.

amount greatly in excess of the ordinary es-
Inmates of casual observers. The amount
consumed by farmers and other residents of
rural districts is certainly equal to the amount
sent to the markets of cities for sale, and this
mOiety of the whole production is lost sight
of in estimating the gross amount. When
we remember that 10000 barrels, or about
100000 eggs, are not an unusual weekly
receipt IN the markets of the city of New
York alone, and that occasionally weeks
receipts are considerably over that quantity,
the total value of the egg production of the
United States can be readily supposed to be
OF great pecuIiary interest to the farmers. In
addition to this there is the business in poul-
try, both living and dressed, which must GER
tainly be of equal value, at least, TO the pro-
duction of eggs. And yet nearly all this vast
production is dependent only upon irregular
effort and the spontaneous labors of farmers
wives and children. 1t is never looked upon
as regular branch of the industry of the
farm, nor is it brought under studied super
vision as special industry. 1t may be sup
posed that that this remark does injustice to
the large number of enterprising breeders of
fancy poultry, whose efforts to raise the char
acter of our feathered stock nave so greatly
increased the profits of the business. But
this branch of the business is altogether dis
tinct from the production OF egg and flesh for
food, and it is very rarely that prize fowl OF
its eggs appear upon any tables but those at
the exhibitions. The remarks we have here
to make are not intended for those persons
who are breeders Of poultry for stock pur-
poses, but for the greatly more numerous
class who might learn many useful lessons
from the care and skill with which their
focks are managed.
Notwithstanding the large extent of our
poultry business, it might very profitaby be
trebled or quadrupled. Farmers very rarely
kill poultry for their own use. The constant
pork upon their tables during all seasons Of
the year might very well be banished in
great part and poultry be substituted. If
pork is a cheap food, so is poultry. Every
reason for keeping pigs applies with greater
force in favor of poultry. Ii the same care
to provide sufficient shelter and food were
given to fowls that are now given to the hogs,
a largely-increased production would result.
Poultry flesh can be produced as cheapy as
pork, and for considerable portion OF the
year fowls are most active consumers of pre-
datory insects. If their instincts ia this d-
rection were given full scope, their services
would be OF great value. But very stangely,
both their value as insect destroyers and as
producers of food for domestic purposes and
for the markets is ignored. Their habits are
not studied, their necessities are not consider
ed, and their presence upon the faI IN is SIM
ply tolerated because they are favorites with
the women and children.
A man who will carefully nurse litter of
pigs will feel it beneath his dignity to give
any attention to a brooding hen or a nest of
chicks, and he will wiring the neck of hen
which makes a nest in his feed-box, without
mercy or scruple; yet il he should count the
real value of the two he may find that the
despised hen and chickens will bring him
more money for the same outlay thar the
pigs. From very careful tests we are salts
fled that if moderate care and attention to a
few needed details are given to a lot OF pou-
try they may be brought to market with
double the profit that the same value Of pork
may be; also, ii any person will give his sole
attention to producing poultry upon farm
he may do so with little labor and great profit.
Having succeeded in carrying flock Of 300
breeding hens through two seasons with safe
ty, and having raised and sold an average of
nine chickens and nearly 100 eggs per hen in
each season by adhering to few simple rules,
we here repeat them for the benefit of those
of our readers who are weekly inquiring how
to 90 and do likewise. These rules apply
equally for few fowls as for a large number,
and it was simply by experience with few
that we learned how TO succeed with larger
number.
Only young fowls should be kept. All over
three years old should go to market at such
seasons as prices may be satisfactory. No
weakly or sickly fowls should be kept; all such
should be separated at one and treated until
cured, when they should be sold. All trouble
some, nervous, "squawking" fowls should be
promoted to domestic uses. Thus the flock is
kept young, vigorous, healthy, tame and cas-
lily handled. The treatment should be gentle,
kind and regular, so that the fowls are
educated to their owners methods, and
they readily fall into the discipline estab-
lshed. The food should be varied snd
given in regular rations. Over-feeding
should be avoided, and care taken to
arportion their feed to their actual wants A
quarter of pint of grain day or its equiv
alent of other food IS about the need of a
fowl Pure fresh water needs to be provided
always ready for use, especially for young
chicks, The roosts should be airy, well ven
tilated, not less than eight feet high, with
earthen foors-as, indeed should be all the
houses-well lighted, and not too warm. The
LAYING houses may be made warmer than the
roosts, and the setting-houses should be dark
ened and kept specially for this business. All
the houses should be swept out daily, the
walls should be whitewashed at least Gwice
year, and the roosting-poles should be kept
creased with mixture of lard, sulphur, and
kerosene oil-one pound of the first, and one
ounce of each of the latter is the proper pro-
portion-and every crack and crevice should
be flied with the mixture brushed in while
melted. These precautions will keep the
flock free from vermin and disease OF all
kinds. When treated properly, there is no
stock more healthy than poultry, and the re-
verse is equally true when they are improp-
erly cared for. A run Of grass land should
be provided for the flock, and, if possible, the
orchard should be fenced with pickets six feet
high, and appropriated solely tor the use Of
poultry. Here they may be pent up when
the grain fields need to be protected, and here
they will do the most valuable service. We
have found the most convenient location for
the fowl houses to be adjoining the orchard
with doors opening into it which may be
opened or closed at pleasure. This arrange
ment is about what is needed upon the farm,
where there is abundant room. Upon small
village lots, where space is less ample, poul-
try-keeping becomes more difficult, oecause
there is always temptation TO ea'a
the flock beyond the capacity VI r, .is ;s
ground. One hundred fowls to the ,S acre Is Is
the extent beyond which no one snoula 30
who would succeed in making poultry pronta-
Bile. Upon smaller lots of ground the great
est est care d and watchfulness will be required to