Smyrna times., 1875-11-17
Poultry Raising.

Besides the profit of raising poultry for
family consumption, it has of late, as one
of the departments of the farm, commanded
about as much consideration as the very
important brarch of " stock raising" And
although the raising of poultry is not
strictly speaking embraced in stock raising,
vet when we see recorded the fact that at
the " fancy" fowl fairs of New York many |
a specimen of the fowl kind has been sold |
for a higher price than COW or horse, we
should not be surprised if it assumes ere
long as much Importance in the agricultural
world as any stock kind. It is true there
is a good deal of " fancy worked into this
fowl business at this moment, although the
eggs of these fabulously high-priced
feathered favorites are no richer in flavor,
nor their flesh more juicy, than of we'll
fed common fowl. Nevertheless it cannot
be denied that when properly cared for
there is no live stock that will pay better
percentage of profit on the outlay incurred
than flock of poultry.
In the first place, farmers do not use
poultry enough on their tables 1t is too
much the case that pork is the staple all
the year round. Fowls, in proportion to
the nutriment they afford, furnish much
cheaper diet than swine, and suit alike the
appetite of the Woodworking laborer of the
field as of the women and children of the
household. And although the farmer and
his sons frequently feel above attending to
poultry, they do not consider it above their
dignity to take care of litter of pigs
Indeed it is a crying shame that in so many
farmers families the younger children have
so little set before them that is not too gross
and coarse for their tender stomachs.
Poultry, like all other domestic stock, will
yield a profit in proportion to the care
taken fit, and it is a mistaken notion, en-
tertained by many people, that poultry can
provide for themselves.
To be sure, this they can do in great
measure through the summer, provided
they are not kept in too large numbers and
have plenty of range where they can obtain
suitable food, such as bugs, worms, insects,
&C., and will show a commendable exam
pie of industry in hunting and scratching
for it. But in winter, in the absence of
these, they should have occasional messes
of animal flesh. Hens especially require a
variety of food, and every farmer who has
not already done so, and who wishes to OBJ
tain the largest number of eggs in winter,
should provide his hens with comfortable
quarters, to protect them from the cold and
wet, and give them plenty of good water,
grain, boiled Vegetables, and a little fresh
meat occasionally and, in addition to these
provide them with fnely-broken bones
oyster shells or lime, so conducive to the
production of eggs.
Under such treatment hens will begir
laying about Christmas, and furnish plen
tiful supply before common fiocks com
mence laying at all, and be nearly or quite
as profitable as during the summer months
But if they are exposed to the cold, bleal
wind and storms of winter, and compelled
10 roost in trees, and only halffed or no
fed at all, do not expect them to lay, for i
you do you will surely be disappointed.
Herein lies one of the greatest faults o
farmers in the management of their fowls
No suitable house or roosting place
provided for them. Forced to roost il
trees, it requires the exercise of all thei
vital powers to shield themselves agains
the blast of winter, let them be ever so we
fed.
1t is not well, however, to keep too man
in one flock, or disease will steal in upo
them as a thief at night, and carry ther
off by scores. But if it were so that the
could be massed and kept together, tn
profits of a few hens and their progen
would run up to an enormous figure in
few years, as any one practically acquainte
with the business, and who will take sla
and pencil, can very easily learn.