Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-03-30
Fattening Poultry.

VARIOUS modes are in vogue for bring
ing fowls forward to the best killing con-
dition Forcing, examining and stutfing
are parts of the process in different coun-
ties, and in different portions of countries,
but we have considered the legitimate
method the better plan. In our expe-
rience, the least expensive and the least
troublesome way to fatten fowls is from
the beginning to feed we'll constantly, and
care for their comforts and needs from the
shell. A flock of chickens thus attended
to, will at any time be in fine condition
for the gridiron or the spit And when
the time comes about for killing the older
birds lin the fall aud early winter, it re-
quires but little extra feed and proper at
tention for few days to render them
" fat" Without this prior appropriate
preparation, no criterion is afforded as to
how long it may take to put them in pre-
sentable condition, or how much feeding
in the more costly way may be necessary
to effect this If the fowls have been kept
thrifty from chickenhood as recommended.
during the past year, they should now be
in good flesh; such as are designed for
market should be separated from the rest.
Place six or eight together in q close coop
without a roost-and sufficiently large
to allow them TO move about without
cr0wding each other. The front of the
coop or box only needs to be lathed open
work. since, during their future existence
the more quiet they can be kept the more
rapidly they will improve, they need no
exercise.
Now, give them plenty of fresh water,
and they will eat for two OF three weeks
in these coops-and at the end of that
time they will be better fit for the butcher
than they ever will be after this period
Cooked food, and all they will devour,
morning and night, with cracked corn
and wheat at noon, will fatten healthy
poultry III less time than any other feed
we have ever experimental with. The
mash should be composed of corn-meal
two parts and boiled potatoes one part.
Into pailful Of this meal and vegetable
feed, we'll mixed while hot drop pound
of lard, talloW or pork scraps, and mix
this substance thoroughly through the
mess. Feed this while warm, and give to
each coop only what the fowls will eat
up clean at each meal. Be sure that
whatever animal food you feed is perfect
1y sweet, otherwise it had better be omit
ted entirely A box of gravel should be at
hand, which the birds will peck from con-
stantly, for they need this to aid the D roc
ess of digesting their food, precisely as at
any other time.
No green food is now desirable. All you
are aiming for is 10 put additional flesh
upon these fowls, and to do this in the
shortest possible time. So long as they
eat well they will continue in weight, up
to a certain period, treated in this manner,
and two to three weeks will bring them to
their best. If they become cloyed and
lose their appetite at any early date, aft
er thus being cooped up, kill them off at
once. They have reached the most prof
liable day Of their existence, and will no
longer improve. In this simple way We
have tattened many previously well-kept
fowls in three weeks time, and have
known many hundreds thus fattened that
have dressed handsomely in some days
less time
Your birds when cooped up for this pur-
pose should be free from vermin, and dur
ing their confinement they must be kept
CD Do,yTy.,, Uvo,lJ