Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-10-30

MA, OCTOBER 30,
The Black Spanish or the White-taced t
Spanish cannot now be considered other {
than fancy fowl. The Spanish have ever
been noted as good summer layers of a large 1
white egg, ana were it not for their black
legs, would be highly esteemed for table
purposes from the whiteness and delicacy
of its flesh. The first thing to be consider
ed by those who keep fowls should be to
obtain that breed most suited to the eli
mate of the locality, as well as the accom-
mediation and convenience of the individual
poultry keeper. To the farmers who have
an unlimited grass run, with farmstead well
sheltered and soil dry, the Houdan or Brah-
-Dorking would be found the most gen.
orally useful and profitable breed to keep. |
AS layers, considering the size of their eggs |
they are not to be surpassed; as table birds,
heavy, large and meaty, with readiness to
fatten and quick growth to maturity, they
will always command ready market and
the highest price.
To the cottager who is obliged to con-
| fine his fowls within narrow space, the
! Brahma or Creveceur will probably be
| found the most profitable and satisfactory,
combining reproducing power and flesh
forming propensity in the same bird, and
less likely to suffer from confinement than
any other bird, as they are fonnd to thrive
in a space where Houdans, Dorkings or
Hamburgs would pine and die. For the
production Of eggs in winter, these birds
are not to be surpassed, and this is a neces-
sary qualification for the profitable keeping
Of fowls in confined state, inasmuch as the
increased cost Of keeping fowls depending
entirely upon hand feeding.
! There are certain rules that must be plac-
Iticed to make fowls profitable. The first il
to keep your stock young. and clear of
.eskyonr birds at that age at which they leave
Y the largest profit Secondly, to hatch your
chickens as early in the spring as possible,
Y so as to give them the advantage Of the EN-
D tire summer, to hasten them to laying ma
8 turity, and to obtain as early supply o1
q eggs as possible, and at season when they
q command the highest price. Thirdly, tc
\ keep breed of fowls that is hardy anc
5 comes early to maturity, easily fattened fol
\ the table. and a precocious and prolific egg
b layer. Fourthly, comfortable housing, to
q gether with supply Of sufficient food tt
II keep them in laying condition. Now,
/ think that most present will agree with mi
i when sa that the observance of these es
i sential rules is the exception and not TIN
le rule among the general run Of poultr.
'el keepers.
& will now direct your attention to sim
6, pie, inexpensive and rational system Q
O poultry management, such as may be prae
Is ticed by all, and one that will not fail to re
ID turn splendid profit from this most profit
le able branch of husbandry, practiced as
at should be.
r. will illustrate the profitable manage
g. ment Of small poultry yard by describin
h. that which see practiced at an imaginar
be model farm, where fowls are kept as the
RI should be, and made to return clear al
re nual profit, averaging los. to l2s, per bir(
lis or a total annual profit of e37 from go la.
ed ing hens, and an equal number OF fatte
We chickens. visited this farm early in NJ
ay vember, and find fine, healthy stock
all Brahma-Dorkings. Houdans and Silve
80 spangled Hamburgs. am taken to II
ly hen house, which l find to be simp
yo structure, built in sheltered situation, ia
air ing southeast 1t measures eight feet lol
,le by four feet wide, and seven feet high. III
I'd. perches are all placed at uniform heig
W. of three feet from the ground, and the nes
Ike are arranged at one end in two tiers, one