Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1880-09-23


it not for these facts, the problem would
be perfectly easy; for it has been proved
over and over again that no domestic ami
NAL returns such a valuable product for her
cost and TODD, by long way, as a good
fowl. But the difficulty is to realize that
return without such an amount spent in
labor and cost of accommodation as eats up
the profit. II we seek to diminish labor by
keeping very large fiocks together, the nat
ural constitution of the animal resents the
arrangement by a decrease OF eggs. many
of which may also be laid away and the
risks from diseases are enormously increas-
ed. On the other hand, subdivision is cost
ly in buildings and fences, also in oversight
and labor. This was the main difficulty
years age and 1t remains so still.
The first proposition will lay down is,
that poultry farming is never likely to sue
ceed with any but such as combine good or
ganizlng and business qualifications with a
thorough practical acquaintance with poul-
try management. The only man who is
ever likely to make a success of such pc
culiar and complicated business, is the man
who can 60 at it with his own knowledge
and his own money. Spend at least two or
three years in learning about fowls. See
what you can do with a few, adding to them
gradually, and learning practically the kind
and amount of care they require how many
eggs tn y lay and other necessary details,
Then, when the novelty has worn off, and
you have learned, at least, what the fools
are. if your experience still warrants you
in proceeding upon larger scale, you may
do so with some chance of success.
As regards the production OF eggs, all the
figures have been able to obtain lead me
to the conclusion that anything like prot
tit depends upon getting stock of fowls
which will lay an average OF $50 eggs per
annum each. once met, on one of the
Glide steamers, a gentleman who has been
trying poultry farming in Scotland, and he
told me he had got to this point, that il he
could have had twenty eggs year more
from each bird it would have paid; as it
was it did not pay, and he had to give it
up.
Now, 50 far as know at present, such
laying stock cannot be purchased. The
poultry that are bred for exhibition have,
10 some extent, lost their laying qualities
and other fowls have rot been systematic
ally cultivated for them. @But the tecundity
is there, and it can be cultivated. Let any
man breed for eggs, and he will get eggs
and that good laying stock, which will
lay the prescribed quantity, should thus be
gradually built up for stocking the farm. is
in my opinion, necessary preliminary to
any real success.
That the thing can be done is certain.
Cases are known in which 200 eggs in
year have been exceeded, and not in one
breed only. such numbers have been ex-
ceeded in Bramas, Minorcas, Andalusins.
and, believe, in Houdans; also in Leg
horns and Hamburgs, though the eggs of
these fowls are unfortunately small It is
tound that much fecundty is more or less
hereditary like other points-it only needs
cultivation. BY setting persistently only
eggs from the best layers. and from cocks
which also come of good laying families,
and the end will be secured /; and in this
way no enc need lose any time whilst going
through even a long apprenticeship to poul-
try keeping. He can be doing work which |
has to be done before he can possibly sue
cted. The needful selection cannot well be
made from large numbers and in large |
yards it can only be done where the eggs
of each bird and character are known anu |
this IS a weighty reason why even people
who have experience and knowledge, and |
do not need to wait for these, would prob
ably still think it advisable to begin in a I
small way. They weuld wa II to make |
the stock with which to work on large
scacle.
The stock must, OF course, be the best |
tor laying that can be got. As rule, In |
the large breeds. these will be rather spare
in body. | have in my own experience
come across aboat dozen Dark Brahmas
that were really remarkable layers. As far
90 remember, nearly every one was rather