Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-05-13
RAISING POULTRY FOR PROFIT.

For given amount or capital invested
there is more profit in poultry when rightly
managed than in anything else on the ia-m.
1t is we'll known, however, that small fiocks
pay a greater proportional return than
larger ones. This is partly because small
hocks receive more care and attention, and
partly because fowls will not thrive when
kept together in large numbers. In ven
trrlng into the poultry business beginners
should understand that if it is intended to
keep the fowls in large focks, even when
well attended, bountifully fed and the full
range of the farm given, success cannot be
assured. This experiment has been tried
over and over again, and to-day there is
but one farm in the United States devoted
to poultry in large numbers, and that one
is conducted ON different plan from that
to which farmers are accustomed.
Poultry raising should be encouraged.
1t can be so managed as to give light en-
ployment to females and to children, and is
within the reach of those with limited
means. Long before Americans discovered
that there was a great secret in poultry
raising, the French put in operation
method that enables them to ship eggs to
England, Germany and Austria, as well as
to supply large demand at home. 1t is
often remarked that the French are the
most successful poulterers in the world,
but we can do all they can do in the mat.
er, and mors, too, for they have no home
raised Indian corn to assist them. They
divide their fowls into hocks of not more
than one dozen. Each flock has small
fowl-house, l0xl0 feet, and yard OF about
100 feet deep, divided in the middle. The
houses stand separately in the center of
the yards, which are 80 feet wide. Each
house thus has 50x30 feet yard in front,
and the same in the rear. An acre OF
ground will allow IA of these houses and
yards. The IA yards, with one dozen
fowls each, will accommodate los fowls.
This is a large number for an acre of
ground, but they are kept healthy by
changing them frequently from one vacant
yard TO another. The partition fences are
built very cheaply, sometimes of wire and
again of lath. To make this system
palmer to the reader, it should be known
that two hocks of fowls are never In ad-
Joining yards, as perfect seclusion from
other tiocks must be enjoyed by each of the
small flocks. Thus, while one flock is run.
ming in the yard a. the front of it's house,
the adjoining yards on the left and right
are empty, as the next lot of fowls will be
running in the rear of their quarters or to
illustrate by means OF a checker board, the
dark spaces representing the occupied yards
and the white spaces the vacant ones. As
soon as the fowls are placed in one of the
wards the front one, for instance), the rear
one is spaded up and seeded to grass, oats,
rye, quick growing vegetables having good
large tops, or anything else that will afford
,,raa, Good Wbap fair ,,roy,tl,
has been secured the fowls are turned into
the rear yard, and the front one is in turn
spaded up and seeded down. The frequent
spading of the ground not only keeps the
Yards fresh and clean, but their fertility is
greatly increased by the rich droppings OF
the fowls.
There ia another important matter con-
nected with the French system OF poultry
raising-they are peculiar in regard to
breeds. Unlike the American farmer, any
and every sort of fowl will not do for
them. They are partial to the non.setters,
and believe eggs to be more profitable than
chicks, although some are beginning to
alter their opinions in this respect. They
have demonstrated one fact in poultry
raising, which has been verified by Eng
/ lishmen and Americans, and that is that an
acre of ground will support nearly 200
hens. With a margin of 81 profit on each
hen, which is not by any means large
estimate, the reader can calculate for him.
self the advantage Of this kind of poultry
raising.
But to do as the French do there must
be some person willing to give all MS time
to the care of the hens. It will not do to
attend to the horses, cows and pigs and
give an occasional look at the poultry.
Some particular person must have the care
Of them, to see that they are fed regularly /;
that plenty of fresh, clean water is kept
within their reach all the time that
ground or broken oyster shells, gravel,
little box of sulphur, charcoal and bones or
scraps Of meat il given literally.