Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-07-21
Profit In Poultry.

begun to realize the profit they might in
producing eggs and fowls for home con-
sumption and the market. The business
is adapted to persons of large or small
means, and can be carried on whether
the owner of birds owns land or not.
In France many persons rent land for
the purpose OF raising fowls and eggs.
1t takes but little capital to engage in
the poultry business. Only a few
months are required TO raise fowls from
eggs, and they will soon be large enough
TO send TO market. Profit can be real
lied sooner and oftener from poultry
than from any kind of animals. Pullets
will commence to lay when they are
about six months old, and crop of eggs
can be harvested every day. 1t is hardly
likely that eggs will ever be worth less
than cent apiece. The demand is con-
stantly increasing and is not supplied by
the product of this country. The de-
mand for eggs increases with the growth
of cities and the Advancement of civil
ization. The people of wealthy cities
are great consumers of eggs. They are
cooked in various ways, served with fish
and salad, drank with wine and liquors,
and used in making cake, pastry, Gus
tards and puddings. Many persons pre-
fer eggs to most other kinds of food, be-
cause they can not be adulterated. I'M
proved methods of packing, transport
ing, and preserving eggs have done
much to increase their value. The trade
in eggs has now assumed vast proper
tons. Eggs have taken their place
among the articlespthat bring cash
price at the doors of farmers. In many
parts of the country they are collected
every day, packed and sent to market.
In nearly all large towns are buildings or
cellars fitted up for storing and preserv-
ing eggs.
The production of several kinds of
fowls has been greatly neglected in this
country. Little attention has been paid
to raising geese and ducks. This is par
italy owing to the fact that wild water
fowls have been plenty and the market
well supplied with them by hunters.
This state of thing, however, can con-
tinue but little longer. AS the country
becomes settled up wild ducks and geese
will go to distant regions to rear their
young. Indeed, such is now the
case in the older sections of the
country. In all the eastern cities geese
and ducks bring good prices, and the de-
mand for them is rarely supplied.
Another reason for the somewhat linz
tied demand for geese and ducks is
found in the fact that only very poor
varieties have been raised for the supply
of the market. The poultry fanciers and
farmers in this country have been at
great pains to obtain improved varieties
of chickens. but they have done little to
improve their water fowls. Most farm
ers who have raised geese have kept them
for the feathers they produced. When
the birds became so venerable that thev
were in danger of dying from old age
they were Killed and sent to market.
They were not favorites with epicures,
who are the most liberal purchasers of
poultry, and they served to demoralize
the market. Geese raised for their
feathers, like sheep raised for their
tieeces. furnish very poor food for other
establishments than cheap boarding
houses. Their flesh is tough and strong.
Only the improved varieties of ducks and
geese should be raised for the market
If these are fattened while they are
young they will not fail to find ready
sale at high prices. In England and
'HNS iiO'S piOiiu 10 iS'ii1cu II iohi tuSho
and geese than from chickens. Ayles-
berry, ducks raised in cottages in En-
gland not unfrequently bring a guinea a
brace.
Many mistakes are made in the man.
agement of fowls in this. country. On
most farms no person hasspecial charge
of the fowls. Some one looks carefully
after the wants of the horses, sheep,
COWS and pigs, but the fowls are often
left to take care of themselves. Young
chickens, ducks and geese demand con-
slant care, or many of them will die
from exposure and other causes. 1t is
as necessary for success to have some
one in charge of the poultry-yard, as OF
the barn, stable and pig-pen. A person
too young or too old for hard work in
the field or house can generally be found
who can take care of fowls at a small
expense. Another mistake is in keep
ing birds till they are too old to be profit
able. Chickens will generally bring q
higher price when they are large enough
for the gridiron than after they are more