The Hazlehurst signal., 1884-03-13
Poultry Farming.


The consumption Of eggs and poultry
increases with civilization. As cities
multiply and become populous the de-
mand for these articles OF food becomes
very great. Almost every country In
Europe contributes to tho supply OF
London and Paris. During. the past
few years millions Of eggs have been
imported into New York and other
Eastern cities. A large proportion OF
them have come from Canada, but tho
importation of eggs from the countries
Of Northern Europe Is steadily incrcas-
ing. The price OF poultry and eggs In
creases much faster than that oi al
most any article produced on farms:
There Is no better country in the world
for producing poultry and eggs than
the United States. The climate Is very
favorable. The water Is generally ox-
ccllcnt. Materials for shelters arc
cheap. The facilities for transporta.
ton are almost rs good n could be de-
sired. The natural vegetable produce
tions required for food arc abundant.
They include grass. clover, wild fruits.
the seeds of numerous plants. and
some small nuts. AS n grain-produc-
ing country IL has no superior. IL Is
somewhat strange, under these circum-
stances. that we should import eggs
or that they should be mt high price.
Still, during the present winter, largo
quantities Of foreign eggs have been
consumed in Eastern cities. while in
Western towns dozen OF eggs has
brought more money than bushcl of
potatoes or oats. Many farmers, who
keep few or no hens. have spent con-
siderable tlmo in dcnouncing foreign
governments for excluding our pork
products. They could have employed,
their leisure to better advantage ip-cop-
structing poultry.houscs and In gotkng
ready to help supply tho home m@knt
with eggs. There Is apparcntlxsS %
danger of overstocking tho ma nt
with eggs. ~
Many failures have been reported OF
the attempts to raise poultry on q lar c
scale in this country and in England.
AS rule the experiments have been
very badly conducted. Attempts have
been made To- keep several hundred
fowls in one building, and To supply
them with food bought in the market.
During the past few years reports OF
the success Of several poultry farms
have been published Persons have sue
cccdcd in Keeping u thousand hens, and
in keeping them healthy. Their sue
cess has been mainly duo TO keeping
but small number Of liens in one build
ing and allowing them n wide range.
One farmer in England tried the cxpcri-
mcnt of keeping ten hens ON each acre
Of land he occupied, and which was
chiefly devoted 10 grazing purposes.
lIc found that by cnriching the ground
with the lroppings Of the fowls il would
carry more stock than before. and he
was able 10 derive two incomes from the
same land. The fowls were sheltered
nj night and during storms in small
houses that where supplied with wheels
so that they could be easily moved. Ills
practice was To move each house the
distances of rod each day. BY that
means hc brought them To fresh grass
and prevented the accumulation Of
droppings. BY moving the chicken
houses but u short distance the fowls
returned 10 them rs readily - If they
had remained continuously in the same
place. Ample provision was made for
supplying water as well n for ycntila.
ton. The food, aside from the fresh
Vegetables, was mostly obtained in the
market. and was largely produced in
this country. In add ton To grain aud
vegetables the hens were supplied with
scraps Of meat and cheap fish. The
eggs were sent To market every day, and
rs they could be warranted rs strictly
fresh, they commanded u high price.
The male chickens were sold MS bioilcrs
rs soon us they were of size for the
grdiron.
There are now some very successful
poullry-farms in New York AMI several
of the New England States. The own
crS have an advantage in being near
city markets. but they labor under tho
disadvantage Of dcarcr food AMI more
costly land. The West is evidently the
best location for poul,ry.farm'ng, rs il
j. for grain and meat production. The
production Of poultry and eggs can be
combined with stock raising aud grain
growing. The fowls can be KEEP, In
small houses in pastures while the era n
is growing. and after II is cut they may
be removed Ia the grain.iicldS. where
they VIII pick up what is scattered on
the ground. Many kinds Of food that
are very valuable TO fowl. are easily
raised. Among them ARE sunilowcr
seed, buckwhcat. and sorghum seed. \
liberal amount of Vegetables should al
SO 10 provided. Cabbagcs. onions.
crrss and roots, should be raised for
feeding during the winter. There is no
occasion for ornamental or expensive
buildings for fowls. They should have
tight roof and bc well lighted and
ventilated. The floor may bc Of clay or
common earth. II should be higher
than the surrounding ground 50 that
dryncss may be insured. II kept COW
cred with dry sand it will lie clean AMI
the droppings can be readily removed.
They are rs valuable for fertilizing rs
guano. Fowl, kept in the manner sug.
gcstc will require close attention, but
this Is called for in any department Of
husbandry. The care OF poultry may
be intrustcd To persons who can not do
hard work in the field. There is very
little hard labor connected with feed
ing fowls, raising chickens, or collect.
ing egss.- Chicago Times.