Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-16
A Talk AbOut Chickens.


If a farmer keeps hens chiefly for the
purpose of supplying his own table with
meat and eggs. he will do well to raise
birds that belong to one of the large
breeds. The choice will be between the
Brahmas, the Cochins, and the Plymoth
Rocks. There are no objections against
any of these breeds. The light Bhrah-
mas have been most favorably known
for over thirty years, and for general
merit they are not surpassed by any OF
the newer breeds. The light Brahma
fowl meets every requirement Of the
farmer. 1t is a very handsome bird, and
is an ornament to the premises. 1t is a
contented, home.loving bird, not in
clined to wander about and get into
mischief. 1t is a large bird and furnishes
fine roast. If its flesh is not quite as
tender and delicious as that of some of
the French fowls, it is at leastvery good.
"A Brahma fowl is easily dressed. and
when plucked presents fine appear
ance The eggs of the Brahma are
large and we'll formed. Though they
bring no more in the market than small
eggs, they are of much greater value, as
their size and weight indicate. Brahma
hens are patient settlers and good moth
ers. They are not as greatly addicted to
scratching and making havock in the
garden as fowls belonging to the smaller
and more active breeds. Being heavy,
they never attempt to make long flights.
They can, if it is desired, be kept in an
ordinary farm.yard without making any
addition to the fence. They do not sui
fer when kept in partial confinement.
they will thrive, gain in weight, and pro-
duce eggs when kept in. yard or build
ing, provided they are supplied with
suitable food, water and materials for
forming the shells of eggs.
If Brahma fowls are not the favorites
of breeders, the cause may be found in
the circumstances that they are no
longer novelties. Breeders, like nursery.
men, prefer to raise and sell new things.
They can obtain higher prices for them,
as they are desired by amateurs, while
they have little competition. Light
Brahma fowls are now well distributed
throughout the country. Birds of pure
strains or their eggs can be obtained at
comparatively low prices. 1t is to the
advantage of farmers who have nothing
Duu oi pdCi IiuCSo w pDS"ANN
supply of them. Many farmers think
that they can not afford to keep amin lis
of pure blood. They acknowledge their
superior value, but they have not the
money to purchase them. Very few
farmers are so short of means that they
can not raise money to pay for setting
of eggs. 1t takes several years to raise
a flock of improved sheep or herd OF
pedigree cattle. But flock of fowls OF
pure blood can be secured in one year at
the expense of a few dollars. These
fowls will be conducive to pleasure as
well as profit, 1t will cost no more to
keep them than an equal number of COM
mon fowls, whose flesh and eggs are
greatly inferior. The farmer in any
town who makes the first start in keep.
ing superior fowls can generally make
money in selling birds or their eggs to
the neighbors. If one farmer makes a
new departure in keeping fowls his
neighbors generally follow his example,
and in most cases they will purchase
breeding stock from him. Eggs of light
Brahma hens obtained very early in the
season will produce chickens that will
lay during the nextwinter. Few farmers
who have kept superior fowls few
years are dissatisfied with the result or
are willing afterward to raise common
barn.yard chickens. Exchange.