Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1886-03-05
Confinement.


confinement proftably and without
detriment for any length of time,
provided all their wants are at
tended to, is well known. What
We mean by close confinement may
not be plain whether we mean in
close coops, as at exhibitions, or in
buildings with suitable out door
yards attached. We mean both.
In the first place, while it is a
fact that in some cases fowls have
suffered by the wear and tear of
various causes attendant upon
transportation and confinement, in
other cases fowls have made the
tour of a dozen successive winter
shows confined in small coops
during transportation and in exhi-
bition coops during the show-and
have not been apparent sufferers.
In the next place we find many
thousands of persons keeping
fowls In cities and villages where,
to avoid annoying trespass it is
necessary to contine them in small
yards. This too, is successfully
done. In both cases the proper
attention to food and cleanliness,
with certain other minor details,
ensures success. But there is a
limit; while pair of fowls thrive
in a coop at an exhibition, dozen
in the same coop will soon perish.
So, also, in the city yard, accom-
modations for a dozen fowls will
be destruction to fifty.
This is where the greatest mis-
takes are made; to do only what
can be done well is applicable
everywhere and also fits very neat
ly here. It is very common for
the fancier who enjoys fine yard
of fowls in the city to deplore his
want of advantages when he sees
the fowls of the farmer enjoying a
range almost unlimited, but he
does not stop to think that one
secret of his enjoyment is in the
very fact that his enjoyment is in
the vely fact that his fowls
are a care to him. The sense of
responsibility sharpens the zest
of owning them; were this feeling
taksn away a portion of his inter
est in the fowls would go too. Per-
sons who are in the habit of see
ing fowls unconfined are apt to
think it very severe to confine
them, but the fowls are not sup
posed to look at it thus. They will
at first feel the restriction, but
very soon fall into the traces and
accept the situation with every
appearance of enjoyment. There is
difference in opinion regarding
the raising of chickens in confne-
msnt. Some think that it is i'm
possible for them to do as well as
at large, and cases are known
where they have not attained the
size and vigor belonging to their
class, but in all such cases there
is usually to be found cause. A
few chickens in each yard can be
brought to great degree of per-
lection if properly attended to, but
TO attempt to raise fifty where only
only a dozen can be expected to
thrive is to bid for bad results.
While certain amount of exercise
is desirable. too much exercise is
not to be desired. We may not
know just how little exercise fowls
may have and prosper, yet we
know that it is not necessary for
them to be on the move all the
time. To scratch, to dust them
selves daily, to bask in the sun or
shade as occasion requires, and to
seek their food, is exercise, recre-
alton and rest. As this becomes
confirmed in them by habit. it is
very satisfactory and they appear
to desire nothing else.
Were not the position we have
take on keeping fowls in contine-
ment well substantiated, We should
not have so many successful fanci-
ers in the cities and villages to-
day.