The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-25
Fattening Poultry for Market.

American Stockman.
1t will take some time to educate market
poultrymen and farmers to a perfect knowl-
edge of the manner of preparing fowls for
market. In our rapidly-growing country,
where the laborlng man can afford chicken
flesh once a week at least, and the well-to-
do much oftener, there is nothing to pre-
vent the poultry industry from assuming. a
breeders would learn to- prepare their prod
net in an admirable. and tempting manner
If a few weeks special fattening will add
a few cents more to the pound in value, be-
sides the rapid increase of weight. one could
not spend his time in q more profitable way
than by fattening and preparing fowls for
the table. If it pays at all to raise fowls
for market, most assuredly 1T will pay bet
ter to put them in condition by which they
can command ready sale and the highest
price.
There are some considerations which
should be kept in mind when one under
takes to fatten fowls. 1t must be done in
the shortest possible time in order to ave
loses an appetite for food the process of
fattening is retarded, and decrease in place
of increase is the result. When one I'M
derstands this. then he knows that the
fowls should have reproducing food to
eat. and that it should be prepared to in
duce them to partake of it more ready and
in larger quantities. The same food, with
q little change in cooking and preparing
III, VI u llUtic SOulotuluk c1So ult4cu WIFI III,
makes it more appetizing, for a full crop at
all times is necessary to rapid fattening.
A good way to fatten fowls is to conine
them in limited numbers, say a dozen, TO
every coop. If chickens. those of a size
and age would be best put together. The
coop should be in a shed or other building
where rain and cold wind cannot reach
them. The coop should be Slated in front
and the back and sides boarded. The Stats
should be wide enough apart to give free
dom IN Qaph foul IN niok fha f0nA m fha
outside. A long board should be the full
length of the coop, +and On this the fresh
food for each meal, som charcoal and sharp
grit can be placed. Following this a long
trough with fresh water or milk should be
placed in front; and when the fowls lave
satisfied themselves darken the coop or shut
off the light IN the shed SO as to induce
quietness and contentment. When you
peat the same thing when they get through.
The plan of keeping them dark or in sub
dued light may seem Unnecessary. OF
course. it is not absolutely essential. but
common sense tells us that If they rave
plenty of light they see all the objects
around them; they quarrel with one an
other. move about, endeavor to get through
the Stats and are continually trying to es-
cape. Inactivity, -contentment, rest and
plenty of proper food are the chief aids of
obesity in man. beast or bird.
The coop should be moved to q clean
place every few days, and some chat. cut
straw or other loose stuff placed in the coop
for bedding. The spot they occupied be-
fore should be cleaned and the coop re-
turned in due time. A cheap and good way
of fattening is to get some coarse and
bloody pieces of meat and fresh bones from
the slaughter-house or butcher shop. put
the meat separates from the bone; then,
while hot, stir in corr meal until thick;
season with salt and a little pepper.
Cooked mush. with milk. if plentiful,
boiled corn or a few vegetables every other
day. and a mixture of barley meal with
corn meal, once in a while. make a good
combination. Three weeks of such feeding
will put them in good condition.