The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-19

They are Prolific Layers, and the Objection
to Them - that They are Noisy.

They are Prolific Layers, and the Objection
to Them H. that They Noisy.
The Agricultural Gazette says it is doubt
full whether. under proper management. any
description Of poultry g so profitable upon .
farm as guinea fowls And yet, strange as H.
may seem, they are comparatively little kept
No one can give any good reason why they
are not generally kept. About the only thing
urged against them is that they are noisy.
What Of thatg Let them 90 on with their
noise-i can hurt no 0ne, and farm giving
of no sounds indicative Of a farm ap.
pears 10 DO pervadsd by a spirit OF
dullness entirely unpleasant 10 contemplate.
The farmer does not object 10 the noise Of al
old donkey rolling out upon the still air every
now and then from the region OF ms Darn.
and vet there is more Of volume IN one song OF
that donkey than a fsck Of guineas could
give off in q week Of unremittant concert.
Then the guinea is the farmers friend, not
10 consider its moneyel value. for 1t Is won
derful devOureI of insects. and, at the same
time q nOn-scratcher. You can allow II TO
range over your farm or g9rden whitner III
visits with the full assurance that 1t will dis
turb nothing which Ought 7 OF 70 be disturbed
Guinea fowls as is well known, SAYS the
Agricultural Gazette are very prolific layers
A very large percentage too. of their eggs
prove fertile. The shells are so hard they
rarely or never get brOkeni n the nest. After
the first fortnight or so the chicks grow and
feather much quicker than ordinary
chickens. while with a free range they get
nearly all the food they require in the
grass field where they appropriate tho
grass seeds. and on the tallows,
where they look well after in
sects, &C. In this manner they
grow apace, and few if anI of our game birds
can compare with them for dellcacy OF meat
and delicious favor. Owing however TO their
hay
TO lay and nest and when pheasants and part
ridges are out of season, they are rarely
killed till spring. when a good clearance 10 al
ways experienced for them at remunerative
price So very harmless are they that they
NAV even be reared in ktchen-garden with.
out appreciable damage to the plants or crops.
For rearing gulneas 1t Is best 20 set the eggs
under an ordinary hen, and about the twenty
sixth day the little ones viii make their ap-
pearance. 1t is necessary TO keep them Win
their foster mother in an enclosed place Tor
about week till they become accustomed TO
her Otherwise. failing TO recognize. her
voice they will stray away with great danger
of being lost. Feed at first upon mixture OF
breadcrumbs. chopped egg, chopped lettuce
and onion tops. The whole made very me.
must never be allowed TO get sour or stale,
and should be given IN alternate meals. never
at any time giving more than they clear up.
III IL is possible 10 locate them under the nay
stack. they Will look after the grass seeds that
have fallen and if this is not feasible a hand.
full of grass seeds and dust from the hay lofts
will afford them plenty of amusement, and
not few deiicacies. They delight also in a
freshly disturbed rubbish heap, 50
that they can learn to know
when the fork is about TO be used 10 turn II
over for them They are extremely small
eaters, and. therefore, even supposlng, that
we must supply all their food. they could n9tt
help proving profitable 10 those who Will
afford them the little trouble they require tor
the first week or two Of their existence.
The guinea fowl succeeds splendIdly IN the
piney woods of the Gulf coast country, as we
have proven by raising them here on pretty
large scale On no occasion have we iound
any kind Of disease among them