The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-20
POULTRY.
Raising Fowls in the South,

Raising fowls, SAYS r. K. S, in Southern
Lice Stock Journal, like all other kinds of
business. successfully carried out, is based
on scientific principles. We cannot raise
pease and beans in perfection without call
ing science to our aid. The chicken and egg
business has grown to gigantic proportions,
and as the population of cities are increas-
ing faster than that of the country, so that
the demand is increasing; hence a heunery,
properly equipped and engineered, Is more
profitable tnan wheat, corn or cotton rails
ing, in proportion to the capital invested.
Look at the millions Of eggs received at
New York and other Atlantic ports from
Europe, aud we see at once that this branch
of industry is yet in its infancy and away
behind the age, when we consider the fa-
cilities of cheap land, cheap food and the in
expensive run they may have. The outlook
is good and the area of production covers a
quarter of continent. The home supply is
not equal to the demand, so there is and
will be abundant room for this pleasant and
profitable business. Eggs, chickens, tur-
keys. geese, ducks and even guineas, on
every farm that can readily be made avail
Die, should receive more or less attention
Tor home consumption and supplying the
market with fresh egg and fat fowls.
Surely we can compete with foreign ex-
portations and be well paid for our extra
work and care. After the men folks have
modern improvements, one woman, well up
in fowl lore, is worth two or three men, for
her natural love of pets and her financial
interests are at stake, and besides she takes
pride IN producing the very best of its kind.
Quite an interest is coming to the fore in
the south; why notg The climate is more
favorable to rapid increase than in the
colder states; the hens lay longer and set
oftener and hatch better, as rule. We
can raise chickens for the early market in
northern cities at remunerative prices, and
many hens, as If to show their gratitude,
lay the year round, hatch out the early
broods in January, and supply our adjacent
cities with brOilers every month in the year.
Fresh eggs are thrown on the market in
winter at extra prices, and indeed our hens
seldom lay by for repairs from overwork.
Our hens sing as blithelv, and our roosters
crow as loudly as taelr northern relatives,
and so far as we know are fully as healthy
They can be raised at less cost because the
fires of the system can be kept up with less
fuel, the extra food all used in the growth
of muscle, egg growth and the accumula-
ton Of fat.
After the fixtures are all arranged, what
the successful house wife needs is the orni-
biological physiology of the birds, their
diseases aud medical treatment, but it should
always be borne in mind that prevention is
cheaper than cure The physiology of in
tantlle stOnachs should guide in the quality
aud quantity of food when very young; but
directions for all these necessary things can
be had IN books, which need TO be studied
With care and the truths learned be carried
out in practice
But here the poultry woman meets with
serious annoyanoes. The varmints in the
pine woods are numerous and hungry
raids on the hen houses by these night ma
rauders requires eternal vigilance. The
wild cats, fox, opossum, pole cat mink and
owl prey on exposed fowls at night; and the
hen hawk. when least expected, by day
sweeps down and the mother ben mourns
the loss Of another chick. Strychnine scat
tered outside of the hen house in bits of
fresh meat will slaughter these enemies.
Pick up the pieces before letting your pets
out, then gather up the dead to fertilize
your grape vines. The bows will shoot the
hawk or take them in baited steel trap set
in the tree they are accustomed to light on
for observations.
We might hint here that for winter food
bran, wheat, oats. buckwheat and peanuts
are excellent food, with warm meals for
breakfast and fresh meat once or twice a
week, and cabbage, raw potatoes, apples,
etc. They should also have a field of
rye to Craze on during pleasant days.
Cleanliness is one of the elements of sue
cess, and whltewashing and carbolizng to
guard against lice and mites and other YER
MN. Fresh water every day with little
stacked lime or copperas in it. Go at the
business with determination to succeed
and you will do it. You may thank heaven
for leading you to this welcome bonanza of
clothing yourself and girls we'll, independ.
ent OF that bearded fellow you call hus-
band.