Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-01-06
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AGEIERMe F0l3a,D
HsD GARDEN
fATTeNINa FOWLS FoR MARKET.
A Method Described which Is FsconomIca.
Si,n,,Ia and L,rn.c.iiti...,s

A Method Described which Is Economical.
Simple ana Expeditions.
Fowls that have been properly kept
will generally be in good condition for
the table at almost any season and at
any age. But we may increase the
amount of flesh, harden it and 'fattens
the birds, SO that they will dress pre-
sentably for the butchers stalls, if we de-
sire, through additional OF extra feeding
for few weeks at the close of the sea-
son. Its quite impossible for any breed
emo matter how careful, how skillfnl
or how determined hs may be-to breed
all his fowls up 10 what is considered
the average best standard" There
must be culls among his focss, let him
do his best. This is not only our own
but it is the frankly admitted experience
of all fanciers or ponlterers who are dis
posed to state the facts. Thus, then
whatever your strain, breed orcross may
be-you viii rear many chickens every
year that will prove fit only for the spit
or the pot. These should he weeded out
If we are breeders Of large focks, we
shall have many such birds to be dis
posed of for table use, If we breed only
few, the proportion ofinditferent speci-
mems is about the same. And all these
''culls" must be got rid of TO the best adj
vantage because we do not care to carry
them over for future propagation, and it
is not profitable 10 feed them after they
have attained their growth.
Remove such birds-and especially all
the imperfectly feathered or i'll shaped
cockerels - from among their mates.
Place them, 10 or 20 together, in a closed
coop that is clean and comfortable. for
them to eat and rest in, without crowd
ing each other Give them fresh water
/ to drink, with n little cayenne pepper
/ thrown into it. two or three times a
week, and feed them all they will eat up
clean three times a day, upon boiled
corn and wheat meal with potatoes "a
little salted), one part Of each, into which,
/ while hot, stir pound of common lard,
beef tallow or chambers scraps perfect
ly sweet, mind) to six or eight quarts of
the mash.
Feed this out when warm. Have a
basin of coarse gravel handy, which they
will eat all they need Of to GSsist diges-
ton Occasionally mix little powdered
charcoal in this soft food (Which lat.
ter is an excellent purifier and guards
against the souring of their food in the
crop, and in two or three weeks your
birds will be at their best XIII. dress
and market them, and thus make the
wisest disposal you can make of all youl
surplus or undesirable fowls.
While this process is going on it will
be observed that the birds are in close,
compact coops, open only in front. These
may be placed in the barn or anywhere
most convenient for tho time being.
They will not suffer, thus in a body,
from the cold. The coops should be set
on the ground, with straw or leaves fol
flooring. The heat of the fowls bodies
will serve to keep each other warm
enough in tine three sided closed coops.
They have no exercise, and they have
nothing to 90 but to eat, rest, sleep and
grow fat. This method is simple, eco
nomical and the least troublesome. In
IL to a days at the outside fowls thus
treated should be in their best condition
for slaughtering.