The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-18
The Poultry Business.

The following valuable paper was
read before the Farmers Institute,
recently held at Perris, by +. T.
Lindenberger OF Winchester and sub
sequently published by the Riverside
Reflex:
Poultry and Embarrassing do we'll to-
gether. as the industrious hen loves to
hunt for the insects in the cultivated
orchard, and take dust baths in the
mellow soil. She will play havoc with
the tender foliage of young trees. how
ever, unless provided with plenty of
green feed. a small plant convenient
10 irrigatinS water and seeded 10
alfalfa Will supply an enormous
amount of green food and save the
trees from her foraging instincts The
shade of orchard trees is grateful TO
the chickens, but fruit trees should
never be allowed to become a roosting
place for fowls. 1t is not best for the
fowl, is highly injurious to the tree,
and it has a tendency TO spoil ones ap-
petite for the fruit. Small houses
capable of sheltering 10 to 20 chickens
can be built at an expense of about 81
for the material. The sides of buildings
should be hung on hinges, so they
can be raised like wings during the
day, making a well-ventilated. shady
place for the fowls. AT night close
down the wings and shut the house
tight, as open houses are not suitable
for chickens. They need warm quarters
free from draught at night, as badly
as they want open, shady runs by day.
These houses require no floors, and
should be frequently moved and the
droppingS cultivated into the soil. The
buildings should be very frequently
and literally treated to a coating OF
whiteVash- BY tipping the house on
its side and using a spray pump this
work can be easily and cheaply ac-
cOmpliShed.
In speaking of poultry raising I
have mentioned chickens only. The
Picking duck thriveS amazingly here,
and only water needed is an abundance
to drink. At nine weeks of age d
duck can be made to weigh four or
five pounds, and makes a delicious
roast. But there being no certain
market for ducks they are Improbable
except for home use. They are voraci-
Gus feeders, and if kept beyond the
period mentioned consume in feed more
than their value.
With the incubator and brooder
chickens can be successfully and
prOfitably reared. but not one person
in hundred is adapted TO the work.
or Will make it pay. A good incubator
and place to keep it, where the
temperature varies but little day or
night. will hatch a fair percentage OF
vigorous chicks. but the successful
rearing of these chicks is quite another
matter.
To raise chickens artificially and
make the business profitable requires
good judgment, unlimited patience.
logged perseverance, untiring in
dustry and close attention to every
detail. The temperature of the brood
ers must be carefully regulated. If too
hot the chickens are affected with leg
weakness and bowel troubles. If too
cold the chickens crowd and smother
one another to death. The broOders
must be scrupulously cleaned daily,
and pure, fresh water kept before the
chicks at all times. The food must be
dry Sloppy food is usually fatal The
business can be made profitable. but L
would not recommend a person to go
extensively into the artificial rearing
of chickens who had made a failure Of
every other occupation attempted.