The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-27
Poultry on the Farm.


Most of the newspapers which make the
keeping of poultry their specially have
regard mainly to those with whom poul-
try keeping is their chief business. They
are speciality papers, and both their edi-
torial opinions and correspondence have
chiefly to do with those who either keep
poultry for eggs or for Matching broilers
for spring and early summer use, and
who make this their chief business, says
the American Cultivator. There is much
of interest in the experiences of these
specialists. No doubt average farmers
can learn much from them about the best
breeds for various purposes, about feed
ing and general management. In fact,
the average farmer can go 10 the spe-
clalist who makes poultry and eggs his
main business for information about al
most everything except the profit that a
man may reasonably expect if he wishes
to adopt this policy.
But there are several million farmers
who make poultry keeping only inciden-
tai, and who suppose that with less care
in feeding and breeding, and letting their
fowls have as wide a range as possible,
the poultry will every year more than
pay its way, which is all they expect.
They rely on their general farming for
the money to make their farms pay. If
they make anything out of the poultry,
1t is usually so little that it is to their
wives as pin money" We have known
some farmers wives who put their hus-
bands to shame when this chance was
offered them, by making such improve
ments in the care of poultry that this part
of the farm management became more
profitable than any other Many farmer
would farm ba n
and heed his wife's advice about business
affairs. If she be true wife, she must
be interested in her husbands success,
and If he tells her all, as every husband
should, her counsel will be better than
any other he can get. The children also
should be taken into the partnership so
soon as they are old enough to be inter
ested. They may not know enough TO
give the best advice, but the habit of
talking with them about your business
matters will be the best education for
them.
The truth about most farmers poultry
is that it is neglected as altogether side
issue, or, when the farmer is spurred up
to do better, his efforts at improvement,
are SO inconsistent that they often neu-
tralize each other and make matters worse
rather than better. Because his flock is
small he thinks if he gets an improved egg
producing breed, that even if he neglects
1t, the eggs will come Just the same Many
of the best layers such as the Leghorn
and HOudan, are natives of warm climates
and need careful shelter if not artificial.
heat, during our coolest weather. Yet we
have seen farmers buy these tender breeds,
and then wonder why in cold open hem
houses they did not get as many eggs az
they used to from their harder native
stock before they made the change The
old Dominique and Dorking fowls were
hardy and also good egg producers ana
good for the table. Unless a farmer is
prepared TO give his fowls all the care they
require, he need not trouble himself to
change the breed. The better the breed
l. the less profitable it Is likely to prove
to him. For the best breeds are ALWAYS
brought to that condition by great care.
not only in feeding, but in breeding az
well. So soon as there is neglect in anv
OF the particulars that go to the making
of breed, it begins to deteriorate. If
fowls of different breeds are introduced
the deterioration is sure to be very rand
generally within two or three years pro-
ducing mongreI flock not as good as the
farmer originally had.
We cannot too strongly impress nm aO
farmers who keep fowls that keeping tha
breeds pure is the essential point to mako
poultry keeping permanently successor,
All the professional poultrymen know this
already. None of them would tolerate
crosses in their fiocks. Why? Simply he.
cause the cross-bred fowl is no longer Of
any use as a breeder, especially if a male
Inc female if bred back to it's originaf
STOCK VIII produce three-quarter bloods
and these will mainly retain the cbaroo
teristics of the pure-bred fowl Rut ~
aHowed TO breed among themselves the
half-ored fowl will produce only monerels
mat usually revert back to ali the wors,
qualities in all their ancestry.