The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-18
A Clever Woman Finds
Profit In Raising Guineas
Pay Better Than Chickens-They Are Quite Epcurean In
Their Tastes But That Spells Nothing
Sentnels Of the Night
ny DOLLY DALRYMPLE.

The wife Of South Alabama. farmer,
who has boon visiting in Birmingham re-
Gently, was talking to me the other day
about the pleasure she derived from liv-
ing on a farm and the many ways she has
of making pin money.
you'll be surprised to know" said
she, chat my guinea fowls pay me bet
ter than chickens and that make near
Iy all my pocket money in this way"
AREN'T they much harder to raiser
asked.
ION the contrary, they are much
easier" she replied quickly.
TN what respeot?'' / queried.
'1 suppose the chief reason is that
chickens stick closer at home than
guineas, Which, when they are once
strong enough to get away, follow the
flock go into the field and forage for
their living, while one must feed chickens
all the time"
"And farm with wheat and grain OF
all kinds affords them bountifm sus-
tenance,'' I suggested.
Yes, the guineas actually live in the
fields. They eat not only the grain but
also the insects in great abundance and
aloer I have gotten a flock of them we'll
enough along to get out and shuttle for
themselves, they cost me very little I'M
til they are ready for market"
you mean that you never give them
anything from the house?" I questioned.
''Oh, yes" said the farmers wife; u
give them a handful of grain in the even
ing Just to encourage their love of home,
home
place for them to roost.'
"Guineas are frightfully expensive in
the restaurants" I remarked, recalling
occasions when they had been ordered
at the Astor, the Woldorf and other fash
ionable metropolitan cafes. II suppose
II is because they are considered
great delicacy-even much moro so than
chicken or even turkey"
at see no reason for this, and yet 1t
is true and that is where the profit comes
In for the one who raises them have
never found the guinea hard to raise, and
vet I get much better prices for my
euineas in the market than for chickens
7 have two large incubators and they
are in process nearly all the time, one
with guinea eggs and the other with hen
eggs. This past year set 600 guinea eggs
and Matched out SIS. while OF the ao men
eggs only III Matched"
"And how many little biddies' did you
yaise?'' asked.
give hundred guineas and 14s chick
ans she said "Of these I lost very rev.
even after they were marketable In the
country the hawks carry of great many
Of the chickens. but tho guineas defeno
themselves against these breat bros, II
In no other way by the noise they raise.
which usually brings assistance"
"some people have natural talent for
raising fowls and especially is this the
case with those who reside in the coun-
try" I observed.
yes, there is something In that re-
piled the farmers wife. but IL everybody
would observe three simple rules in rails
ing fowls I think the talent might be
theirs for the asking. The three import
ant points are these:
"You should keep the fowls in clean
quarters.
.They should be kept dry and safe from
bad weather.
''They should be supplied with clean
food and fresh. clear water.
Elm fact they are very like human be-
ings; they need the best of attention at
all times"
"And when they are very young. do you
feed them as you do chicks?" asked
mo very differently" was the response.