The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-06-05

CUNTAlNED KOOS1S AND HINGED NESSl
BOXES.
It is also advisable that the fowls be-
moved to their new quarters before
they begin to lay If the beginner has
had experience in poultry keeping it
will be all right to purchase eggs:
otherwise he should begin with the
fowls and thus gain some knowIeds"
of caring for poultry before attempting.
to raise chickens.
For convenience. chickens may he
classified as egg breeds. meat breeds.
general purpose breeds and fancy or
ornamental breeds.
The egg breeds include the small or
medium sized fowls. which are very
active, quick to mature. producers of
white shelled eggs. usually nonsitters
or Mt best but poor sitters and rather
poor mothers. The various varieties
of Lcghorns and Minorcas are good
representatives Of this class Re
cause they are poor sittrrS some other
breed, or at least a few other fowls
should he kept if natural methods of
incubation are to be employed. On ac
count of their early maturity it is not
uncommon for individuals to begin lay
ing ut the age Of four and one half
months. These breeds do not fattrn
as readily under ordinary conditions as
the larger and less active breeds, TIL"
fowls of this class have large combs
and wattles. which make them rather
sensitive to low temperatures
Tie largest fowls are represented in
the meat class. and these breeds are
especially suitable for the production
of large roaSters. They are slow and
somewhat sluggish in movement. with
little desire for foraging. easily con
fined by low fences. rather slow to ma
ture. persistent sitters and rather indif-
ferent layers of large brown shelled
eggs Many pouItrymen. however. are
getting very good egg yields from them
The BEnhmas, Cochins and I.angshall>
belong to this class
The general purpose class includes
fowls which are of fair size and which
will also produce 4 good quantity Of
brown sheIled eggs. AS one has to
make frequent sales Of flesh in the
shape of surplus cockeres and hens.
the carcass as we'll as egg production
should be considered The general
purpose breeds are usually good sitters
and good mothers. They have Medium
sized combs and wattles and endure
cold weather well. They occupy a
medium position between the egg and
meat breeds as to size. egg production
and docility. The Plymouth Rocks.
Wyandottes, Orpingtons and Rhode Is
land Reds are good representatives OF
this class.
AS rule, the breeds in the ornan,en.
tai are not SO well adapted for farm
purposes rs are the breeds of the other
three classes. The Polish. Exhibition
Games. Slkies, Sultans. Frizzles and
Rantams are representative ornamen
| tai breeds.
In the manner of housing fowls we
| have two systems. widely different in
| their extremes. At one extreme is the
colony plan, which consists in placin.
small houses for small f1ocks far enough
| apart to obviate the necessity OF
| fences, thus giving free range. with but
little mingling of the different flocks
| At the other extreme we have the con
tfnuons apartment house. This kline
| Of house consists of series of sepa
rate pens. under one roof. opening di
rectly into hallway in the rear. oil
having doors between the pens without
the hallway. or opening into a hallway
and also into one another There art