Poultry Keeping kor Fakmers. 237 



POULT l(Y KEEPING fOli FARMERS, 



BY JOHN G. McKEEN, OF SOUTH ACWORTH, N. H. 



There are but few farmers that reahze the profit to be 

 made in keeping poultry. Farmers can keep poultry cheaper 

 than any other class, as they have a large range and a vari- 

 ety of food, most of which is grown upon the farm. 



They do not require the amount of yards that are neces- 

 sary in villages, nor such constant care. I have often made 

 the assertion that nothing kept on the farm pays so large a 

 percentage, for the capital invested, as poultry rightly man- 

 aged ; and I find but few that believe me. The profits 

 depend more on the management than they do with cattle 

 and sheep, for fowls will not bear neglect. 



I shall confine myself to the management of hens for 

 profit alone, and shall give what I consider the best method 

 of growing chickens for the market, and obtaining the most 

 eggs for the food consumed. 



To begin with, we must have a suitable place to keep our 

 fowls. No one would think of letting their cattle or hogs 

 run loose over their farms, and it is as necessary to have a 

 place to keep fowls as it is our cattle. If we build a house 

 for our hens it need not cost such an unreasonable price as 



