THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



could be observed to account for these differ- 

 ences : the poorest layers looked as promising 

 as the others, and all of each breed were of the 

 same breeding. The best layer, mentioned 

 above, was a White Wyandotte, whose record 

 closed at the end of April of the second year. 



All eggs should be marked with at least the 

 date laid, and it is best to do this on the small 

 end, and keep them for household use in a board 

 pierced with holes, small end upwards. If more 

 than the date be required, for breeding purposes, 

 it is still best to mark them on or around the 

 small end, for the simple reason that the chick 

 breaks the shell round the large end, and any 

 mark made there may be destroyed. 



The profit of what may be called domestic 

 poultry-keeping, or from any moderate number 

 of fowls, when properly managed, 

 ProSt in should be very large, but will de- 



Poultry, pend more than anything else upon 



the average number of eggs obtained 

 from each of the birds. How very greatly 

 this may differ, we have seen above. The food 

 certainly should not exceed one penny per week 

 each, where eked out to any extent by household 

 items ; and a bird discarded as too old is worth 

 nearly her cost on the family table, and will be 

 relished there. On a larger scale, where all has 

 to be purchased, the cost may rise to three- 

 halfpence per week. Thus even one hundred 

 eggs in a year will pay a fair profit. American 

 breeders and poultrj'-farmers are not now satis- 

 fied, hov/ever, with less than one hundred and 

 sixty-five per annum, and some of them get 

 considerably more; and fowls can be obtained 

 even in England which have been, to a large 

 extent, bred for laying, and will lay one hundred 

 and si.xty eggs or more when properly fed. 

 Such laying should, in these progressive days, 

 be looked for and fed for ; and if chickens are 

 reared, they should be systematically bred for, 

 as hereafter described. The profits from such 

 egg-results can readily be estimated. 



Wherever more than three or four birds are 



kept, food will of course be always purchased 

 with reference to the market, and in economical 

 quantities. Metal bins or receptacles are far the 

 best, as they protect grain and meal from rats 

 and mice, and in so doing, do much to prevent 

 those vermin from infesting the establishment. 

 Capital bins for a small concern may often be 

 found in the large circular iron drums or casks 

 in which paint, oil, printing-ink, and similar 

 goods are sold. If they are turned on one 

 side, and lighted paper or sticks thrown in, the 

 remains of their former contents will catch fire, 

 and they may be rolled about till " burnt out " 

 clean. For a very few birds a large canister or 

 covered pail may be sufficient. 



But the whole affair, on even the smallest 

 scale, should be conducted as a matter of 

 business. An account should be kept, of 

 course. In a small way, a cash account and an 

 account of eggs and produce will be sufficient ; 

 the amount of figuring some fussy people will 

 get out of three old hens is amusing, but is 

 quite needless, and apt to prove tiresome. As 

 the scale of proceedings enlarges, more may be 

 necessary ; every incubator will need its own 

 register, and every breeding hen the same, and 

 both payments and receipts will have to be 

 sorted under different headings. As a general 

 rule simplicity should be studied, so far as con- 

 sonant with efficiency, however : too elaborate 

 accounts get neglected, and defeat their object. 

 It is enough for most people if the profit or loss 

 of each branch — as egg production, or sale of 

 newly hatched chicks, or rearing, or fattening 

 — can be distinguished from the rest ; then any 

 losing department may be either overhauled, or 

 perhaps discarded to the profit of the exchequer. 

 All these things will often give invaluable 

 change of thought and occupation to wearied 

 men of business, to whom a " hobby " of some 

 kind may mean physical salvation. No such 

 man of business, who gives a little of his own 

 attention to it, will long remain unconvinced of 

 the profit there is in keeping poultry. 



