CHAPTER VI 

 POULTRY 



The Original Home of Poultry. Our cliickens 

 have probably ,come from the wild jungle fowl of 

 India. Early man used to snare and kill these large 

 wild birds for food and rob their nests, because he 

 liked the eggs to eat. When men settled down and 

 gave up their wandering life, they tamed and fed 

 the jungle fowl. In time their wings grew smaller, 

 because they used them so much less, and their 

 bodies grew heavier. So to-day we have the con- 

 tented hens that stay quietly in their pens and 

 cackle to let us know when they have an egg ready. 



Value of Fowls to the Farmer. Since the farmer 

 has learned in the last few years to take better care 

 of his poultry, it is now thought that they pay better 

 for what they eat than any other stock on the farm. 

 There is a great demand for *' broilers" from ten to 

 twelve weeks old, and they bring fancy prices. The 

 number of eggs used in the United States daily is 

 beyond our imagination. It is estimated at about 

 forty-four millions. Besides supplying eggs and 

 meat for the farmer's use, the chickens, if they are 

 allowed to roam, catch many grasshoppers and in- 

 sects. During the summer months they get most 

 of their food on the range. They like grass, seeds, 

 bugs, lime, and grit. 



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