204 



AGRICULTURE FOR BEGINNERS 



SECTION XLIV FARM POULTRY 



Our geese, ducks, turkeys, and domestic hens are all 

 descendants of wild fowls, and are more or less similar to 

 them in appearance. 



The earliest recorded uses of fowls were for food, for 

 fighting, and for sacrifice. Briefly, the domestic fowl has 



four well-defined uses, egg 

 production, meat production, 

 feather production, and pest 

 destruction. 



You already know that 

 nearly every farmer raises 

 a few fowls for the produc- 

 tion of his own eggs and 



meat, and to help with the 

 grocery bill ; but you may 

 be surprised to learn that the 

 farmers of the United States 

 got in 1899 $144,286,158 

 from the sale of eggs alone. 

 A little proper attention 

 would very largely increase 

 the already handsome sum derived from our fowls. They 

 need dry, warm, well-lighted, and tidily-kept houses. They 

 must have, if we want the best returns, an abundant supply 

 of pure water and a variety of nutritious foods. In cold, 

 rainy, or snowy weather they should have a sheltered yard, 

 and in good weather should be allowed a range wide enough 

 to give them exercise. Their bodies and their nests must 

 be protected from vermin. 



FIG. 185. COCK 



