256 



POULTRY— DISEASES AND REMEDIES. 



perches, nests, etc., will always be found 

 useful; and probably the best for protec- 

 tion against insects is that in which an 

 ounce of carbolic acid is used with each 

 four quarts of lime water. This recipe, it 

 is claimed, is certain death to parasites. 

 A solution of one part of acid to sixty 

 parts of warm water may be used then 

 thoroughly wet with it on all parts of the 

 body, and afterwards as a wash for fowls, 

 the mixture being cooled before use, and 

 the fowls placed on dry, clean straw and 

 dried in the sun. A soap for washing 

 fowls, also, may be made by dissolving 

 four pounds of common bar-soap in hot 

 water, and adding one to two ounces of 

 carbolic acid, according to the desired 

 strength, and then letting it cool and be- 

 come hard again. 



POULTRY, Breeds, the Most Popular— 

 The profits of poultry-keeping being 

 derived principally from two sources — 

 the sale of eggs and of poultry, mostly 

 chickens, in market, the question of breed 

 is an important one. For eggs, it would 

 seem that, with proper attention and care, 

 the non-sitters are preferable; but some 

 of the varieties of non-sitters are not 

 hardy, and the extra attention such fowls 

 require may be greater in cost than the 

 enhanced value of their production. 

 Fowls have been classified, not only in 

 respect to their qualities of flesh and as 

 layers, but also with a view to other 

 characteristics. The following classifica- 

 tion, based on the statement of an ex- 

 perienced poultry firm in New York, is 

 approved by Tegetmeier : 



1. Hardiness. — Hardy; Brahmas, 

 Houdans, Hamburgs, Creve Cceurs, Span- 

 ish, and Leghorns. Delicate: La Fleche, 

 Polands, and Bantams. 



2. Quietude. — Domestic and quiet: 

 Brahmas and Cochins. More vivacious ; 

 Spanish, Leghorns, and Dorkings. Active: 

 Hamburgs and Games. 



3. Size of Birds. — Large: Brahmas, 

 Cochins, La Fleche, Houdans, Creve 

 Cceurs, and Dorkings. Medium: Polands, 

 Spanish, Leghorns, and Games. Small: 

 Hamburgs and Sultans. Diminutive: 

 Bantams and Silkies. 



4. Size of Eggs. — Layers of large eggs, 

 averaging about 7 to a pound: La Fleche, 

 Houdans, Creve Coeurs, and Black Span- 

 ish. Layers of medium eggs, averaging 8 

 to 9 to a pound: Leghorns, Cochins, 



Brahmas, Polands, Dorkings, Games, and 

 Sultans. Layers of small eggs, averaging 

 9 to 10 to a pound : Hamburgs. 



5. Number of Eggs. — Great layers: 

 Hamburgs, Spanish, Leghorns, and Po- 

 lands. 



6. Incubation. — Good sitters : Co- 

 chins, Brahmas, Dorkings, and Games. 

 Non-sitters ; Houdans, Creve Cceurs, La 

 Fleche, Spanish, Polands, Hamburgs, and 

 Leghorns. 



7. Valuable for Flesh. — True table- 

 birds : La Fleche, Houdans, Creve Cceurs, 

 and Dorkings. Flesh less Juicy : Cochins 

 and Brahmas. 



8. For Eggs and Chickens, which 

 are generally equally desired, from fowls 

 usually kept on farms, the testimony pre- 

 ponderates greatly in favor of the Brah- 

 mas; for, in addition to being good flesh 

 fowls, both as to weight and quality, they 

 are good winter, and may be considered 

 at least fair summer, layers; they are 

 quiet, hardy, and come early to maturity. 

 Other breeds, considered superior in 

 quality of flesh, or as egg producers, may 

 be found more desirable, being raised 

 with equal success in many localities. 

 Generally, however, the Brahman is con- 

 sidered the most profitable fowl for the 

 farmer. 



POULTRY, Diseases of.— In this cli- 

 mate the diseases of our poultry are few 

 in number, and are generally controlled 

 by proper treatment. On this point, it is 

 said, with truth too, that "prevention is 

 better than cure ; " and when the former 

 cannot be altogether secured, the latter 

 must be attended to immediately, or all 

 attempts at a cure will prove fruitless. 

 Although poultry are no less liable to 

 disorders than cattle or other tame ani- 

 mals, but very little attention has been 

 paid to them, owing, no doubt, to the 

 small value of individual fowls compared 

 with sheep or horses ; and it is frequently 

 most economical to kill them at once. 

 These disorders, however, though few in 

 number, are far irom being devoid of in- 

 terest, not only as sometimes leading to 

 correct views of the diseases of other 

 animals, but so far as the saving of even 

 a few shillings, by curing them when that 

 is possible, or of rendering their eggs or 

 flesh more wholesome and palatable, as 

 well as the humane motive of adding 



