24 THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 



cocks the chicks from which are hardy, easily reared, grow fast, and in 

 four months, without extra feed, will dress four to five pounds each of fine- 

 grained, well-formed, plump-breasted, well-colored flesh, fit for the table ol 

 any amateur or epicure, and always commanding a good price in market. 

 The hens from this cross are even better and more continuous layers than 

 either pure Brahma or the Dorking ; but if wanted to breed again, the 

 farmer must keep one coop separate of Brahmas say a cock and two 

 hens and so also of the Dorkings, and thus yearly with the cross of pure 

 bred birds, cocks of the Dorkings, and hens of the Brahmas, keep up the 

 * Farmer's Breed for profit?" 



FATTENING AND PREPARING POULTRY FOR MARKET, 



THE MANNER OF FATTENING. 



ALTHOUGH the manner of fattening poultry may seem to be extremely 

 plain, there is, nevertheless, a right and a wrong way, a long and a short 

 mode of accomplishing the object desired. Many breeders who rear fowls 

 for the market believe in letting poultry forage and shift for themselves, 

 while others believe the best method is in keeping them constantly in high 

 feed. This is just our idea ; for where a steady and regular profit is required 

 from rearing poultry, or a business is made thereof, the very best method, 

 whether for domestic use or for the market, is constant high keep from the 

 beginning. Thus they will always be in a saleable condition and ready for 

 the table. As the American Poulterers Companion justly says, fowls kept 

 in this way need but very little extra attention. Their flesh will be superior 

 in juiciness and richer in flavor than those which are fattened from a low 

 and emaciated state. Fed in the manner above indicated, spring pullets are 

 particularly fine, commanding the highest price on the market, and proving a 

 most healthful, nourishing and restorative food. 



FEEDING HOUSES. 



Our mode of constructing feeding houses or coops is to have them so they 

 will be at once warm and airy, with earthen floors, well raised, and capacious 

 enough for the accommodation of from twenty to thirty-five fowls ; the floor, 

 if desired, may be slightly littered with straw, but the litter should be fre- 



