xlvi Notices for a Young Farmer, 



hen is prejudicial to hatching ; insomuch that she frequently 

 turns, and often leaves, her eggs to cool. Be careful to 

 guard against the access of egg-suckers. Minks, rats, and 

 weazles, are greatly so ; and they and other such vermin are 

 destroyers of poultry. Dogs are not much hehind them in 

 this propensity, and should be chastised and broke of the 

 habit of egg-sucking, when young : they otherwise retain it 

 through life. 



The dung of poultry is well worth your care. It is so 

 powerful, that it would fertilize, if even sown by hand-fulls; 

 and it must, therefore, be thinly scattered. 



It must be seen, that many of these observations, as they 

 relate to some kinds of poultry, apply to farms in a thickly 

 populated neighbourhood where range is trespass. The kinds 

 most noxious in confined situations, may be profitably and 

 extensively raised in other districts of our country, wherein 

 circumstances favour the breeding them. Too many cocks 

 should not be kept. Their ferocity in combat, (the more fre- 

 quently shewn, when extra numbers contend for the same 

 object,) is not a proof of their fecundating properties ; and 

 the gentlest and best formed should therefore be selected. 

 One for every 8 or 10 hens will be sufficient. The others 

 may be emasculated, and thus improved as an esculent, high- 

 ly valued where the practice is common. Capons are rare 

 among us ; but it is unaccountable why this addition to our 

 fare has not been more attended to. Hens hatch only one 

 brood, or two at most, in a season. A capon may be taught to 

 hatch, and most carefully rear and hover, several broods in 

 the same year. 



Runty and mean breeders, of either sex, should be killed. 

 It is scarcely possible to prevent different breeds, in the same 

 yard, from mixing. But if breeders are sizeable, it is by 

 no means a subject of regret, that they communicate with 

 each other. Crossing most commonly improves poultry ; as 

 it does other animals as well as plants. But they must not 

 be of a distinct species : for some kinds produce, by mixing, 

 mules or hybrids which will not breed. The Muscovy with 

 the common duck, affords a frequent instance of hybridous, 

 and commonly barren, progeny. 



