CHAPTER XXVII 

 POULTRY RAISING ON THE FARM 



Place of poultry on the farm. There is, perhaps, no other 

 class of farm animals that will thrive under so wide a variety 

 of conditions as poultry. This great adaptability is shown 

 by the fact that some poultry is raised on nearly every farm 

 in all parts of the country. Their place on the farm, as with 

 the farm garden and farm orchard, is to supply the farm 

 home with wholesome food, and, perhaps, to furnish a surplus 

 product for sale. 



The attention required by fowls on the farm is small when 

 compared with the return they give. The cost of feeding 

 may be greatly reduced by utilizing table scraps, milk, grain, 

 and other wastes, and in addition, these articles are disposed 

 of to advantage. 



Kinds of poultry. The term poultry includes chickens, 

 turkeys, guinea fowls, ducks, and geese, but is used some- 

 times to refer to chickens only. Some agricultural bulletins 

 and other publications bearing the title " Poultry " have 

 their contents devoted exclusively to chickens. The dis- 

 cussion of poultry in this chapter will be confined mainly to 

 chickens, since they are of greatest importance and since the 

 general principles relating to their production will also apply 

 to other kinds of poultry. It will be of interest, however, to 

 notice briefly some of the feeding habits of each kind of 

 poultry. 



278 



