23 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



FOWLS -THEIR IMPOKTANCE, MANAGEMENT, &c. 



" The noble aud ancient Chanticleer, -whose 

 clarion notes have been the fanner's timepiece 

 ever since Peter denied his master, and has never 

 failed to sound the approach of every rising sun ; 

 the bird thftt saved old Rome from conflagration 

 by his vt^arning voice in the dead of night — shall 

 these lose their old and establislied rank, and give 

 place in man's aft'ections to herds of swine and 

 sturdy bulls of Bashan ? What are their uncouth 

 grunts, frightful bellowings around the farmer's 

 ."jottage, compared with all the nmsic of the cheer- 

 ful cackling, chattering, chirping, and crowing, 

 ;vith which the poultry-yards resound from day to 

 lay ? If there is not music, there is life in it." 



Bnt to come more to sober matter-of-fact, we 

 Vuink this branch of the farmer's concern is 

 deserving of more attention than it has generally 

 received. It has been well established, that the 

 profit derived from a well-managed, well-arranged 

 poultry-yard, is greater in prop(;rtion to the in- 

 vestments, than that of any othei stock. 



Fowls are most valuable to the fanner, as yield- 

 ing eggs and chickens. The varieties of the fowl 

 are very numerous, and are distinguished froni one 

 another by their size, color, aud fecundity. In 

 order to be successful with fowls, they should be 

 kept very clean and dry in the hen-house, and par- 

 ticular care must be taken to furnish them with 

 dean, sweet water ; foul, impure water, produces 

 that most dreaded and fatal disorder among chick- 

 ens called gapes, which is known by the chickens 

 gaping for breath, and often dying in a few hours. 

 No certain or efficacious remedy, as yet has been 

 discovered for this disorder; therefore we advise 

 care and cleanliness to prevent it. Foul water, 

 aud a scarcity of water, are also causes of the roup 

 in hens, and the origin of most all, if not all, their 

 diseases. Poultry of all sorts should therefore be 

 provided with clean apartments, to retire into 

 during the night, and in seasons of wet and cold. 

 Warmth is necessary for the comfort and well-being 

 of poultry. If hens are kept with care, well fed, 

 and have clean, quiet places to deposit themselves 

 in, they will lay regularly, and repay all trouble. 

 Early hatched pullets will generally commence lay- 

 ing early in the fall, and, if well fed, warm and 

 comfortably housed, will continue to lay through 

 the winter. The laying time for older hens begins 

 in March. A hen about to lay, gives notice of her 

 intention by being busy and re^stless and peering 

 into sly places, and tailing to herself for some 

 time, and her comb becomes very red. Her cack- 

 ling gives notice the deed is done. Let her, then, 

 have a quiet, obscure place, to lay in. 



Fowls should not be allowed to wander much in 

 the laying season ; they lay better and more regu- 

 larly, and tlie eggs are more easily secured, when 

 confined to their own yard ; but, instead of a close, 

 dark, diminutive house, and a contracted 7 by 9 

 yard, as is often the case, they should have a spa- 

 cious airy place, properly constructed, and if pos- 

 sible, running water for them. o. n. bement. 



Spring»ide, Oct. 1859. 



Stjlphtte is one of the best substances for freeing 

 all animals from vermin, by feeding it to them 

 occasionally. 



HOW TO ATTAIN DESIRED POINTS OF EXCELLENCE 

 IN FOWLS. 



It will be seen that the possession of one bird 

 of either sex among those that will breed in this 

 country will enable the owner, if he is patient aud 

 will take the trouble, to perpetuate tlie race. This 

 was done most successfully by the late Earl of 

 Derby with the beautiful Versicolor Pheasant; and 

 was begun, but not carried out, by the late Lord 

 Hardinge with some Pheasants he brought from 

 the Himalayas. Of all sorts of Pheasants, and of 

 Jungle fowls brought to this country, the cocks only 

 arrive alive, because they are packed with hens in 

 small cages, and they always kill them. If those who 

 are disposed to try to import them will have birds 

 cooped separately, they will get them urer alive. 



The male bird of whatever sort he may be is put 

 with & female of this country that most nearly re- 

 sembles him ; the next year he is put to a hen the 

 produce of the first; the third year he is mated to 

 the produce of the second, and the fourth to the 

 third. By this time the appearance of the cross 

 has almost or quite disappeared, and the produce 

 may be freely mated together. There will at times 

 be vindication of original rules, and the birds will 

 throw back. For this reason the original cock 

 should be kept and used as long as possible. 



Now, as this is true of Pheasants, it is equally so 

 of fowls. If Cochins are become faulty in one 

 point — say they are coarse about the head and 

 comb — then choose a cock of undoubted merit in 

 that particular, and mate him with the ^ast faulty 

 hen. The improvement will be at once ])erc^ptiblo; 

 but if the cock be then mated with his daughter, it 

 will be seen that his points are carried out in his 

 progeny. Of course, the same process may be 

 adopted for feather. It would 'be more frequently 

 done but for the time and care that are required. 

 Where perfection is sought in this, like everything 

 else, it is the reward only of those who will strive 

 for it. Success is not doubtful, as the process we 

 have named has often proved a certainty. — London 

 Cottage Gardener. 



Ctiee for Ringbone. — Mr. L. F., Delaware Co., 

 Indiana, wants to know if ringbone can be cured. 

 I would say to him, and the rest of your many 

 readers, that if of not long standing, <t can; or 

 at least I have cured them. Take one ounce of 

 iodine and three pints^jaf ninety -five per cent, alco- 

 hol, and let it sland four days, or until it is dis- 

 solved, shaking it frequently, and saturate the 

 lumps with a common paint brush. Be careful 

 and not get it on your hands or clothes. Plit it ou 

 three times a day ; and if it gets sore, wash clean 

 with castile soap, and omit for a iQVf days. If Mr. 

 C, G, N.. of Palestine, Ind., will send a letter to 

 me, at White House, N. J., and state the particu- 

 lars, I will send him a cure, as it wants dilferent 

 treatment at diflerent stages of the disease. — Jacob 

 Van Doeen, White House, N. J., Oct. 24, 1859. 



Foot Rot in Sheep. — Take 1 lb. of blue vitrei, 

 1 ounce of alum, pulverize them as fine as flour, 

 mix with one table-spoonful of honey and hog's 

 lard enough to make a salve ; then pare the foot 

 thoroughly, leaving on no loose hoof, and rub the 

 salve on the sore. All theaflfected ones should be 

 placed by themselves and the rest carefully watched. 



