Selling Eggs. 5 



(Ireland), especially In a gentleman's fowl yard, there Is not 

 an egg to be had in cold weather ; but the warmth of the 

 poor man's cabin insures him an egg even in the most 

 ungenial season." 



Such fowls obtain fresh air, fresh grass, and fresh ground 

 to scratch in, and prosper in spite of the most miserable, 

 puny, mongrel stock, deteriorating year after year from 

 breeding in and in, without the introduction of fresh blood 

 even of the same indifferent description. Many an honest 

 cottager might keep himself and family from the parish 

 by the aid of a small stock of poultry, if some kind 

 poultry-keeper would present him with two or three good 

 fowls to begin with, for the cottager has seldom capital 

 even for so small a purchase. 



Considerable profit may be made by the sale of eggs for 

 hatching and surplus stock, if the breeds kept are good, 

 and the stock known to be pure and vigorous. The " Hen- 

 wife" says: " You may reduce your expenses by selling 

 eggs for setting, at a remunerative price. No one should 

 be ashamed to own what he is not ashamed to do ; there- 

 fore, boldly announce your superfluous eggs for sale, at 

 such a price as you think the public will pay for them." 

 This is now done extensively by breeders of rank and 

 eminence, especially through the London Field and agri- 

 cultural papers. But, " beware of sending such eggs to 

 market. Every one would be set, and you might find 

 yourself beaten by your own stock, very likely in your own 

 local show, and at small cost to the exhibitor." 



The great secret of success in keeping fowls profitably is to 

 hatch chiefly in March and April ; encourage the pullets by 

 proper feeding to lay at the age of six months ; and fatten 

 and dispose of them when about nineteen months old, just 

 before their first adult moult ; and never to allow a cockerel 

 to exceed the age of fourteen weeks before it is fattened 

 and disposed of. 



