FOWLS KEPT IN LARGE NUMBERS. 221 



you will immediately perceive the incubation end. Some people can 

 tell a pullet from a rooster. The mark for a rooster is crosswise, and 

 a pullet lengthwise. Another way is to place your tongue on the 

 large end of the egg, and you will perceive a strong heat, if fresh and 

 good, and the less heat if old and doubtful. Eggs put by for hatching 

 should never be put in a very damp cellar, as the dampness destroys 

 this heat. 



FOWLS KEPT IN LARGE NUMBERS. 



The question " can fowls be made profitable when kept in 

 large numbers?" is still unsettled. Several gentlemen are now 

 engaged in keeping fowls extensively, in various parts of the 

 country, but nothing definite as to net profits has transpired, so 

 as to enable me to enlighten the public in the premises. I now 

 refer to keeping fowls extensively for market, and for their eggs, 

 when their value is at ordinary rates. We all know that fowls 

 at $5 to $20 a pair, and eggs at $1 50 to $6 a dozen, must be 

 profitable, so long as such prices continue ; but we want to 

 know whether one can keep 500 to 5000 fowls of any breed to 

 advantage, and sell them at the ordinary rates of fifty to sixty 

 cents a pair, dressed, and eggs at ten to twelve cents a dozen. 



There are several drawbacks to success in such a business, 

 and one of the most disadvantage, is the liability all large 

 numbers of fowls have to contract contagious diseases. A gen- 

 tleman, some few years ago, erected a "henery" on Long 

 Island, near New York, to accommodate 1000 fowls, and he 

 purchased that number, and placed tfyem therein, and constructed 

 all necessary conveniences, but in less than a year he lost some 

 $200 by the operation, besides his investment in fixtures, &c., 

 and he abandoned the business. 



It has been fully shown, that a large number of fowls in one 

 enclosure, can never be made as productive, in the ratio of 

 numbers, as a small number, and here lies the great barrier to 

 success. If, however, we should enclose a very large field, and 

 erect a number of separate buildings, and so arrange matters 

 that the fowls would always have an abundance of room in 

 their rambles, and on their perches, being well ventilated, &c., 

 I am of the opinion that they may be made profitable, if a 

 proper economy is manifested in providing their food, which 

 should all be raised by the breeder ; and large quantities of 

 root crops should be grown, to boil and mix with meal, to be 

 fed at certain seasons. A stream of water should run through 



