INTRODUCTION. 



27 



the foster-parent of all his present troubles. We 

 need scarcely insist on the all- important subject 

 of the most scrupulous care as to cleanliness in 

 every department of a poultry-yard, whether in 

 regard to water, food, or the roosting-houses. 

 If proper attention is early given, good food used, 

 and the fowls have been carefully and wisely 

 chosen in the first place, we do not fear an un- 

 satisfactory result. 



"We advocate beginning well, that is, with 

 the best stock that can possibly be obtained ; 

 but certainly nothing can be conceived much 

 more absurd than giving twenty-five, twenty, or 

 even ten dollars per head for fowls, at the same 

 time indulging in the hope of our ever making 

 them pay a suitable return. Had not this fre- 

 quently been done, and even greater prices ob- 

 tained of late years, there would have been but 

 trifling necessity for maintaining it; but were 

 many who have paid such prices candid in their 

 acknowledgments, we doubt not they would 

 themselves admit to having ere this both seen 

 and likewise paid for their inexperience and 

 folly. 



At many of the country establishments in 

 Europe the buildings and yards for fowls are 

 arranged on an extensive scale, comprising ev- 

 ery necessary building, commodiously planned, 

 and embracing every necessary or accessory 

 required for the natural propensities, the com- 

 fort, and the protection of the various kinds : 

 apartments which can be occasionally heated 

 for the tender birds ; basins of water which can 

 be frequently emptied and refilled, and several 

 inclosures of grass or orchard grounds as out- 

 lets for the poultry to range in alternately. The 

 yards or outlets are also surrounded by high 

 picket fences, to prevent the escape of the fowls 

 or entrance of enemies. A keeper, male or fe- 

 male, is usually appointed to take care of the 

 whole, and receive the orders for the required 

 supplies of the family. 



After all, perhaps, there is no better range for 

 fowls, kept in any considerable quantities, nor 

 one that seems so suitable as a well-arranged 

 farmyard with suitable houses and accommoda- 

 tions for the poultry. The benefit of untold food, 

 the opportunities of selecting the most shelter- 

 ed and warm situations for roosting, and the 



constant scratching in the straw in the thresh- 

 ing season, were advantages, we are aware, not 

 now generally obtained; but our object in the 

 narration of this is, that though for many years 

 from eighty to one hundred fowls composed 

 the breeding stock, and in summer time the 

 amount was frequently four times that number, 

 the occupants stated they never lost ten full- 

 grown fowls from disease in as many years, 

 and that their chief mishaps were from the cat- 

 tle treading on the chickens when small. 



Under this treatment eggs were obtained 

 early in the season, and chickens were pro- 

 duced very much earlier than at the surrounding 

 farms, where no accomodations were provided, 

 while, as the rage for fancy fowls did not then ex- 

 ist, and consequently the returns were entirely 

 limited to their value for the table, the result 

 was far better from the poultry than from any 

 other description of stock around the homestead. 

 Chickens reared in this way were always plump 

 and ready a very significant remark, that at 

 any age they are sure to be in condition. The 

 eggs were anxiously sought for, at much higher 

 than market price, as they could always be de- 

 pended upon for the purpose of the breakfast- 

 table, and the rich brown color of the shell was 

 a feature that was generally approved. 



Any person who neglects fair and legitimate 

 means for profitably increasing the business he 

 is engaged in, because the source from which 

 such increase springs is small, commits an er- 

 ror. Now, this error is very commonly com- 

 mitted in farming stock, as applied to poultry. 

 There are few farmers in this country who do 

 not possess poultry; that is, various descrip- 

 tions of small inferior birds, which rarely attain 

 size and have not the quality of layers to com- 

 pensate. Taking an average of farms, large 

 and small, throughout the country, the number 

 of breeding birds on each may be calculated at 

 fifty or more. The usual practice is to allow 

 the birds to breed in-and-in, haphazard; occa- 

 sionally a hen is added, as an " excellent layer," 

 and her small progeny, bred from an inferior 

 cock bird, are kept with the others. On more 

 can?/M//y-managed farms occasionally a large 

 cock bird of no particular breed is added ; but 

 this is the utmost, and the consequence is ap- 



