23 



THE AMERICAN POULTERER'S COMPANION. 



parent in the general appearance and smallness 

 of barn-yard poultry. 



The mere fact of poultry being kept as a part 

 >f farming stock is at once an admission of its 

 necessity. To the man who is content to cul- 

 tivate his land, and keep the class of live stock, 

 as in by-gone days, little can be said, but a 

 suggestion to the improving farmer may not be 

 east away. We suppose it to be part of the 

 Anglo-Saxon character to make business of 

 e.very thing, and, when undertaken, to do it 

 heartily. This may be the reason why the 

 poultry movement is confined to this country 

 and England. That which a few years since 

 was unknown, is now becoming a great pursuit, 

 and affording a delightful and innocent change 

 to those who requite it after a day of toil. It 

 has called forth a spirit of emulation, and, true 

 to our first remark, it has endeavored to turn it 

 to account. The same mania assumes the same 

 feature in each country ; exhibitions, sales, and 

 friendly paper war. Both quote from each oth- 

 er's papers, and the judgments of certain breeds 

 are carefully canvassed on either side of the 

 Atlantic. 



For good poultry there is a sale, and where 

 there has not hitherto been, they will supply 

 one. The fact that they are to be had of a 

 ^ood quality will cause a demand to be made 

 for them. In all cities there is always a de- 

 mand, and, like other provisions, there are dif- 

 ferent periods for different prices ; and here it is 

 that Poultry Shows do much good in offering 

 premiums for early maturity. If those who 

 have facilities for rearing chickens in March or 

 eren February, take them to market in May and 

 June, or even July, they can not fail to receive 

 a remunerating price, say from thirty-seven and 

 a half to fifty cents per pair for chickens four 

 months old ; at this season, less than thirty-sev- 

 en and a half cents would be ridiculously low. 



For early spring chickens such prices are nec- 

 essary, when the cost of production is duly con- 

 sidered ; and this at once indicates the main 

 point toward which the improvement of Poul- 

 try Societies should be directed the combina- 

 tion, as nearly as may be, in one bird, of early 

 maturity, hardihood of constitution, and excel- 

 lence, no less than quantity of meat. 



A few more words as to the age at which we 

 should kill, and the system on which we should 

 feed, and then follows the main point how 

 much per head it costs to keep them, and what 

 profit over and above the outlay. 



Four months is long enough for any early 

 cockerel to exist that is destined for the kitch- 

 en; if a late bird, and consequently of slower 

 growth, add another nionth to his life ; but let 

 him not, under any circumstances, exceed the 

 six. He is killed then with the most profit, 

 whether for our own consumption or for sale. 

 Pullets will usually be ready from three months 

 till they are about to lay, during which they 

 would be greatly depreciated for the table. 

 Here observe the quick return; and surely it 

 will be admitted that no other breed of fowls 

 can rival the Cochin China and Brahma breed 

 in this particular. 



The following deserves attention. A con- 

 sideration most valuable to the poor man, and 

 to those who have their interest at heart, is the 

 indifference of Cochin China or Brahma fowls 

 to first-rate accommodation. They are very ro- 

 bust and healthy, very seldom ill, and less easily 

 injured, from the egg-shell upward, than most 

 kinds. 



Whatever may be the result of the poultry 

 mania, it is unquestionable that the demand for 

 poultry will continue. Immense numbers of 

 fowls are being disposed of daily, and although 

 the supply may be greatly increased, it is un- 

 equal to the demand. It was said years ago. 

 that when canals and railroads were completed, 

 horses and oats would be unsalable. Every 

 one who has paid any attention knows that lias 

 not been the fact, for horses and oats were nev- 

 er higher than at present, and it will be so with 

 poultry. We are entirely without statistical re- 

 turns on the subject, but if they were compiled, 

 people would be astonished at the great con- 

 sumption both of eggs and poultry. 



Poultry, except to rich people, has always 

 been a luxury ; it may still continue so during 

 a few months in the year; but there is no rea- 

 son why in the autumn and winter months it 

 should not be within the reach of those whose 

 means are small. It can be raised at little ex- 

 pense and sold at a reasonable rate, and where- 



