z6 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



which of itself will be a very great saving, as pure-bred 

 birds cannot be purchased in large numbers. Therefore it 

 is necessary to look ahead a little, and no one must expect 

 to get into full working order all at once, as it will take twelve 

 months at least to do this, where the intention is to keep 

 large numbers ; but of course those who wish to keep only 

 a few for their own household purposes can buy birds and 

 have all going on smoothly in a short time. As an instance 

 of the erroneous ideas not uncommon, we once heard of a 

 brick manufacturer who, through the depression in trade, 

 had some of his kilns thrown out of use. It was suggested 

 to him that if wooden partitions were placed in these they 

 would make capital fowl houses. He at once seized upon 

 the idea, and talked about buying five thousand hens at once. 

 If he had not met with some one who pointed out that, apart 

 from his own inexperience, his place was thoroughly unsuitable 

 for poultry, the land being strong clay, very damp, without 

 grass, and only half a mile from the sea, he would probably 

 have carried out his plan, and his enterprise could only 

 have had one result, namely, an entire and dismal failure. 

 Those who by false statements deceive others deserve more 

 than ordinary reprobation, and the injury done is not con- 

 fined to the immediate sufferers, but to the nation at large, 

 as many who might succeed are prevented making the 

 attempt from these failures. 



The first thing to do, whether the number to be kept is 

 large or small, is to decide upon where the birds are to be 

 placed, and the amount of ground that can be given to 

 them. In many places this will be very speedily settled ; for 

 instance, in small suburban and cottage gardens, if fowls 

 are to be kept at all, there will be little if any choice of 

 position. But where the ground is more extensive, as upon 

 farms, more consideration will be necessary. In the latter 

 case it may be decided to scatter the houses all about th° 



