192 



Or the Rearing and Management of Poultry. 



punished, as he justly deserves, with confinement or banishment. 

 We have waited until we have shown the opposite propensities dis- 

 played by different turkey cocks in a state of domestication, before 

 we have taken into consideration the situation of the hatching nests. 

 Should the turkey cock not be ill disposed, then the nests may be 

 made in the turkey-house, while he is allowed to roost in it as 

 usual ; but should his character not be of the best sort, then he must 

 be either excluded from the house or the nests must be made in 

 some other situation. So much depends on the construction of 

 the buildings that it is very difficult to give an opinion suitable to 

 all circumstances. Should the turkey-house not be perfectly free 

 from dampness, then it will be best to have the nests in that 

 apartment of the fowl-house occupied by the breeding-fowls; but 

 should the turkey-house be all that can be desired, then I would 

 either advise the exclusion of the cock or the dividing of the house 

 into two parts similar to the fowl-house. I must here repeat 

 my conviction of the necessity of having the hatching-nests in the 

 apartment in which are the laying-nests. 



The Pea-fowl. — The pea-fowl is, in its habits, so very similar 

 to the turkey, that the directions for the management of the one 

 will suffice for the management of the other. We therefore think 

 that we would not be justified in lengthening our essay by 

 entering into details. 



Nor do I feel a description of its appearance necessary, as its 

 beauty and elegance are not only allowed but appreciated by all. 



Since it is so very seldom sent to table, and so very unprolific, 

 we look upon it as only an ornamental bird, more adapted for the 

 pleasure-ground than for the farm-yard. 



At the commencement of the laying season the peahen makes 

 the advances, a peculiarity we could not pass over. 



The Guinea-fowl. — The guinea-fowl, like the turkey and pea- 

 fowl, is of a roving disposition, and requires much the same 

 management. 



On account of its not standing high as a sitter and mother, the 

 common fowl is very frequently employed to hatch its eggs. The 

 young are very tender^ and should receive similar attention and 

 should have the same sort of diet as the turkey chicks. 



It is not my province to enter into the subject of "which is the 

 most profitable sort of poultry?" yet I may be allowed to say 

 that I do not consider the guinea-fowl so profitable as the com- 

 mon fowl. The eggs, although of good quality, are too far below 

 the standard size for the market. 



I acknowledge that the guinea-fowl, at the end of the game 

 season, brings a good price, but may this not be attributed to its 

 great scarcity in comparison with other poultry ? A fact v.^hich 

 would warrant the assumption of its unprofitableness. 



