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GEYELIN'S
POULTRY BREEDING, IX
A Commercial
Point of View,
AS CARRIED OUT BY THE NATIONAL POULTRY COMPANY (limited), BROMLEY, KENT.
NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL HATCHING, REARING AND FATTENING, ON ENTIRELT NEW AND SCIENTIFIC PBINCIPLES, WITH
ALL THE NECESSARY PLANS, ELEVATIONS, SECTIONS, ANB DETAILS, AND A NOTICE OF THE
POULTKT ESTABLISHMENTS IN FEANOE. BY
GEO.
KENNEDY GEYELIN,
WITH
A
C.E.
P B E F A G E
CHARLES
L. FLINT,
SECKETAHY MASSACHUSETTS STATE BOAED OF AGRICnLTUKE. AUTHOB " MILCH COWS AND DAIRY FAEMING," *' GEASSES AND FOBAGE PLANTS.'
WITH TWENTY-SEVEN ILLUSTRATIONS.
BOSTON: A. WILLIAMS & CO., loo WASHINGTON 1867. t5
ST.
Entered, according to Act of CongreBS, in the year 1867, by
A. Williams In the Clerk's
Office of the Dietrict
&
Co.,
Court of the District of Massachusetts.
stereotyped at the Bostnn StereolTpe Foundiy,
No. 4 Spring Lane.
PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.
Most
of the experiments in keeping poultry on a
large scale have either failed entirely or only partially
succeeded.
itself,
What
be found
Is it to
or does
it
the cause of failure in such cases?
is
in
any inherent
arise
difficulty in the
system
from the want of the application
of rational principles ?
Why
should not poultry keeping
as a business succeed as well in proportion to the
num-
ber kept as poultry keeping on a small scale?
Why
may
not an individual succeed as well with a thousand
inmates of his poultry yard as with
fifty
or a hundred,
provided he gives the proper attention to the individual
wants and requirements of each? This little work attempts to answer these questions,
and
it
appears to do so
satisfactorily.
It
has attracted
a great deal of attention, not only in England, where poultry keeping in this country, scale,
it
is
is
followed with enthusiasm, but also
where,
if
it
is
followed on a smaller
very generally pursued as a necessary con-
comitant of every farmyard.
No work on
the subject (3)
PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.
4
has treated of poultry in a commercial point of view,
— that
keeping of poultry in large numbers, so fully or so completely as as a business operation, this of Geyelin; and hence it may be said to be the the
is,
—
only truly valuable
work on
the subject.
Poultry will not bear over-crowding any better than other stock.
and
wander
they have
from
far
have their
liberty,
not essential that
full
Some breeds Some are well.
more or
of domestic not disposed
they
if
freedom to go wherever they please. little
attention
made
to
It
has been paid to
keep them on a
where they must, of course, be subjected less
confinement.
Again, so far as in this
air
should have
headquarters even
their
point in the attempts
large scale,
pure
for
it
while others are never easy unless
probable that too
this
to
It is
bear confinement
fowl
is
must have space enough
and unlimited range.
free
to
It
ventilation.
we know, most
of the attempts
made
direction appear to have had the production of
poultry for market as a leading object, while question whether, commercially speaking,
it
is
is
it
a
desirable
to
grow fowls mainly
in
eggs as the leading pursuit, leaving the production
for meat.
There
is
more
profit
of meat as secondary or incidental to the primary object.
No
soil of any location has an important on the health of poultry. cold, heavy, un-
doubt the
influence
A
drained locality
The good it
soil
is
quite unsuited to
the poultry yard.
should be warm, dry, and sunny, one that
for grass.
If plenty of fish
oflTal
were
should furnish a considerable part of the food.
to breed,
it
is
accessible,
As
might be any of those commonly known as
PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.
5
" everlasting layers," of which, perhaps, the Leghorn, sometimes called the White Spanish, or Andalusian,
To meet
as desirable as any.
a large scale,
would be necessary
it
to resort to artificial
hatching and rearing, both of which are perfectly ble
for
;
no one could afford
to rely
upon hens
purpose where the primary object was
number of
largest
May.
At
five
to
feasi-
for this
obtain the
Suppose, then, the chickens
eggs.
were hatched from the
first
of April to the middle of
weeks old they could be turned out and
treated according to one of the following systems ist.
is
with eminent success on
Enclose grass land
:
—
quarter-acre lots, with a
in
small poultry house in each, or a quadruple house in the centre of four
hens
— never
somewhat would be
lots,
with accommodations for
Young
more.
fifty
chickens might do well in
numbers through the summer, but it as a general rule, to limit the number
larger safer,
to fifty.
2d. Build coops of lath or thin boards, about ten feet
long, four feet wide, and
two
feet high,
— four
feet
in
length at one end to be a tight house, or coop of boards,
with floor and feeding conveniences, water, &c., latticed portion
to
be bottomless.
each end, so that two
men
could
lift
— the
Arrange handles at and move the whole.
Set these coops upon grass ground, and
move them
their
length or width daily, thus affording a fresh grass run.
Twelve chickens should do well
in each.
As
soon as
they can be distinguished, separate the cocks from the pullets,
and never allow them together except
ing purposes afterwards. marketable,
sell
As
soon
as
the
for breed-
cocks are
them, reserving only the best individuals
PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.
6
as breeders, with
little,
any, regard to consanguinity.
if
Keep an unlimited supply of cracked corn enough
until they are large
to eat
main
Give also some variety with a
diet.
The
when
whole,
before
when
This, with grass,
be given them uncracked.
food.
it
it
is
them
may their
animal
little
pullets should begin to lay early in October,
they should have a plenty of fish waste, and lime
some form, in addition to the grain. In twelve months from the time they begin to lay they should produce one hundred and fifty eggs each, and if properly cared for they might do more. As soon as the hens stop laying and begin to moult, kill and sell them. in
The white Leghorns do not
I
know
are always ready for the table.
that
tried
on a large scale
why
it
;
movable
this
soiling or
for
it
hay.
;
been
Grass will grow
should not prove successful.
wonderfully under
coop has
but there seems to be no reason
and
this
Some
could be used either for
other conveniences wouldy
of course, be necessary in winter.
A
coop of the above-mentioned
modate twelve laying hens
size would accomand four of them, with forty-
would probably do
eight hens,
number
;
in the enclosure plan,
better than the same and avoid the necessary
investment for fences and repairs. in such confinement,
will
pay
growth,
Now,
batter than
if
it
is
is
one coop will succeed, or
there
why any number
supplied, either in
probably true.
like that described will succeed,
son
say poultry
when all their wants are when running at liberty,
or eggs; and
fat,
Some
if
one enclosure
what conceivable
should not?
that success in anything depends as
rea-
We all know
much upon
details
PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. as
upon plan.
Without
With only
certain.
attention to
failure
This
to those
who
little treatise is full
are interested
of suggestions
of a practical character, valuable even for those are keeping poultry only
ceed in placing
it
upon a small
my
who
scale.
If I suc-
within the reach of those
who have
sought in vain to procure a copy, plished
is
one, success can be but partial.
These are only suggestions in the subject.
either,
7
I shall
have accom-
object.
Charles L. Flint, Sec'y Mass. State
Boston,
May
8, 1867.
Board of Agriculture.
PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION.
In writing endeavored
this
to
essay on
avoid
all
poultry breeding, I have
technical
usual verbiage to swell a book.
upon
topics
expressions and the
Neither have I touched
which have no immediate concern with the
subject matter, but I have confined to
myself exclusively
giving publicity to such facts as I have proved by
actual experience ; and I firmly believe that this treatise
on poultry breeding, view,
is
in a ;purely
commercial point of
the only one ever published, in this or
other country, from which the public can learn enter
upon a highly
profitable
any
how
to
and pleasing undertaking,
without having to pay the usual heavy penal-
and
this
ties
of experimenting..
I
must, however,
caution the
reader not to be startled by the novel plan of hatching, rearing,
and fattening poultry which
I
advocate, and
of which they cannot find corroboration in any other
book; and I advise them, before ciples herein
when
I
put
forth, to well
criticising
weigh
all
that
the prinis
stated,
doubt not that every one will admit that the
principles are logical
and based upon sound sanitary (9)
PREFACE.
lO
and
scientific laws.
To
increase the size of this pub-
might, like others, have copied and annexed
lication, I
chapters on diseases and their remedies their peculiar
distinguishing features
cubation from
the
the present day the Assyrians
book
is
not
My desire
on races and
1865
but to publish a voluminous
;
object.
is to
impart to the public in general, in as
comprehen-
and even then leaving them ample
sketches,
in-
artificial
ancient Egyptians and Chinese to
as possible, with the assistance of
few words sive
;
on
on the history of domestic fowls from
;
to
my
;
lati-
tude to engross, certain general rules and matters ascertained
by experience on
Should
object to the
bear
its
profitable poultry breeding.
be fortunate enough
I
satisfaction
own reward by
will
accomplish
my
this
task will
a rapid development of poultry
breeding in England, as wfeU
which
to
of the public,
add materially
to
as
in
other
the wealth
countries,
and comfort
of nations.
From the last Trade Returns it appears that upwards of three hundred million of eggs are now imported annually into England Can anything show !
more lies
forcibly
open
to
the
immense and
profitable
field
that
English enterprise in poultry breeding?
G. K. G. Belgrave House, Argyle SquARE,, W. C.
CONTENTS, Page
Considerations on the Necessary Appliances to Successful Poultry Breeding A Poultry Home. The Open Run The Glass-covered Run. The Roosting and Laying-Room. The Hatching-Room. Reference to Plan and Perspective Section of the Poultry Home and Vinery General Rules to be observed in Poultry Breeding. The Laying of Eggs. The Ovarium.
.........
Natural Hatching General Observations on Poultry Food and Drink.
The Drink for Poultry. Food for Young Chickens The Food for the Breeding and Laying The Food for the Fattening Stock., .
•
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
34 35
.
35 36 37 38
38 43
Portable Artificial Hen for Hatching Artificial Poultry Hens for Rearing Chickens. Reference to Perspective Section of Artificial Hen.
... .
45 48 .
Home
50 51
Reference to Perspective Section of Artificial Rearing Artificial Vermin Nursery. Improved Fattening Pens for Cramming Poultry. . Preservation of Eggs
Whitewash. Lime Water Oxide and Sulphate of Iron.
27 28
33 .
Hatching-Room
Rearing
24 26
.32
.... .........
Artificial
20
.31
.
.
Artificial
18
20
32 Stock.
Preparation of the Fattening Food. Poultry Manure. The Feathers of Fowls. The Moulting of Fowls. Diseases in Poultry Various Races of Poultry Killing and Dressing Poultry for the Market Machinery, Implements, and Utensils. Artificial Hatching.
The
16
31
.
.
13
Home.
52 53 55 56
.
58
General Plan of Buildings.
cm
.
59
CONTENTS.
12 Bird's-Eye
View and Section of
a Poultry-Breeding Estab-
60
lishment.
66 The Patent Vermin Attraction Trap Estimate of Revenue and Expenses for a Poultry68-70 Breeding Establishment of 3000 Stock Fowls. The Laws of Nature in Relation to Poultry Keeping. 71 Egg Preserving. 'Ji
...
Patent Pneumatic Self-indicating Air-tight Jars. Packing the Eggs Why Eggs should be packed with the Small End upwards.
.
Warming
Poultry Homes. Our System of selling Poultry Extracts from the "Journal of Horticulture and Cottage Gardener." Home Supply of Poultry and Eggs Poultry and Egg-preserving Company. Home Supply of Eggs and Poultry.
....
Poultry Keeping from a Commercial Point of View. Poultry and Egg Company Poultry Keeping from a Commercial Point of View.
Report of Mr. Geyelin, May
.
.
.
.
75 76 77 77
78 83 83 85
86 88 91
93
1865
96
Poultry Breeding Vegetable Growing or Market Gardening Poultry Breeding and Vegetable Growing Estimate of Revenue and Expenses. Proposed Stock
97 98
100
Working.
loi
17,
.
Report of Mr. Geyelin on the Poultry Establishments IN France, July 10, 1865 The Object of the Voyage Natural and Artificial Incubation
The Rearing
of Poultry.
Feeding and Fattening Killing apd Dressing
Waste Products The System of Selling. The Distinct Breeds. Caponage and Virgin Cocks. Utilizing the
Opinions on
my
my
103
104 107
m
113 116
118
no 121
124
System of Poultry Breeding and Rural
Economy. Analysis of
99 99
Observations
124 125
POULTRY BREEDING.
Considerations on the Necessary Appliances to Successful Poultry Breeding. •
A sibly
universal notion be bred with
when
prevails that poultry cannot pos-
profit except
on farms, and then only This
bred in large quantities.
is
a most mis-
taken idea, as a few heads of poultry will yield proportionately as instance,
much
whereas
profit as
For
any larger numbers.
in large establishments
heavy expenses
are incurred for buildings, rent, machinery, and labor, these
who
charges do not occur with the amateur breeder attends on his
own
poultry personally.
that large establishments can
and grow
their
own
vegetables
pensated with the amateur for his
buy ;
but
who
eggs and poultry, even
if
sumption, than the large breeder, his
produce through a salesman
However,
to obtain
It is true
their cereals cheaper,
again,
this,
is
com-
obtains a better price
used for his ow^n con-
who at
is
obliged to
sell
wholesale prices.
such satisfactory
results,
lutely necessary to observe certain sanitary
construction of the poultry home, and to
it is
abso-
laws in the see that (13)
the
POULTRY BREEDING IN
14 dietary scale in
is
conformable to the confined
fact,
food as they could pick up poultry
state,
and,
providing poultry with an equivalent of such
home
and large breeders, and one cock and
tion of
when
is
six
The
in a free state.
amateurs
I suggest is applicable alike to
intended for the accommoda-
hens for breeding, or twelve
hens for laying, and twenty-four to thirty half-grown chickens
and as the same principle must be carried
;
out,
whether
that
where
in small or large establishments,
it
requires only one
or thirty birds,
home
will require one
it
it
follows
for seven, twelve,
hundred homes
for
seven hundred, twelve hundred, or three thousand birds,
and so on
in proportion to the
magnitude of the breeding
This plan has, moreover, the advantage
establishment.
of keeping the races and sexes separate, of affording
an easy inspection, and of extending and multiplying the
homes gradually with
the
growth of the
establish-
ment, besides facilitating the labor in feeding and hatching,
and the sanitary requirements.
idea entertained
is,
in a confined state
;
that poultry will
Another erroneous never thrive well
whilst, in fact, they will thrive
much
and be much more productive than when
better,
roaming about
in all
vided the directions given hereafter are implicitly
lowed
:
however,
in a
damp and
and
ill-adapted
thrive; but
it
is
fol-
so far true, that poultry confined
ill-ventilated place,
diet to their
whose
left
weathers in search of food, pro-
and having a
deficient
confined state, can never
fault is this?
Why,
it
might as well
be said that a person cannot thrive during solitary confinement, when it is well known that prisoners with a regular diet, comfortable cells, and appropriate labor,
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
1
soon become very sleek and healthful in appearance,
and that
and fewer
in proportion there are less disease
deaths in prisons than aniong the free population are compelled to seek a precarious living in
all
who kinds
of weather, and whose homes are wretched hovels, deof
ficient
all
sanitary requirements.
now
Moreover, farmers have carried in
on
for a
successfully the rearing
number of years
and fattening of
cattle
confined spaces (which are called stall-fed cattle),
and which system, although nominally more expensive, is
yet far
cattle
;
more
profitable than the ordinary rearing of
why
should the same system not be extended
and
to poultry?
In general, the management of poultry of too it
is
importance, and
little
is left
considered
true that of late years the poultry exhibitions
created a taste for poultry breeding solely to
amateurs and what Yet, amongst
breeding. is
is
pretty well to chance
in proportion to
and useful
;
its
all
may be
but this
is
confined
called fancy poultry
domestic animals, the fowl
keep the most profitable
cost or
and hereafter
;
:
have
will prove
I
by
figures ob-
tained by actual experience that poultry can be reared
and sold
at the rate of four
pence per pound, and leave
a handsome profit.
Now, such
when
is
butchers'
meat
at ten
results
— particularly
pence and one shilling
per pound, and moreover daily rising in price on account of the increase of population and the decrease of pasturage
— ought
to
prove a
public at large to give a
sufficient stimulant to the
little
more
attention
and con-
sideration to an increased production of such valuable
animal food, which,
by proper management, would.
POULTRY BREEDING IN
1
very few years, become as
a
within
of the poor as
forms
it
now
much
the food
a delicacy for the rich
only.
A Ought
Poultry Home
to consist of four separate
sive of the glass-covered passage
compartments, exclu-
which runs the whole
length of the building, to facilitate the service at
all
times and weather. I St.
2d.
A roosting and A glass-covered
fined in
3d.
run, in
which they can be con-
wet weather.
A
hatching-room.
An
4th.
laying compartment.
open run.
The Open Run. the well-ascertained fact that
Starting with
poultry
cannot possibly thrive or be kept in good health on
damp
ground,
it
becomes necessary, where there
surface gravel land, to is
make an
artificial
dry run
is :
no this
best accomplished with concrete, which, besides being
cheaper than flag-stones or bricks, does not absorb the moisture, and
is
much warmer
to the feet.
This run should be formed slightly concave, as shown
by Fig.
9,
and have an incline towards
the rain-water
can be discharged
into
its
end, where
a drain com-
municating with the duck pond.
During summer a few inches deep of gravel, and about nine inches deep of horse manure, ought
in winter
to cover the floor of this run,
which
will afford the fowls
ample exercise by scratching and running.
The
gravel
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
17
and horse manure should be turned over at least once a week, and renewed whenever they become too much impregnated with the fowls' droppings.
This will pre-
vent the diseases which a tainted ground gives
among
The
poultrj'.
sides
rise to
and top should be formed
of galvanized iron-wire netting of about one and a half inch meshes for full-grown poultry, and one inch meshes for chickens.
In fine weather the food should be thrown
broadcast on this run
but in wet weather the poultry be fed from feeding-vessels placed in the roosting-room, and near to the door of the covered run.
ought
;
to
Fig. 1 Fig. 2.
Feeding Trough.
Drinking Fountain.
Feeding Fountain.
The above fountains are constructed on the principle when placed with their opening towards, and about
that
one foot from, the wall, the poultry will be unable scratch
any
perches
fall in.
Some
dirt
in,
persons advise boarding the sides of the run to
the height of
two
feet, to
prevent the cocks of
jacent run from fighting together;
narrow a run, would is
to
nor can the droppings from the
not desirable
;
besides,
tlie
ad-
however, in so
partially exclude the "sun,
which
cocks after a few days' ac-
quaintance become very neighborly. 2
this,
POULTRY BREEDING IN
1
The Glass-covered Run. The
compartment should be composed
floor of this
of at least six inches deep of finely-sifted gritty
such as road dust, ashes,
and sand, and on
this
stuff,
would
it
be well to sprinkle occasionally some flour of sulphur, which would prevent vermin breeding on the fowls. It is the universal belief that
to get rid of
exactly the
vermin on
powder themselves
their bodies
The
case.
fowls
fact
is,
;
but such
fowls, like
feathered tribes, perspire freely, particularly so night time
:
is
during
perspiration clogs their feathers
this
not
other
all
con-
;
sequently they perform their ablution in gritty dust on the
same principle
that
human
beings do in water, to
get rid of the dried perspiration and to feathers.
The same can be
birds of the
make
air,
seen
expand
their
performed by the
which, on a dry, hot summer day,
their ablutions in the dust of the roads.
In this run the fowls ought to be kept close during
wet weather,
as
wet
health, particularly
feathers are
when
most injurious
to their
in a confined state.
The Roosting and Laying Room Should be kept scrupulously clean, swept out
daily,
and
occasionally thoroughly whitewashed, the floor slightly
sanded over daily.
The nests, in a sanitary point of view, ought to be made of earthen ware, partly filled with fine sand or cocoa-nut refuse, and slightly sprinkled over with flour
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. The
of sulphur.
1
roosting perches should be formed of
hot-water pipes, as they are of the utmost importance
keep the poultry
to
warm
during the cold nights, and
cool during hot nights, and
which
induce a con-
will
tinuous laying of eggs during a time
when
they are
most scarce either for hatching or consumption.
Most persons
must
have
observed
that
even
the
heaviest fowls will seek to perch nearest to the ceiling,
and that when roosting This
open.
easily
is
their
versant with the aerostatic laws air
being lighter than cold
ly the
warmest place
ceiling
;
air
in a
it
by ;
room
will
;
in
this
consequent-
be nearest
air.
when
to the
roost-
Another impor-
room
tant point in the construction of this
Different gases, varying
or
con-
namely, that heated
therefore fowls open their feathers
of a perfect ventilation
ruffled
persons
all
will ascend
ing to admit the warm, ascending
formed
are
feathers
explained
is
the creation
without causing any draught. in
their
gravity,
specific
room, namely, carbonic acid, which
a heavy gas and hangs near the floor, the
are is
ammoniacal
gas from the excrements of fowls, and carburetted hy-
drogen gas from the exhalation of the fowls, both of
which gases are ing.
It
light,
ple of ventilation
gases can
is
rise to the ceil-
by which both
the heavy and light
be got rid of without causing a draught,
which would be This
and consequently
becomes, therefore, necessary to adopt a princi-
prejudicial to the health of the fowls.
accomplished by two pieces of perforated zinc,
one opposite to the other, near the
floor,
and the same
near the ceiling, and at least twelve inches above the roosting perches.
POULTRY BREEDING IN
20
The Hatching-Room,
my
In
plan,
is
situated immediately
room,
which the hen
in
above the roosting-
—
the one two compartments a suphas where she the other
and composed of sits,
ply of gritty dust to perform her ablutions.
Reference to Plan and Perspective Section of THE Poultry Home and Vinery.
A
is
n glass-covered passage running the
whole length
of the building, and from which communication tained by means of doors to the
homes on
either
all
is
ob-
the compartments of
This passage ought to be
side.
about six feet wide and eight feet high to the
rise of
the roof.
a tiles,
a flue formed of bricks and covered with paving-
is
with ventilation
at
certain
distances.
This
flue
runs the whole length of the building, and ought to
be about nine inches wide and serves for
warming
fifteen
the building
inches deep
by means of hot
:
steam, or hot-water pipes, and the admission of heat regulated
The
by means of the
floor should
it
air, is
ventilators.
be formed of concrete, the sides of
whitewashed boards, and the roof of glass with movable frames at certain distances to allow of ventilation.
This passage can be turned
to
a profitable account by
being used as a vinery or conservatory without extra
B
is
the roosting-room, about three- feet square
six feet high.
The
floor should
cost.
and
be made of concrete,
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
21
POULTRY BREEDING IN
22
the sides and ceiling of whitewashed boards tions of the nest should also
the parti-
;
be made of whitewashed
boards, and the nest of earthen
ware
;
but the top board
covering the nest should project a few inches to prevent the droppings falling in. c
d
is
a door
communicating with the passage, and
with the covered run.
In this door an opening ought
to be made provided with a glazed
and ingress of the fowls.
slide for the egress
In this compartment fowls
should be fed in wet weather, and the drinking fountain
ought also
cast-iron eter,
to
be placed here.
The perches
of
pipes should- be about three inches in diam-
and placed respectively three and four
feet
from
the floor.
Fig-
5.
Hatching- Room-
rig. 6.
C, the hatching-room,
ments nest,
— one
is
composed of two compart-
for the gritty dust,
and the other
for the
which should be of earthen ware, the same as
the laying
nests.
The
whitewashed boards.
floor,
sides,
for
and ceiling are of
The compartments
are
eighteen
inches square by two feet high, the door glazed, and
with
perforated
zinc
covered with asphalted
above felt.
for ventilation
;
the
roof
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. be
Z), the glass-covered run, should not feet long, three feet
six
feet to
ought
to
should
wide, four
feet
high
on top of the
the apex
of whitewashed
Fig
the
of separate Fig. 6), on
sides
perch
compartment.
Fig. 8.
open run, should be not
recommend
this
7.
long, three feet wide, I
A
boards.
and
which
The
be movable to admit of ventilation.
be formed
than six
less
to the rise,
glass frame,
can also be fixed with advantage in
E,
23
and three
less
for the construction of
wooden frames
six feet
which the wire netting
than twelve feet high.
feet
The plan
open runs by three
is fixed,
consists feet (see
and grooved
Fig. 9.
uprights, in
which these frames are
The frames forming
slid.
(See Figs.
7, 8.)
the top can be joined together
by
POULTRY BREEDING IN
24 hinges.
By
adopting this plan, the whole run can be
in
a few minutes, or any part can be taken
removed
away
for repair without interfering
with the others, or
some spare frames might even be kept place those that want repairing.
General Rules to be observed
in stock to re-
Poultry
in
Breeding.
The Breeding
The hens
selected to breed
from the
cock until they are
I St.
apart
Stock.
months old
from should be kept at
least
twelve
and the cock should not be less than eighteen months old before he is put' with hens, as a ;
too early call on nature degenerates the breed. 3d. Whatever races are selected, they should be the most perfect specimens that can be obtained, as the first outlay will repay itself.
3d.
That the
except where for
this
distinct races
it is
be kept
strictly separate
intended to obtain a cross breed
the finest specimens of both races
and and sexes ;
should be selected.
Not more than
4th.
hens should be allotted to
six
a cock.
After the third breeding
5th.
year
either to sell the. stock or to fatten
as they
become
less fecund,
and
it
them
their
is
advisable
for the market,
progeny are apt
to 'degenerate. 6th.
The eggs should be
collected at least three times
a day, as in a fecundated egg, hours, the is
germ very soon
when
set
upon
gets developed,
afterwards unfit for hatching.
for a few and the egg
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. The
7th.
35
stock must be fed regularly at sunrise and
the afternoon an hour before going to roost.
The Laying
When
I St.
tion
it
it
intended to
is
Stock.
sell
advisable to pen hens
is
the eggs for consumpup without a cock to
prevent the eggs being fecundated, as they will then
keep fresh much longer
this
;
system of keeping hens
by themselves has another great advantage, as they
many more eggs during
lay a great
About twelve
2d.
eighteen hens can be kept
to
gether in a home, as
shown by
The eggs should be
3d. 4th.
For
feeding, the
will
the year. to-
Fig. 4.
collected twice a day.
same
rule applies as above
;
and
the reason for selecting sunrise and afternoon for feed-
ing time
is,
that
is
it
before and after the laying time,
during which the hens on their nest would get no food.
The Chickens.
From
1st.
when
time
the
they are
hatched to the time
they begin to roost, not more than twelve chickens
ought
to
be kept
dle together,
in
one compartment, as they will hud-
and the weak ones either get crushed or
suffocated.
The
2d.
ought clean their
to ;
place where
have a dry
and as the
young chickens
to
slanting,
(See Fig.
a room,
more than twelve which will keep the
roosting-box ought not to be
air in the roost.
retire
and be kept scrupulously
floor is the coldest part of
inches high, and to be
warm
the
floor,
14.)
POULTRY BREEDING IN
26 3d.
As
soon as they begin to roost on perches, they
can be removed
poultry-home, say about thirty to
to a
each home.
When
distinguished from penned up separate. From stock the breeding and laying stock will be selected
4th.
cockerels can be
the
the pullets, they should be this
to replace old ones.
5th. less
The
feeding of chickens ought to take place not
than three times a day, and be of a liberal kind,
with plenty of finely-chopped green vegetables, and an occasional
supply from
vermin
the
nursery,
but
no
meat should be given. 6th.
Occasionally a
little
and oxide
flour of sulphur
of iron mixed with their food will keep them in good health, also
drink.
sulphate of iron and lime water in their
The same
applicable for
is
kinds of poultry.
all
The Laying of Eggs Takes place
in
morning during the
the
months, and gradually
approaches, until moulting time arrives, cease laying
till
they have their
summer
day as the winter
later in the
new
when
the hens
feathers,
which
takes about two months.
Although a hen can only lay a determined number of eggs during
her
lifetime,
yet
her laying
may
be
stimulated by an appropriate diet (see Food), as also
by a genial temperature kept in the poultry-home. It has been satisfactorily proved that under such cumstances a hen will lay
at
least
during the winter months, a time
thirty
when
cir-
eggs more
they are most
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. valuable botli for
2'J
hatching and consumption
artificial
and taking an establishment with two thousand laying
and one thousand breeding hens, the extra be as follows
Three thousand hens
:
profit will
at thirty extra
eggs
equal ninety thousand at 15s. per hundred, £675, to be
warm
ascribed solely to a diet
but this
;
is
temperature and appropriate
not the only advantage derived from a
genial temperature during the winter months save, perhaps, hundreds of
pounds
from diseases caused by exposure
As can
it
also
be retarded
keep some hens are moulting, is
damp and
to
by
the laying can be forced
artificial
and when
;
;
may
it
in the loss of poultry
it
is
colds.
means, so
intended to
during the time that others
for laying
which generally begins
in September,
it
only necessary to pull out the feathers of such hens,
and
thus
an
produce
months sooner, say early
artificial
in July,
grown
laying until their feathers have
about two
moulting
when
they will cease
again.
The Ovarium. It
has been ascertained that the ovarium of a fowl
is
composed of six hundred ovulas or eggs therefore a hen, during the whole of her life, cannot possibly lay more ;
eggs than six hundred, which, in a natural course are dis tributed over nine years in the following proportion First year after birth,
.
.
.
.
15 to
:
—
20
Second
"
"
100 " 120
Third
"
"
Fourth
"
"
120 " 135 100 " IIS
Fifth
"
"
60 "
80
1
POULTRY BREEDING IN
28
Seventh
"
"
50 to 60 3S " 4°
Eighth
"
"
15
" 20
Ninth
"
"
I
" 10
Sixth year after birth
follows that
It
hens
pay
would not be
it
after their fourth year, as their
for their keep, except
when
profitable
keep
to
produce would not
they are of a valuable
or scarce breed.
Natural Hatching. The hens twenty-one
of
kinds of gallinaceous fowls
all
days
Aylesbury, Rouen, and others, twenty-eight days
covy ducks, thirty to thirty-five
days
;
days
turkeys,
;
days
thirty-five
;
geese,
Guinea fowls, twenty-eight days
twenty-eight
;
Mus-
;
thirty to
to
thirty
pea hens, twenty-
With a view of obtaining more
eight to thirty days.
eggs in a given time from a fowl, to
for
sit
ducks of the usual kind, such as
;
many
writers suggest
prevent the hen from sitting by cooping her up in
Nothing can be more
a dark place on a
low
cruel than to force
nature without giving that neces-
sary rest
which overwork
mesticated fowls lay
between
diet.
hatchings, and
their
and feeding, can be made it
is
by a
rest of
a liberal poultaceous
sound
by a judicious housing still more but then
pain,
as
hens utter
is
;
allow her to recruit her
twenty-one days on her nest, and diet,
as the laying of eggs,
particularly of large ones,
siderable
Already the do-
to lay
absolutely necessary to
strength
more
requires.
many more eggs than wild ones
evidenced
before and
is
by the
after
and
attended with con-
their
difference
laying,
of
and
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. from
also
on
their uneasiness whilst
39
their nest.
Besides,
domesticated fowls are naturally of a sociable disposition,
and
to separate a
her on a low diet
hen from her companions, and
when
keep
to
she requires rest and nourishing
food to recruit her strength after she has become exhausted
from the pain of laying and the drain on her constitution
by the rapid formation of eggs,
the height of cruelty,
is
and would surely not be practised were breeders aware of the injury they do the health of their hens.
I
do not
say that hens should be permitted to rear their brood, as that
would be waste of time, and most hard work
kind mother,
much
who
will but
as possible for her
nor night, as she
is
young
compelled
position to cover her
young
;
she has rest neither day
remain
to
The
ones.
performed with greater success by will
be explained hereafter
;
to a
feed herself to provide as
ill
in
an unnatural
rearing can be
artificial
mothers, as
but what I do advise those
who have a regard for the health of their fowls, and their own interest into the bargain, is to allow Nature her own way by giving a hen her twenty-one days' rest,
persons
and the while a quiet place and nourishing poultaceous
which time she can be returned to her own in a few days she will recommence laying. When a hen wants to sit she utters a peculiar cluck, ruffles her feathers, and wanders about, searches dark food
;
after
home, when
corners, and
is
evidently
and resolutely takes
whether of her her
;
at this
own
to
ill
at ease
she
is
feverishly hot,
production or not matters
little
to
time a hen will allow herself to be separated
from her companions, and placed without
;
a nest in which there are eggs,
fretting,
in solitary confinement,'
provided she has a nest and eggs
to sit
POULTRY BREEDING
30 upon.
IN
not advisable to allow a hen to hatch in her
It is
ordinary home, and amidst her companions,
who
of usurping the nest, and laying fresh eggs in
A warm
are fond
it.
moisture being necessary to the hatching of
strong and healthy chickens, as evidenced by wild birds
and hens
that
sometimes unobserved will hatch a brood
under a hedge in the
fields, I
recommend
the sitting nest
be made of earthen ware, the same as for laying, with this difference, that a fresh-cut piece of turf should be
to
placed on the sand, and on which the eggs are put
;
the
heat of the hen will soon generate steam, but whenever the turf gets too dry,
some water may be poured on
the
sand underneath.
The number necessarily
China, or
of eggs to be placed under a hen must
depend on her
Bramah
size.
A
Dorking, Cochin
Pootra, or other large breed, can with
every certainty hatch at least fifteen eggs the selection of eggs,
all I
can advise
is
;
and as regards
to select fresh
and
good-sized ones.
Some is
persons pretend to be able to
fecundated, and whether
female bird
;
it
will
tell
whether an egg
produce a male or
but these assertions have as yet not been
satisfactorily proved.
Fig. 10.
a commercial point of view.
3
General Observations on Poultry Food and Drink.
When
poulh'y
kept in a confined state
is
be appropriate.
A
fowl
l<;ept
can with advantage be fed
all
food must
its
on a farm
in a free state
the year round with barley
or oats only, as she will supplement her meals with ani-
mal and vegetable matters of her own finding
therefore
;
an equivalent should be given to penned-up poultry again, as they have not so
much
in a free state, their digestive
bodily exercise as
;
but
when
powers are weakened, con-
sequently they are subject to inflammation of the bowels
when
my
fed on
whole grain only.
After this explanation,
readers will understand the reason
why
I
advocate
all
grains to be ground, and the meat and vegetables to be
minced
;
but apart from the sanitary consideration,
comes an important economical establishment, as
made
it
is
well
known
it
be-
breeding
fact in a large
that poultaceous food
of pounded grain, and which calls
digestive organs, has far greater feeding
little
on the
and fattening .
whole grains.
qualities than the
There is another point connected with the feeding to which I wish to allude. The diet should be varied almost daily, but green vegetables finely
minced ought
to
form
part of every meal, and occasionally some oxide of iron,
and
at other times flour of sulphur,
will greatly tend to
keep poultry
in
mixed with good
their food
health.
The Drink for Poultry. The water should be changed clear lime-water,
mixed with
it.
and
at other
daily,
and occasionally
times sulphate of iron
POULTRY BREEDING IN
32
Food for Young Chickens. Indian and barley meal, boiled
rice,
mashed
bread crumbs, &c., steeped in milk and water the above, separate or
mixed
potatoes, ;
any of
together, will do well.
Finely-chopped green vegetables daily, and occasionally hard-boiled eggs chopped
fine,
with a supply from the
vermin nursery.
The water should be
two
fig.
saucers (see
Kg.
supplied between
ii) to prevent wetting themselves.
11.
Fig. 12.
or to
scrape the food out.
The
inner saucers can be
partly filled with coarse sand.
Clean water and a plentiful supply of food given about four times a day, and with the comfort of the artificial
mothers, chickens will keep in better condition than left to
roam
when
in search of food with a hen.
The Food for the Breeding and Laying Stock Can be composed of a mixture of the various cereals, made into a stiff paste. This food
coarsely ground, and
should be put in the feeding fountains, where it cannot be wasted or dirtied. Occasionally, in fine weather,
whole grain can be thrown broadcast
in the
open run.
Finely-chopped vegetables, such as the waste of the kitchen garden, mangold-wurzel, swedes, &c,, in a green
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
33
State, mashed boiled potatoes, and rice minced boiled meat mixed into a paste with the liquor from the meat, ;
and seasoned with
pepper, finely powdered oyster
salt,
forms a genial condiment.
shells, or a little chalk,
broken victuals from
hotels,
The
establishments, &c.,
large
can also be used with great advantage for the food of poultry.
Powdered charcoal, oxide of iron, and flour of sulphur, mixed alternately at certain intervals with their food,' will keep them
in perfect health.
The Food for the Fattening Stock. As
they are
more
still
closely confined, they require a
poultaceous diet of a highly fattening nature and of easy digestion.
When
once poultry
is
penned up
for fattening
the diet ought not to be varied.
There are three try for fattening 1st.
different
—
ways adopted
in feeding poul-
A free feeding, consisting of supplying a fowl with
food and water time,
:
is
ad
libitum.
more expensive, and
This takes much longer less
satisfactory
in
the
flesh.
2d.
Forced dry feeding, which
the fowl with
pills
times a day, and giving water 3d.
consists of
cramming
of poultaceous food twice or three
Forced liquid feeding
ad
libitum.
consists
of reducing the
poultaceous food to a liquid state with milk and water,
then to pour nel, three
it
down
the fowl's gullet,
by means of a
fun-
times a day, and not to supply them with any
water.
3
poultry breeding in
34
Preparation of the Fattening Food. Barley meal, or mixed in equal quantity with Indian
made
meal,
into a stiff paste with
seasoned with bay
This paste
then either
is
milk and water, and
salt.
made
liquid, for liquid feeding,
which should be dipped
or into pills,
into
milk and water
before they are given, so as to facilitate the swallowing.
Experiments have proved that the seasoning poultry food with bay
salt
1.
To render
2.
To
flesh 3.
produces the following advantages
:
—
the fattening of shorter duration.
produce, with the same quantity of food, more
and
fat.
To
give the flesh greater firmness and flavor, and to
more compactness and a finer grain. Molasses or sugar mixed with the meal has
the fat
fattening qualities.
The
also
good
duration of fattening must
much
depend on the condition, age, and health of the fowl, and in this, the same as in administering the food, actual experience
is
the best teacher, as no rules can well be laid
down.
Poultry Manure or Guano. With able
the ordinary
manure
Pacific,
and
is
all
lost,
way
of breeding poultry, their valu-
and we actually send ships
to the
over the world, to fetch those very drop-
we despise to collect at home. Yet, on a large breeding establishment, the collection of this manure, so much sought by florists, will yield a consider-
pings of fowls which
which can safely be calculated at the pounds per thousand fowls annually but
able extra profit, rate of
fifty
;
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. as vegetable growing, for
poultry,
is
refuse of
tlie
which
is
35
good food
almost a necessary adjunct to a large
breeding establishment, this manure would be valuable to the proprietor on his
own
still
more
land.
The Feathers of Fowls Are another source of where they can be a
much higher
sorted
price,
profit in large establishments,
and dried, as they will then fetch
and may be computed
at ten
pounds
per thousand heads.
The Moulting of Fowls Is classed
by many writers on poultry under the head
of diseases, w^hich
it is
not
;
but
with most animals in changing winter one stitution,
:
nevertheless,
it is
is
only a natural process
their
summer
coat for a
a great drain on their con-
and fowls, during moulting time, ought to be warm and stiniu-
kept warm, and liberally dieted with
lating food, such as boiled oatmeal seasoned with salt
and
pepper, chopped onions, mashed potatoes, and occasionally
bread crumbs soaked in strong ale or weak gin.
Oxide of
iron, lime water,
be given with advantage.
and sulphate of iron can This
also
diet will accelerate the
moulting, and produce a speedier resumption of laying.
Diseases in Poultry.
Most books on poultry contain a more
or less lengthy
description of the various diseases fowls are subject to,
and prescribe certain remedies
;
all
of which help to swell
POULTRY BREEDING IN
36
a book, but are perfectly useless for
We might as well
practical purposes.
all
try to doctor ourselves for diseases of
which we know nothing.
The
diseases in fowls
variable climate, to feeding,
and
dampness and
whilst yet
she will,
its
by many,
healthy companions, and, in
is fit
to kill her before she gets too far gone,
for the
market
when hacked
;
and
if
not
fit
make good food
up,
and
for the market, for the pigs.
acknowledge myself ignorant of the diseases in fowls,
consequently of their proper treatment
wish
to teach the public that
which
;
I
and as
state that,
my
I
have no
do not understand
myself by simply copying from other books,
to
injudicious
opinion, the best and most economical cure for a dis-
eased fowl
I
cold, to
fowl, as will have been observed
never kindly treated by
my
chiefly be ascribed to our
to ill-ventilated roosting-places.
A diseased is
may
I shall
only
with judicious feeding and housing, according
plan, there ought not to be one diseased fowl in a
thousand.
Various Races of Poultry.
On
this subject I
would
refer the reader for the desired
information to some special publication, as
it
does not
exactly enter into the considerations of poultry breeding in a
commercial point of view.
All that
be able
is
necessary to
know
of the different races
is to
to distinguish those that are. the best layers, the
best setters,
and the best
table fowls,
and never mind
about the particular points or feathers, the distinguishing characteristics of a fine breed.
Now, where
eggs are the sole object, some small breeds
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
37
more eggs than larger fowls for this, Hamburgh, Spanish, and some cross breeds may be kept
lay larger and
;
As
with advantage.
for fowls that will give, credit to the
breeder for their weight after being fattened, Dorkings,
Bramah
Pootras, and Cochin Chinas, and their crosses
should be selected.
Killing and Dressing Poultry for the Market.
Almost every locality has its own system, but I may advert to a few facts on this subject Poultry, when bled :
to death, is
much
whiter in the
flesh.
I
should advise the
following plan as the very best, causing instant death
without pain or disfigurement
Open
—
the beak of the fowl, then with a pointed and
narrow knife make an
which
:
will
incision at the
divide the vertebrae, and
back of the
roof,
cause immediate
which hang the fowl up by the legs till the then rinse the beak out with vinegar and water. Fowls killed in this manner keep longer and do not present the unsightly external marks as those killed death
:
after
bleeding ceases
;
by the ordinary system of wringing the neck. When the entrails are drawn immediately after death, and the fowl stuffed, as they
do
in France,
with paper shavings or
short cocoa-nut fibres to preserve their shape, they will
keep much longer
fresh.
Poultry before killing to is
breeders cram their ;
this
a most injudicious plan, as the undigested food soon
enters into fermentation, is
Some
make them appear heavy
and putrefaction takes place,
as
evidenced by the quantity of greenish putrid-looking
fowls that are seen in the markets.
poultry breeding in
38
Machinery, Implements, and Utensils. Without desiring the saving of labor,
to
recommend any
it is
particular plan fof
yet desirable to state that in any
establishment of magnitude the expense of labor forms a
prominent item, and that est
it
will therefore
be to the
inter-
of the proprietor to invest a certain capital in the
purchase of such machines and utensils as will not only
economize labor, but also perform the work much better than
it
The
could be done by manual labor. principal machines required are a grinding mill
for the grain, a
pug
mill for
mixing the poultaceous food,
a mincing machine for the meat and vegetables, a potato-
mashing machine with wooden rollers, a sifting machine for sand and vegetables, a weighing machine, scales, and sundry smaller machines.
Also a steam-boiling apparatus, a heating apparatus,
and in
fact such appliances as will not only
economize
labor but also materials, and particularly fuel.
The manual a
manner
labor itself ought to be subdivided in such
that each person has a particular
branch to by which every one will very soon become so expert in the special duty, that the work will be performed much better and in less than half the time. attend
to,
Artificial Hatching. Let
it
advocate
be well understood from the onset that I do not artificial hatching and rearing in exclusion of
the natural method, but solely as an absolutely necessary
accessory in any large breeding establishment.
Take,
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW, one thousand breeding fowls
for instance,
about one hundred and
fifty
39
tliey will lay-
;
thousand eggs per
annum
Now, supposing
a fowl
under ordinary circumstances.
to sit twice in the course of the year, she could, there-
allowing for casualties, more than twenty
fore, not rear,
chickens
per
:
would give only twenty thousand chickens
this
annum
;
whereas, with the assistance of
artificial
means, the remaining one hundred and thirty thousand eggs could also be hatched, and in lieu of twenty thou-
sand there could be produced
at least
one hundred and
thirty
thousand chickens, allowing also for casualties.
What
a result from science applied to practical pur-
poses
!
Sceptics will of course say
but
it
Now,
will never
do
—
it
it
looks very well on paper,
has been tried before and
forced themselves
circumstances
;
upon public consideration under
to
my own recollection
I
have
similar
have heard man-
ufacturers say that they should never give for
failed.
for such reasoning there are endless facts that
up hand-looms
power-looms, that the goods turned out did not come
up to hand-woven I have seen those who refused to follow the current of improvements swept away from the :
list
of once notabilities.
Up allow
to this very it
to
day many object
to gas,
and will not
be a great improvement on our old oil-lamps
what For railways and steam-
yet were gas ceased to -be manufactured to-morrow,
would be the general
feeling?
boats to cease running, and to have to revert to our old stage-coaches and sailing-ships,
would be not only
intoler-
able, but perfectly impossible. I
might adduce hundreds more
parallels,
with a view
POULTRY BREEDING
40 prove
to
to sceptics that
IN
improvements are not only
abso-_
lutely necessary in all that relates to our comfort, particularly
towards an increase in our food, but also that they
many
are perfectly unavoidable, as resisted the
improvements
in
farmers
who
at first
farming by drainage, ma-
chinery, and applied chemistry, have found to their cost.
Therefore, in adopting the expression of as
more
it
is
means,
mean to convey that mode of breeding poultry, but mode already adopted, and with-
readily understood, I do not
an entirely
solely
artificial
distinct
an addition to the
out which poultry breeding can neither be carried on to a large extent nor with great profit.
My parts
intention at
— the
second by of
my
first
first to
artificial
who
readers
was
two
to divide this treatise in
rearing poultry in a natural way, the
— with
means
object to
any
a view to please those artificial
means
;
but in
vain have I endeavored to draw a line where natural
means end and
artificial
domesticated fowl's
mode of living.
we
insensibly
means begin.
life is
much
as
The
fact
artificial as
is,
our
the
own
In truth, with the progress of civilization
and gradually create
for ourselves artificial
wants, which by degrees become absolute necessaries,
and amongst a thousand others I may mention potatoes, sugar, tobacco, &c. tion of such necessaries
we
;
and
for the
cheap produc-
create artificial labor (ma-
chines), steam-power, and artificial manure. all
this
tea, coffee,
Yet with
evidence of steady progress and improvements
before them, and in the current of
which they are drawn and carried onwards without knowing it, there are num-
bers of even well-informed persons
new
as preposterous
—a
who
ridicule anything
sure failure, not wanted
;
the
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. old thing
is
the best after
all
4
and yet these very persons
;
True they
are a living evidence against their assertions. will never be found
which,
among
of progress,
the pioneers
shallow minds could possibly arrest or would too gladly do but they can no more
if their
hinder, they
;
help themselves being dragged in the
wake
of progress
than they can stop the revolutions of our earth or the tides of the sea.
From
have had steam-power,
such persons
we
should never
railwa3-s, telegraphs,
machinery,
&c., to economize and multiply labor, to annihilate space
and time
;
and yet these persons share in the benefit
such improvements have created with the greatest composure, taking them as faits accompHs, nevet giving a
moment's thought that but a short time ago they were what they choose to call new-fangled things they forget ;
that the very clothes they wear, the food they eat,
and the
beverages they drink are mostly obtained in their superior
and cheap form by cal
and mechanical
artificial
means
;
that, in fact,
chemi-
results are combinations of artificial
For the raw materials we must, of course, depend on Nature but even those we can in some measure means.
;
improve by
art.
Therefore, ficial
means,
when I
I
speak of breeding poultry by
do not wish
to
arti-
convey that eggs (the raw
material) can be produced without a hen
;
but,
when we
have eggs, to produce chickens, and from chickens fowls,
by a wise appliance of such laws and combinations
as
much
as
science teaches us, as superior to brute care as artificial
labor by machinery
as hot-house-grown fruits in the
open
air,
and as
from the pasturage.
is
superior to manual labor,
and flowers excel those grown
stall-fed cattle are superior to
those
POULTRY BREEDING IN
43
There
is
nothing
new under
absolutely
even hatching chickens by
sun;
the
means has been
artificial
car-
ried on in Egypt, China, and other Eastern countries from
the remotest ages to the present day
yet in
:
England
it
has hitherto proved a failure in a commercial point of It is true that in
view^.
of
and
;
when
it is
is
a trade
on by many hundred proprietors of be apparent
carried
itself,
ovens
many
Egypt, where they hatch
millions of poultry annually, artificial hatching
their successful hatching will
stated that they sell
one hundred newly-hatched
chickens for about three shillings, or that they will return sixty chickens for every
hundred eggs intrusted
for hatching, free of charge.
climate and soil in
England
we
Egypt
to the rearing
It
is
also true
to
them
that the
more favorable than
are
of poultry
;
but then
why
in
should
not appeal to science to assist us in overcoming the
drawbacks of our
soil
and climate ?
No
doubt
we
shall
never be able to produce poultry as cheap as in Egypt,
where climate,
soil,
labor,
and
cost of land are eminently
favorable to a cheap production
can get
far
;
but in compensation
prices for our poultry, their feathers and' manure.
an acknowledged in
we
higher and in proportion more remunerative
fact that the artificial
It is
hatching of eggs
England, although carried out on principles not in
harmony with natural incubation, has yet proved more successful than the artificial rearing of chickens.
strict
far
This, of course,
way
is
ascribable solely to the improvident
chickens are treated before they have their natural
protection, their feathers, in a climate
where the sudden
changes in the temperature of the atmosphere, and the almost everlasting humidity of the
soil,
act prejudicially
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. on young animal
life
;
but surely these are
43 difficulties
which can easily be overcome? Do we not produce in England, by artificial means, as splendid tropical fruits as any tropical climate can produce ?
pass Egypt in rearing poultry
—
if
And why
not sur-
not in cost, at least in
and in scientific feeding and fattening, for which more remunerative prices are obtained? Well, all
quality far tliis
who
can
now be accomplished
will follow
ing poultry by
my
in
England by any person
plan of hatching,' rearing, and fatten-
artificial
means.
This plan must necessarily be modified according
to the
importance of the breeding establishment, and the number of eggs to be hatched daily from one to a thousand
;
but
main principles of a successful artificial breeding of poultry will under any circumstances remain the same. the
The
Artificial Hatching-Room.
Fig. 13.
Perspective Section)
POULTRY BREEDING IN
44
The
room should be of
floor of this
concrete, the sides
of movable glazed frames, and the roof of boards covered
with asphalted be
fitted
felt, slates,
or zinc.
The
interior
ought
to
along the sides with movable shelves, which
can be drawn out for cleaning
;
these shelves will be
divided into separate compartments three feet long, two
wide, and one foot high
feet
of galvanized iron wire a
In each
door.
;
artificial
the sides should be
compartment ought
underneath with long
lined
portable
;
so also the front,
fleece,
the
to
made
which forms be a frame
same
as in the
In these compartments the
mothers.
up to a week or which they are put under the care of an
chickens are placed from their birth ten days old, after artificial
movable hen, in small establishments, or in the
home
rearing
in
large
establishments.
These compartments ought
to
(See
be covered with
fig.
felt
17.)
carpet,
which must, however, be kept well cleaned, and occasionally
dipped in boiling water.
,
rig. 14.
The
best
way
to
supply food and water to so young
by means of two saucers, one within the other, between which the food or water is put. This will prechickens
.
is
vent their wetting themselves or scratching the food about.
(See
fig.
II.)
This hatching-room will require no heating apparatus, as the heat from the hatching apparatus, which is kept in
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. the middle of
this.
45
room, will keep the temperature
suffi-
ciently high during winter.
Near be
the ridge of the roof ventilating frames should
and near the
fixed,
one or two sliding doors
floor
should be provided to allow of the admission of cold
air.
Chickens hatched in a dry atmosphere will never be so strong
and healthy
ature, as is evidenced
as those hatched in a moist temper-
by the
of a brood hatched in a
loft
and as a moist temperature be provided for in
artificial
Tig. 15.
and one hatched is
in a field
highly desirable
it
should
hatching.
Portable Artificial
The apparatus
difference in the appearance
Hen
represented by
for Hatching. fig.
Perspective Elevation of Artificial
15,
Hen
although only
for Hatching.
POULTRY BREEDING IN
46
same
calculated to hatch one egg per day, combines the
advantages as one capable of hatching a thousand eggs
per day, and will answer
amateur breeder in
its
;
besides,
construction that
which, while hatching,
it it
all
it is
the requirements of an
so portable
and convenient
can be placed in a bed-room, will
keep
warm day and
night,
an equal temperature, and the light from the gas or
at
lamp
will serve as a night-light.
Transverse Section.
Fig. 16.
From will
the above perspective elevation and section
it
be seen that the hatching apparatus consists of
separate parts. 1
2.
3. 4.
A glass-covered box. A water-tank. A floating vessel, A gas or oil lamp.
The
glass-covered box
a glass door through
bottom of
this
box
is
is
made of japanned
which the
light
tin
;
it
has
;
the
can be seen
perforated in the centre for the
admission of air to the lamp, and the other part
is
car-
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. peted to receive
About
tlie
chickens as they leave their
water tank
for the escape of the
The
water.
the lid has a perforated border
;
and steam from the
air
vitiated
sides are provided with handles for carrying
the box from one place to another, and
The
shells.
twelve inches from the bottom are four brackets,
to receive the
knobs
47
it
stands on four
to allow a free passage of air underneath.
water-tank
is
made
of
and a
tin,
smaller than
little
the box, so as to allow about half an inch free passage of air all
The
round. floating vessel
also
is
made
of
tin,
and
smaller than the water-tank, so as to allow of in
The
it.
is
trifle
to show at all The bottom of this
kept
is
times the temperature of the water.
which
a
floating
centre of this vessel has an oval opening, in
v^hich a registering thermometer
vessel
is
its
covered about one inch deep with silver sand, on
tlie
eggs are placed.
By means
of the central
opening, and that between the tank, the temperature
kept in a constant moist or gas, but gas
is
to
of the apparatus
by a
tions will be necessary 1
Fill the
The lamp can be
for oil
certainly preferable.
The management can be attended
state.
is
:
child,
—
is
so simple that
and only a very few
tank with hot water
till
it
direc-
the floating vessel
reaches the top level, then see that the water has a tem-
perature of about one hundred and twelve degrees,
which
light the
increase, reduce the flame
decreases but slowly,
more or 2.
less air
The
afl:er
lamp, and should the heat of the water
it
;
but
if
the temperature rises or
can be regulated by admitting
through the door of the box.
principal point, however,
is,
that the tempera-
POULTRY BREEDING IN
48 ture
on the sand should not vary much from one hundred
and
five degrees,
and
be found that with water-heat
will
it
of one hundred and twelve degrees, the sand will be one
hundred and
five,
and on the eggs ninety-eight degrees.
For beginners, however,
it
always best to put the ap-
is
paratus in action a day or two before placing eggs in 3.
Turn
water replenished as
evaporates.
it
Hens for Rearing Chickens.
Artificial Poultry
Where
is
carried on as a commercial
it is
intended to rear the great-
poultry breeding
undertaking, and where est
number of chickens with
and
this
it.
the eggs once or twice a day, and keep the
the least
number of hens,
without interfering with their laying,
artificial
mothers are of the utmost importance.
The functions
of a hen towards her chickens consist of
forming a covering
prevent the natural heat of their
to
unfledged bodies from cooling pieces any food that protect .only
do
is
them against danger. all this,
also to
;
break into small
too large for them
Now, my
;
and
artificial
lastly, to
hens not
but they perform the duties a great deal
and with less casualties to the chickens. Most writers on poultry do not believe in
better,
hatching or rearing
;
artificial
yet might they as well doubt grow-
ing tropical fruits and plants in England.
Chickens do neither require their
mother
;
all
that
is
artificial
necessary
is
to
heat nor that of
provide them with
a suitable covering of their bodies until they are fledged, to preserve their natural heat, the infants.
During cold weather,
same
full
as with however, their homes
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. ^/^-
<-—ijt
49
POULTRY BREEDING IN
50
must be warmed the same as
for full-grown poultry
a good ventilation without draught, a dry
floor,
sun
then
;
light,
and a small run.
The portable artificial mother, particularly recommended to breeders and amateurs, is shown by fig. i^j. She performs her duties towards her chickens with far greater success than a hen possibly could do.
Reference to Perspective Section of Artificial Hen. frame three
j4 is a glass-covered
feet long, fifteen inches
wide, two feet high at the apex, and twelve inches at the
This forms a dry run in wet and
rise of the glass frame.
cold weather,
c is an air-flue across the
frame for the
necessary ventilation, and formed of perforated zinc.
each end of
a ventilator
this flue
is
fixed,
At
by which the
admission of air can be regulated according to the temperature of the atmosphere.
be apparent that
It will
chickens are not exposed to draught by this arrangement of ventilation,
d'ls
a.
frame lined with long
fleece,
under
which the chickens will roost the same as under the wings of a hen, and will even prefer the artificial mother, as I
have ascertained by experience,
deep of ashes, which sulphur
:
they
may be
e
is
about one inch
sprinkled over with flour of
make a dry and warm
footing,
and retain
the heat; but they should be renewed or sifted once a
week, y, the floor, should be slightly covered with sand and renewed every day. is a small door, communicat-
^
ing with the open run.
by means of a
slide
^ is a glass frame, made or by hinges.
to
open
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
B
is
5
the movable open run, six feet long, fifteen inches
wide, and twelve inches high. iron wire,
It is
made of galvanized
which not only keeps the chickens from dan-
ger, but also prevents
them from roaming.
The
artificial
mother being portable should be taken- in-doors every afternoon during the cold weather, and in the daytime
However,
should be placed on grass or dry land.
large breeding establishments, the arrangements
be
and are explained
different,
in the " Artificial
for
would
Rearing
Home." Artificial Rearing Home. In poultry breeding establishments of any magnitude the portable artificial mother could not well be used with
advantage for a
;
its cost,
and the labor that would be required
proper attendance on the chickens, are obstacles
which cannot be overlooked without in fact, as I
have stated before,
in
loss to the
breeder
;
any large establishment
a judicious arrangement for saving labor and for per-
forming the work systematically by subdivision of labor,
becomes of the utmost importance
in a
commercial point
Although the principles of the portable mother are strictly retained in the arrangement of the rearing
of view.
home, yet
it
will be
seen that where
many thousand
chickens have to be attended to in separate compartments containing not
shown by
more than twelve
fig. 18,
cleaning, feeding,
must necessarily
each, the building, as facilitate the
work of
warming, and general supervision.
POULTRY BREEDING IN
52
Fig. 18.
Artlflolal
Bearing
Homo— Perspective
Section.
Reference to Perspective Section of Artificial Rearing Home.
^
is
a sunk passage lined
by brick
walls, the floor
formed of concrete, with a provision for drainage the
whole length of
this
;
along
passage hot-water pipes should
be fixed immediately under the roosting-place
communicates with the covered run
3,
a.
A
door
and wire netting
The
fixed over the door c for ventilation.
is
roof of this
passage can either be glazed or formed of boards covered
with asphalted
felt,
efficient ventilation.
feet
but provision must be
B
is
for
This passage should be about
wide between walls, and the glass-covered run
hen only
made
an five
six feet high. ;
it
differs
from the portable
in this, that here the sides are
nized iron wire, and only the front
is
formed of galva-
made of boards
;
the
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIKW. floor is
made of
53
concrete, covered with gritty dust.
run can also with advantage be made a
Tliis
larger, say
little
four feet long, eighteen inches wide, and two feet six
inches high.
C is
the open run
The
drainage.
incline
sides
towards a gutter for quick
and top can be made of galvanized
and on the same plan as shown in the poultry
iron wire,
home
the floor can be formed of concrete
;
or gravel, with an
(fig.
6).
Artificial Vermin Nursery. This
is
a most useful department in a poultry breeding
establishment, as
those dainty
it
little
will supply the poor prisoners with
morsels which in their free state they
will never tire to look after. It is
well
known
that
they prefer insects and
from the chicken
to the old
worms to any grain
— in
fact,
hen
fowls
are omnivorous, but their carnivorous appetite predominates,
and they would very soon become
unfit for
food were they indulged in their predilection
have
free state they
to
;
it
human
only in a
perform hard work in their search
of insects and worms, of which, after scanty supply
;
all,
they find but a
would, therefore, not be advisable to
give fowls in a confined state too
much
of animal food,
but only in such quantities as will prove a stimulant without injury to their health.
The
effect
on a fowl fed too
comes soon perceptible
;
freely
on animal food be-
she will pull out her feathers, and
even peck her flesh until the whole of her upper body
one mass of raw
flesh.
is
POULTRY BREEDING IN
54
Fig. 19.
It is
meat
Section of Vermin Pit.
not intended that vermin should replace the mince
in the food for poultry, but
be given
in addition as
it
should occasionally
dainty morsels in wet or cold
weather.
The vermin nursery
is
formed of a succession of
with concrete bottoms and brick-lined sides
;
pits
the top
is
covered with a trap, to prevent the rain entering, which
might
To
kill
the vermin.
(See
fig. 19.)
propagate vermin, put in alternate layers of mould
and vegetable and animal matter, such as horse dung, garden refuse,
entrails of animals,
&c., until the pit
is
filled.
dead animals, blood,
In a short time fermentation
commence, and the mixture will soon be converted mass of vermin. If the fermentation take too long, it may be hastened by watering. In winter it is
will
into a living
well to cover the mixture with horse manure, which will
keep the vermin
warm and
alive.
This process of obtaining vermin
is
inexpensive, and
will be found very serviceable in winter for ens,
and
for stimulating the fowls to lay.
young
it
chick-
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
55
Improved Fattening Pens for Cramming Poultry. These fattening pens are be placed in the open
air,
so constructed that they can
forming a building of then>-
selves.
-e/" Fig. 20.
><
6/1-
Perspective Elevation of Improved Fattening Pens for
>'
Cramming Poultry.
POULTRY BREEDING IN
56
Each fowl has her own compartment, and
is
thus placed
in solitary confinement, and without being able to see
other fowls, which accelerates considerably the fattening.
The
floors of the cells should
cleaned and whitewashed
with
dry
the
sprinkled on.
;
be drawn out daily, and
they must then be returned
and
some sand
underside
uppermost,
The
should also be whitewashed
cells
for every fresh occupant.
The doors
are solid boards, with a piece of perforated
zinc for ventilation at the top, and a drinking-cup at the
These pens combine
bottom.
ments
for the
all
the sanitary require-
speedy fattening of fowls.
Preservation of Eggs.
Much
has been written about the preservation of eggs,
and many are the suggestions, but none have as yet given satisfaction,
the egg
is
and
for the sole reason that the structure of
not considered in relation to the physical and
chemical laws which govern evaporation, permeation,
and putrefaction. to
admit
The
air to the
shell of the
egg being porous,
chicken during the process of incu-
bation, allows also part of the liquid to evaporate,
the air to permeate
being
laid,
and the
when air
and
they are not used soon after
acting on the animal
matter
produces early decomposition and putrefaction, particularly so in a fecundated egg, in
decomposed.
not been with a cock, keep fresh easily
which the germ
Clear eggs, the produce of hens
much
is
first
who have
longer.
This can
be exemplified by putting an old fecundated egg
and an old clear egg under a hen whilst
sitting,
when
it
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. will be found that after the twenty-first
egg
putrid,
is
and the clear egg
fit
57
day the fecundated
To
for use.
exclude
the air from the egg, and to prevent the evaporation of liquid,
has been proposed by some writers to
it
eggs in
salt,
lime, bran, saw-dust, &c.,
immersed
the eggs
combined
its
pack the
by others
to
keep
in lime-water, in salt water, or both
others, again, suggest to varnish or oil the
;
some even to parboil them. There can be no doubt that, were
eggs, and
accomplished solely
some of
putrid,
advantage
;
these suggestions might be
but there
is
and the breakfast
use,
employed
to
more required than simply
preserve the egg from putrefaction kitchen
the object to be
preserve the eggs from getting
to
for
;
table,
instance,
to for
eggs ought not
only to be preserved fresh, but also free from any foreign flavor,
such as lime,
salt,
must necessarily impart shell is
;
and as
bran, saw-dust, varnish, and oil to the
for breeding
out of the question.
egg through
its
porous
from such preserved eggs,
Who
it
has ever seen any chickens
hatched from salted or mouldy eggs, or from such as
have been varnished or oiled, which latter process stops up the pores through which the air, so indispensable to the formation and development of the chicken, must be admitted ?
Now,
the most efiective, simple, and economical plan
for truly preserving eggs,
any foreign purposes,
is
and without imparting
flavor, or rendering
them
to use the patent stoppered glass jars,
vulcanized India-rubber joints (see thus:
to
—
Immediately
them
unfit for hatching
fig.
after collecting the eggs,
3i),
with
and proceed
put the jar in hot
POULTRY BREEDING IN
58 water, and
when thoroughly warm,
so as to rarefy the air,
place the eggs in the jar, the pointed end uppermost, and
pack and line with paper shavings or cocoa fibres to prevent them from breaking; then close the jar before taking it outof the water, and it will be found that eggs preserved by this method will be
months
fit
for
hatching twelve
and that those intended for the breakfast be as fresh as on the day when laid.
after,
table will
00 00
OOOOO oooooo 00 00 00
DOOOOO oooooo Fig. 21.
Whitewash.
A large
quantity of whitewash will necessarily be re-
quired for sanitary purposes, but it
if
prepared as follows,
will possess the advantages of preventing the
from taking
fire
Dissolve in
wood
or from decaying.
warm
water sulphate of alumins^ (alum),
sulphate of copper
(blue vitriol),
and mix with the
whitewash.
Lime Is
most beneficial
a preventive of
for
many
of bone and eggs.
Water
an occasional drink
diseases,
and
to fowls
assists the
Prepare as follows
:
—
;
it is
formation
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
59
Pour over quicklime some warm water, and when the lime is slaked and settled, draw the clear water off, which
The lime
can be kept for a considerable time.
will be
useful for whitewash.
Oxide and Sulphate of Iron. Both these can be purchased cheap from any but they are so easily prepared that they
may
drysalter,
as well be
manufactured on the establishment.
The
oxide of iron (or rust)
and improving
weak :
blood
;
is
most useful
for
making
and the sulphate of
iron, a
solution containing a large quantity of oxygen, will
keep fowls lows
tlie
—
lively
and
assist digestion.
Prepare as
fol-
Take a quantity of old nails or small pieces of iron, put them in an earthen-ware vessel, then pour over them sulphuric acid diluted with water.
The
up
liquid will take
a certain quantity of iron, and form sulphate of iron or
green
vitriol.
The
rust (the oxide of iron) is obtained
by
mixing some diluted soda (carbonate of commerce) with the sulphate of iron.
and the liquid
The
oxide will then be precipitated,
liquid forms sulphate of soda,
which
a
is
good
manure, which mix with the food or drink, as
given under the heading of Food, pages 31-33.
General Plan of
A breeding
Buildings.
establishment on the above scale will re-
quire about four acres of land for the buildings. buildings,
each three hundred
feet
long,
will
Six
contain
POULTRY BREEDING
6o
IN
-SOOFEET" Fig. 22.
General Plan of Buildings.
twelve hundred homes for poultry.
(See
fig.
22.)
Then
building on each end, joining the six buildings, and will be used for artificial hatching, stores,
sary offices.
The
thousand pounds. cation
is
and
all
a
which neces-
cost of the whole will be about three
An
uninterrupted covered communi-
thus had with every part of the establishment,
and the whole forms a quadrangle.
View and Section of a PoultryBreeding Establishment.
Bird's-Eye
In giving a description of the above plan for a poultry-
breeding establishment, I
my
observations on
paper.
From beginning
not consider large
compelled to notice certain
to
to
end
I clearly stated that I
do
breed poultry profitably in
numbers on the present system, whatever care
might be taken ficial
possible
it
feel
system which appeared in a sporting
hatching
in a sanitary point of is
view
;
also that arti-
quite of a secondary consideration, only
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW, be resorted to during the time
to
6l
when hens
bi'oody, as I fully explained under the
are not
head of Natural
Hatching, page 28.
From
the aboye sketch
it
will be seen that a glass-
covered passage, six feet wide, which can serve as a vinery, communicates with the poultry
long by three
feet
floor, tlie other
these
homes on each
These homes consist of two runs, each twelve
side.
wide
;
one
is
feet
a closed run with gravel
Above
an open run with horse manure.
two runs are two similar runs
These
for chickens.
runs are enclosed with wire-work next to the passage and next to the field
;
the partition between the runs
boarded, so as to keep the inner run
warm
Efficient ventilation is provided along the
is
close-
during winter.
whole length
of the glass-covered passage immediately above the runs.
The and ing tity
glass-covered passage will form an excellent vinery,
this ;
without any extra expense for building or warm-
and the vines
will necessarily absorb a large quan-
of carbonic gas, and assist in keeping the air pure,
and the
soil will
essential to
generate a genial, moist temperature, so
animal
life.
The above system of keeping poultry has, moreover, many other advantages, such as Slow-feeding and weak fowls will be able to get sufficient food, which they cannot when a great number are The food can be supplied in the required fed together.
—
quantity and quality to each breed or class, as
it
must be
evident that the breeding and laying stock require a
dif-
ferent diet to chickens or poultry intended for the market.
Each cock having only a certain number of hens they will be served better.
allotted,
POULTRY BREEDING IN
62
The means try
of collecting and profitably using the poul-
manure.
The
constant renewal of the ground will prevent
it
getting tainted from the fowls' droppings.
The temperature should be kept
equal,
and cold and
dampness prevented. Preventing diseases from exposure to cold, and wet,
and contagion.
Economy
much
in food, as poultry will eat
warmly housed, and deprived of roaming Keeping breeds and sexes Enabling precise
less
when
about.
separate.
statistics to
be obtained as
to the
com-
parative productiveness of the various breeds, and also in ascertaining
The
what hens have ceased
laying.
early detection of hens wanting to
sit.
Obtaining a larger number of eggs, and in seasons
when most
A genial
scarce.
temperature will induce the hens to
sit,
not-
withstanding cold weather.
This system, however,
new
like all
systems, must be
extended gradually, as old birds which have been accus-
tomed to roam will fret and lose in appearance the few months, but the young that are reared and fed on system will thrive
much
better,
food, than under the present
The annexed
and
at less
first
this
expense for
mode.
sketches, one for an
improved
self-supply-
ing drinking fountain, and the other for supplying poultaceous food without possibility of waste, are particularly
recommended
as
most
eflJcient
:
—
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
Fig. 23.
Improved Drinking Fountain.
fr%
63
POULTRY BREEDING IN
64
Laying Home
No. 50 (cost
Stock.
price, each, 35. 6ff.), 12 Spanish, 42
a
lb. oz. I
2
3
4 5
6 7
8 9 10 II
12 13
14 IS 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24_
25 26 27 28 29
30 31
I
8
weeks
old.
General Bemurks.
Pints.
12
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
65
Thirty Chickens.
Home No 60
Majr.
Food.
Cost per
(cost price, each,
Died.
ni.
31^.),
Bramahs, 10 weeks
Sold. Cocks Hens.
Pint.
Pinta.
IS
4 5
6 7 S
9 10 II 12
13
H IS
16 17 18 19
20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
<2.
16
14
old.
General Bemarka.
POULTRY BREEDING IN
66
The Patent Vermin Attraction Trap. Poultry and chickens in farm-yards are exposed to great dangers from the number of vermin which are ever ready to
in their unprotected condition
pounce upon them
rat,
marten, wildcat,
weasel,
structive
tive of
;
the
therefore a trap to secure these pests, irrespec-
size,
has long been
rig. 25.
From
;
and fox are equally, dea desideratum.
felt
•
Patent Vermin Attraction Trap.
the above sketch
it
will
be observed that the trap
consists of an oblong box, the end of which draws out,
and is provided with a looking-glass in the which attracts the vermin on looking in.
internal side,
The entrance of the trap is formed of two spring doors made of wire, which allow the vermin to enter with the least pressure.
These doors have sharp points where although not felt by the vermin on
they meet, which,
entering, will prevent
once introduced bait
is
its
siispended,
fit
from withdrawing
Near
and a cage
to serve as a decoy. inexpensi'^>'e,
it
head.
is
also fixed
These traps are
game
having
preserve.
with a chicken
self-setting, simple,
for all sizes of vermin,
house, farm-yard, or
after
to the looking-glass a
and
safe for the
o
o P4
o o H o o o «3
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t/j
W CO
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o o o
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o o o o
«
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o o o o o
o o
O
^ o o o o o
o o
O
^ ci>
T^ c\ ON
""^
o
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00
5-
«5 O in 00
CO
V3
o
w X u Q
oooooooo oooooooo
I?
5
^ g , .
Crt
in O ir> Q r^ t^ lo t^ in CO r^ «i- ro f^
so
O W O H
ho
a
•^ ^H
^
«
(O*
SuaB
g^lz;
f!
h
3 C
J3
oS
fe
.,
^ c
"
OO (70)
A COMMERCIAL, POINT OF VIEW.
71
THE LAWS OF NATURE In Relation
to
Poultry-keepingfrom a Commercial Point
of View, and Answers In
my
Preface I stated that
Questions.
to
should confine myself
I
exclusively to giving publicity to such facts as I have
proved by actual
world cautioned
experience.
me
My
might savor of theory, particularly
who undoubtedly by
which
therefore, but litde prepared to
I
which more or
endeavored
Though
to
to a class of readers
their education are conversant with
the laws of nature, on
to answer,
knowledge of the
not to introduce anything which
less
based.
facts are
I
was,
have so many questions
compel
me
to
do that which
avoid in fear of being considered pedantic.
I feel flattered
by the great
interest
my
treatise
has created, and though an explanation of the laws of nature will prove interesting to many, yet
correspondents will not consider
my
part
but
still
abridge as
if I
much
it
a
I trust that
my
want of deference on
as possible
my
explanations,
with a due regard to giving a satisfactory reply
to
all inquirers.
Egg Preserving. I
.
^SS^
Question : Does
ayew
it
The egg comes from then
fills
make any difference
to
preserve
days old? the hen at blood-heat, the liquid
every part of the shell, gradually the egg cools,
POULTRY BREEDING IN
72
and the
egg
air contained in the
ing a vacuum.
Now^, as the shell
sure of the outer air
much
greater,
is
condensed, thus leav-
is
porous, and the pres-
it forcfes itself
gradually
through the pores of the shell until the equilibrium
is
reestablished, thus forming the depression
of the fluid
part observable in old eggs at the round end
;
and as the
contact of the air with the fluid part very soon alters the taste,
and renders them
unfit for hatching from,
it
becomes
be preserved as early as con-
essential that the eggs should
venient after being laid. 2.
Why
should eggs be preserved better in rarejied
air than by merely packing
The
them
in air-tight jars?
variations in the temperature of the atmosphere
from below freezing point
to
summer heat are important The elasticity and
considerations in preserving eggs.
expansive properties of they will require a
full
air
need not be explained here,
reference to regulating heat. that if
an
air-tight jar
I will, therefore,
it
remained
only say,
were closed up during cold weather
without the air within being vided
as
explanation under the questions in
air-tight,
first rarefied, it
would, pro-
stand a good chance of burst-
summer heat, which would expand the air and the pressure on the eggs would be so great that a quantity of air would be forced on the fluid through ing during the
in the jar,
the pores of the shell.
Were
it
possible to presei-ve the
eggs immediately on being laid at the temperature of blood-heat, and during the hottest summer days, the jars
would not require rarefying
;
but as such conditions are
almost impossible to command, as the eggs must unavoidably on cooling absorb a certain amount of air, and as the atmosphere might
become
still
warmer than on
the
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. day of
filling tlie jars,
it
becomes necessary
to rarefy the
even in summer, although not to such a
air in the jars
The
degree as during cold weather. thus rarefied,
73
its
air in the jar
permeation through the
being
shell will not
only be prevented, but the excess of air in the egg will
withdrawn
actually be
until the equilibrium is reestab-
lished.
Are
3.
the egg's not affected by the heat whilst being
packed? Although the
jars are placed in boiling water, the in-
and as eggs by that temperature, which is the same which they come from the hen, it becomes
ternal temperature never exceeds blood-heat,
are not affected as that at
only necessary to avoid packing the eggs against the jars
without a lining of cocoa-nut refuse, which ought to be
and used
perfectly dry,
How can you
4.
To
tell
warm
for packing.
-when
ajar
ascertain whether a jar
easy enough
;
it
is
boiling water, and
is
merely necessary
when
air-tight P
is air-tight
tlioroughly
to
when empty
warm
is
the jar with
fill
to
empty out
the water, then close the jar quickly with the air-tight cover,
and place
it
inverted in a tub of cold water.
air in the jar thus rarefied will ^vater.
The
be condensed by the cold
If not perfectly air-tight,
some water
will find
its
which can be ascertained by opening the way This test, however simple, latter a few hours afterwards. cannot be applied to filled jars, as it would be necessary into the jar,
to
open the
jars again.
Now,
this
very same question I
put to several pickling firms, and obtained the unsatisfactory reply that they consider
when empty
when jars are air-tight when filled. This,
they will be equally so
POULTRY BREEDING IN
74
however, cannot be depended on, as the cover may fit in one place and not in another, or it may not be screwed
down 5.
so much at one time as another. Can you at any -period ascertain whether
the jars
continue air-tight? 6. Which are ware?
the best air-tight jars, glass or stone
These two questions I will endeavor to answer under and to prevent my being considered to advocate one principle more than another from an interested motive, I must inform my correspondents that to most one head
scientific
;
men and
poultry-breeders
it is
well
known
that
egg preserving has formed the study of some of the most eminent chemists
in
Europe, and that
until I published,
through The Journal of Horticulture, my simple and yet the only truly effective mode of preserving eggs for
any length of time, no covered.
The
means had been
satisfactory
throughout England has induced
me
to ascertain
of the professed air-tight jars are really the public
dis-
intense interest this discovery has created
may
so, in
which
order that
not lose their confidence in so important a
discovery on account of the jars not being to be depended on.
Through
the kindness of an eminent firm in the
pickling trade,
I
have been enabled
with the various so-called really
were
so,
on account of
and their
all
when
construction.
the jars are
make experiments few of which
without exception objectionable
another important consideration tained,
to
air-tight jars,
filled,
:
Then
how
can
there it
whether they are
and how long they will remain so ?
came
be ascerair-tight,
This, of course,
was
a perfect imoossibility with the jars as at present manufactured.
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. These important
deficiencies in air-tight jars for pre-
me
serving eggs have led
to invent a jar purposely for
egg preserving, and which but
it
long
it
tight,
how
show
will
remains
self-indicating cap.
75
at
jar
not only perfectly air-
is
a glance whether
by means of
so,
its
it
is
so,
and
patent pneumatic
have every reason to believe that
I
these jars will remain air-tight for
any number of years,
and that the eggs preserved in them will remain as fresh as
on
tlie
day
tliey
made
were
and
fit
for hatching
and the
although such jars can also be
of glass, which would have the advantage of show-
when when put into
ing the eggs, yet to
laid,
Now,
breakfast table.
crack
cold weather,
it
is
my
it is
considered that glass
is
liable
boiling water, particularly during
opinion that glazed stone ware
is
preferable.
Patent Pneumatic Self-indicating Air-tight Jars.
Fig. 26.
From
the above sketch
two covers
;
the inner
is
it
will
made
be seen that the jar has
of stone ware, with a ridge
POULTRY BREEDING IN
^6
neck of the
parallel to the
Paris or cement secures the
lid,
during transit
;
jar,
between which plaster of
poured, which soon gets hard and
is
which prevents the eggs being
the hole in this cover
is
jolted
to maintain the
equilibrium of the air between the two covers and the
The
interior of the jar.
outer cover
formed of the best
is
India-rubber, with a strong ring of the
which
in
fits
a groove.
The mouth
same
material,
of the jar
is
four
inches in diameter, which allows of quick packing.
Packing the Eggs. Place the jars in boiling water for about ten minutes then plait a layer of well-dried and refuse to let
warm
cocoa-nut
on the bottom, and pack the eggs, taking care not
them come
soon as the jar
in contact
some cement or
with the sides of the jar
;
as
put on the inner cover, and pour
is filled,
plaster of Paris
between the ridge and
draw an India-rubber cap over the jar, after which it should be immediately mouth of the withdrawn from the hot water and immersed in cold water, which will condense the rarefied air in the jar, sides of the jar, then
when
it
will be found that the difference of the atmospheric
pressure
is
at least ten
pounds
forces the India-rubber
long as
it
remains so
remains perfectly
it
down will
air-tight.
to the
square inch, which
to the inner cover
;
and as
be a sure index that the jar
The
inner temperature of
the jar, although placed in boiling water, will be found
not to exceed blood-heat, which being the same at which the eggs
come from
the hen, they cannot be affected.
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
Why
77
Eggs should be packed with the Small End upwards.
This advice
is
so opposed to all published directions
the subject, that I feel
bound
to give
my
reason for
on it.
Most persons will have observed that when an egg is boiled a vacuum is observed at the round end, which is more or less extensive according to the, age of the egg; now, this is on that part of the egg where the shell is most porous, and where the air is admitted most freely. This air chamber is of the utmost importance to the chicken whilst hatching, as
it
equalize
serves to
the
supply of the necessary air under the variations of the outer temperature
;
and
it
will be found that the
gets enlarged as the hatching proceeds
chamber
therefore,
;
when
eggs are packed with the small end upwards, the liquid presses
on the most porous part of the
quently, for the air to penetrate the egg, to
lift
shell it
;
conse-
would have
the weight of the fluid.
Warming Poultry Homes.
On
this subject I
have had
therefore endeavor to give
my
many reasons
inquiries.
why I
I will
prefer hot-
water pipes fixed immediately under the roosting-perches.
Where
stoves or
centrated
;
open
fireplaces are used, the heat
is
con-
therefore the cold air rushes from all parts to
that particular spot,
which cold draughts are most
rious to the health of not only poultry but all animal
injulife
;
in fact, these cold draughts are the cause of most diseases
POUI.TRY BREEDING IN
^8
England, where persons
in
and colds of
by a
sit
before an open fireplace,
in the current of the cold air.
and right
all
description, could
mode
different
of
the hot-water system
dwellings,
heat from the pipes the .building,
warming our houses is
;
but, though
not applicable to our private
The
eminently so for a poultry-house.
is
it
Consumption,
be considerably averted
is
equally radiated from
all
parts of
and the pipes being immediately under the
roosting-perches,
it
will not require the maintenance of
when the pipes are near the much warmth is required, as it is
so high a temperature as
where not
floor,
well heat
known is
that whilst the
is
body
in
is
motion the natural
keep us warm, but that as soon as
sufficient to
body becomes the
so
at rest or asleep, the circulation
less active
;
consequently
it
of the blood
cools sooner, as
evidenced by the fact that the clothes that keep us
from cold during
in action are not sufficient to protect us sleep.
There
is
placed at
why
another consideration
pipes under the roosting-perches
mid-height of the
:
it
is
warm
is
I prefer the
because, being
roosting-room,
they are
between the heavy and light gases which are necessarily generated in all places where animal life is congregated.
Our System of This subject
is
selling Poultry.
of such vast national importance that
deserves the most serious consideration
an
interest in
our national welfare
account of the immense sums
we
;
it
orf all
is
who
it
take
not only on
annually pay to
for-
on account of the enormous destruc-' tion of poultry, which, under a different system of sale,eigners, but also
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. would become available
people
for the
79
at a price to
com-
pete with butchers' meat.
There
is
no country under the sun where obsolete
customs or protective prices have been so successfully replaced as in England, and this against the most omi-
Need
nous prognostications.
enumerate the long
I
articles,
from the postage-stamp
Up
day
to this very
always equal
we
are informed that the supply
demand, even
to the
in poultry.
Has
it
What
is
is
not
But
always been so since the beginning of the world? this is not the question.
of
list
to tea ?
the result of our free-
trade principles, our improved machinery, our improved
Why,
agriculture?
a hundred-fold consumption of these
very articles which were then, as now, said to be supplied according to
demand
;
a participation in the com-
by the poorer
classes a steadier and more remunerative employment both of capital and labor. True, but there are no protective duties on poultry it is simply a question of price between dealer and customer. By appearance this looks fair enough, and the manner of sale is so old and deeply-rooted that it is accepted both by breeder and the public as a perfectly fair way of dealing yet who would ever purchase a leg of mutton, or
forts
of this
life
;
;
;
a surloin of beef, at so
poulterer
who
much
feels insulted if
apiece?
Why,
the very
any person asks him what
would no more think of buying a joint by guess than he would of selling a fowl by weight. Next you will be told that poultry must always remain the fowl weighs
a choice morsel for the upper classes only, as the poor will never be able to afford the price is,
after all, limited,
;
that the production
and that the climate of England
is
POULTRY BREEDING IN
8o
Now,
not suitable to cheap poultry breeding. tions are is
these asser-
based on mere narrow-minded prejudices
no climate in the world more favorable
than that of England, as
is
proved by our
to
;
there
animal
statistics
;
life
the
very dampness of our climate prevents those extremes of
which more southerly countries
cold and heat from
suffer
and nowhere can fowls be produced to compete with ours in size
and
flesh
and
;
all travellers
will agree
while those of dry and hot paratively small.
As
soils,
with
damp
large-sized fowls can only be found in
me that regions,
such as Egypt, are com-
regards a limited production, I
my treatise on " Poultry-keeping from a Commercial Point of View " that fifty thousand fowls can be reared per annum on four acres of land, and at highly have shown in
remunerative, prices, and
exceptional
;
quality,
it cannot possibly be sold by weight must necessarily depend on age, breed,
that
that the price
not.
belo'w that of butchers'
Poulterers will, moreover, maintain that poultry
meat. is
much
and feeding, and cannot be classed.
Have we
Believe
pence to a shilling per pound, according to quality ? not every produce value,
it
not beef, mutton, pork, &c., from four-
now
sold,
And why
by weight or measure ?
form the exception?
I
am
according to
very
its
Is
intrinsic
should poultry
much mistaken
if
the
public will not be able to purchase chickens at the price of Ostend rabbits within two years. see tickets in shop
Let the public once
windows, prime chickens
at sixpence
per pound, or at any other price, according to quality,
and you will find the commendable wish of Henry IV. of France realized, that every family fowl for their Sunday dinner.
shall
Why,
it
be able to have a will create such
A COMMBRCIAL a "revolution in
tlie
POINT OV VIEW.
8
national production and consumption
People
of poultry as the world never witnessed before.
would then begin
understand and appreciate the value
to
of poultry, which, up to this day,
is
kept either merely as
a matter of fancy or a necessary adjunct to a farm-yard,
but whose productiveness
What
Why,
poultry?
is
disputed by many.
the result of our present system
is
that tons of poultry
of selling
annually de-
are
stroyed because sufficient customers cannot be found to
pay the fancy
This system
prices.
is
neither fair to the
The
breeder, the dealer, or the public.
first
consign a
quantity of poultry to a salesman, and obtain but a poor return
;
the second's percentage
with a limited
naturally in keeping
is
and the public are obliged
sale,
to
pay
fancy prices, or forego an article of food which ought to
As the first we ought not to purchase when we can produce it at home.
be within the reach of even the mechanic. commercial nation in the world, food in foreign markets
At
the present time poultry
the country
from
whom
by
higglers,
other times the supply is
sold
(rather than have
who,
in
collected
consign
is
good, and too great
a nominal
at it
is
the
parts of
much a head ;
then the poultry past
;
price
condemned by
all
to a salesman,
fair sales are efiected
the
the garb of countrymen,
suburbs of London in a state unfit for
By
from it
the poulterers purchase at so
sometimes the demand keeping
is
who
to
costermongers
market inspector),
hawk it about human food.
the
immense importation of eggs and rabbits, shown us how to proceed to alter our
foreigners have
system of selling poultry. ers
would not agree 6
When
they found that poulter-
to their terms, they
made
arrange-
POULTRY BREEDING IN
82
merits with cheesemongers, dairies, chandler-shops,
and
that in season the people can
now
others,
and the
result
is,
purchase twenty-four eggs for a
shilling, rabbits at six-
pence per pound. If,
therefore,
it
pays the foreigners to collect these
cles of food abroad, to
and
all
tions,
pay
carriage, freight,
arti-
agency dues,
other expenses connected with such vast importa-
does
not seem passing strange that we, as a
it
what we can do
nation, do not even try to see
for our-
selves ?
Now, what
I
propose
breeding company invite cooperation
establish
is
is this
:
that
when once
a poultry-
formed, that the directors should
from poultry-breeders in general, and
an agency in
all
the principal towns for supply-
who will undertake now be of no great diffi-
ing poultry to such shopkeepers only to sell
it
by weight
culty, as those
who
the sale of poultry.
;
this will sell
rabbits
would
at
once undertake
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
83
EXTRACTS FROM THE "JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER." Home Supply of Poultry and
How long does its
take for a question to go through
it
down
phases, to settle
all
as a recognized fact before the
public, with the certainty that
and then,
Eggs.
it
will only
be disturbed
now
be ventilated according
at stated periods, to
to
some, or to have the accumulated dust of years rubbed off according to others ?
Fourteen years ago, the public one
poultry was a pursuit, that it was deserving of encouragement, and then some thought it was a mania. The pursuit of the trade of a " poulter "
day recognized the
is
not one of yesterday.
among its
fact, that
day lent money
dom.
Guild or
Its
Company
the ancient ones of the city of London. to the
It still exists,
It
ranks
has in
Sovereign of the United King-
and has
its
chartered rights
;
and
its
bequests and benefactions go back to the sixteenth century.
It
seems
now
as
if its
claim to a share in providing
food for the vast populations in the metropolis and large
towns were about
to
be properly considered.
We
way
Many
longer self-supporting in the
of food.
can recollect in one of the old Anti-Gallican songs said,
—
They want to get our Our beef and beer.
flesh
and blood,
are no
of us
it
was
POULTKY BREEDING
84
Things are altered
IN
— we get a good quantity of theirs
and half the continent
is
laid
under contribution
to
;
supply
Good sound men of figures
our carnivorous propensities.
prove that the supply of food decreases
;
others point to
an increasing population, and the increasing price of
The
meat.
leading journal of the world but lately called
attention to the figures of our imports in the
and was obliged
to
pause at one item.
eggs imported for every working turkeys by thousands
;
way
of food,
A million of
day in the year
by the
rabbits
"
ton.
;
These are
helps to the food necessary to feed the metropolitan millions
;
but the question naturally suggests
itself.
Do we
our power to provide more of these things at
all in
The egg
We
one.
trade with Scotland
is
do
home ?
becoming a very large
import eggs from France, Holland, Belgium,
Switzerland, and part of Italy.
Cannot
we do
something
towards providing ourselves with these valuable luxuries,
and thereby not only increase the number, but probably decrease the price of them? We have in our favor, and, consequently, to our profit,
all
the expense of foreign
agents, of travelling, freight, carriage,
eggs produced at home, nearly
all this
who can keep poultry who have the inclination
If those
those
must endeavor by association
and dues. With would be avoided.
will not keep them, then
without the convenience
to find out the
means of
carrying out their theories and ideas on the subject.
We now
believe
afoot
we
which
are correct in stating that plans are
will, in all probability, result in calling
public attention to the subject, and in giving the question a fair trial on a large scale.
A COMMERCIAL
POINT OF VIEW.
85
Poultry and Egg-preserving Company. Whatever
differences of opinion
may exist
as to whether
poultry can be Icept profitably in England from a strictly
commercial point of view or
not,
it
certain that this
is
any amount fro or con; nor will the problem ever be solved in a national point of view by the success of one or more private persons, whose balancesheet would be discredited by many sceptics, as we have had ample evidence, in improved farming, the results of which were published year after year by Mr. Mechi and subject will never be satisfactorily decided by
of
mere
theoretical assertions
Moreover,
other pioneers.
profitable in England, tliat
render poultry breeding
the system cannot be carried
that the trial
on as
to
most persons
it is
now
growing or purchasing food
and of a subdivision of labor, and
last,
at a
but not
for establishing a profitable outlet for the produce.
there are
many
on a small
England It
too
is
is
we
prove what the result would
to expect that
risk of
to ascertain the
really
that
it
any private gentleman
an outlay of some thousands of value of a
new
one of national importance,
should
least,
Now,
believe that poultry breeding
poultry in order to benefit the nation is
cheap
one of them.
much
would run the pounds
also
undertakings which cannot well be tested
scale in order to
be on a large one, and in
;
must be made on a somewhat extensive
scale to allow of rate,
to
must be evident
it
command
a
but as the subject
it is
fair trial.
accornplished by a public company,
;
plan of breeding
highly desirable
This can be best
whose accounts would
POULTRY BREEDING
86
IN
be audited by independent accountants, and the
statistics
of which would be reliable, and, consequently, valuable to the country at large.
In a former number
which would,
was
it
and
attention to the subject, trial
stated that plans
were afoot
in all probability, result in calling public
on a large
in giving the question a fair
Since then the preliminary pros-
scale.
pectus and the plans have been issued.
Mr. Geyelin has evidently the utmost confidence in the success of the undertaking, as he has taken on himself the trouble and expense of bringing this subject fairly before the public
;
and he gives the
free use of his inventions to
the Company, not for a cash consideration, but for shares the value of
which must
entirely
depend on the
profitable
result of his system of poultry keeping.
A
Company
of this description requires only half a
dozen gentlemen earnest in proposed system.
On
their efforts to carry out the
our part
of this long-vexed question.
we
Can
shall
watch the
ably in England? with great interest, for poultry will be sold, as
it
ought
result
poultry be bred profitif successful,
by weight,
to be,
like
other articles of food.
Home Supply Is there
ply her rabbits ?
of Eggs and Poultry.
any valid reason
own wants
why England
should not sup-
in the shape of eggs, poultry,
I dare say the
money we pay
and
foreign countries
for these necessaries, does not fall far, if at all, short of five
hundred thousand pounds annually.
Can they
not
be produced as cheaply, abundantly, and profitably at
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. home
as in
France and Belgium?
some efforts should be made to am aware much has been done
Is
it
87
not time that
solve this
problem?
I
for the last
few years
to
improve the breeds of our poultry, but
I
have never heard
of the production of eggs and poultry having been
at-
tempted in a large way, as a matter of trade or business,
though
I
have often been told that
to
make
this stock
pay
they should be kept in such numbers as to employ the
whole time and
attention
of working people.
M. de
Lavergne estimated the value of poultry in France eight million pounds, while that in
at
England was no more
than eight hundred thousand pounds.
As
a national branch of rural economy,
we know
nothing in England of the breeding and management of
men never think of embarking in which is found so profitable in other countries. We sadly want sound, reliable, practical information on this subject, and if through your columns some of poultry
:
hence practical
a pursuit
your correspondents will endeavor
much
tion,
public good
may be
to ventilate this ques-
the result.
one acre of average land were cropped with the
If
grain, pulse,
and
roots,
most suitable
how many heads should Again What might be a :
for feeding poultry,
it
maintain
fair
moderate
for
one
year?
profit to expect
per thousand in keeping poultry thus on a large scale,
assuming suitable houses, warmth, care, and ventilation for such stock?
much on the subject of artificial who produced all her own poultry by a most ingenious incubator of her own invention but I never could ascertain how far the system could I have heard and read
incubation, and I
;
knew
a lady
POULTRY BREEDING IX
88 be relied on
in a
practical test of I
commercial point of view, which
is
the
If undoubtedly a success, then
merit.
its
can see no limits to the profitable production of poultry
Turkeys and geese of the largest breeds
England.
in
are
now worth
much
very nearly as
smallest breeds, and
it
as a fat sheep of the
passing strange that you must
is
when you may ^uy High authoroxen, and farmers now
give two pence for a " new-laid egg," a quarter of ities tell
us
wheat
it
for thirty-two shillings.
does not pay to feed
say they are selling grain at prices for which
be grown
so I
;
am
induced to ask
if
regular and well-managed poultry farm to succeed if
would be
England cannot produce eggs and fowls
France
;
and, further,
if
can hardly
likely
be very well inclined to try
for if so I should
;
it
the experiment of a
as cheaply as
own happy land is of Belgium to an Ostend
the air of our
not fully as congenial as that
—
Rabbit.
Poultry Keeping from a Commercial Point of View. It is for
Englishmen
to
determine whether England
is
capable of profitably supplying eggs and poultry for her
own consumption but how very few seem to ;
I
am
painfully surprised to notice
take an interest in the subject,
which you have been pleased
to
bring before your numer-
When
ous readers with laudable zeal and perseverance. I
had the honor of addressing you
total
in
No. 204,
I
was
in
ignorance of the highly interesting discussion raised
by Mr. Geyelin, whose
ability
and industry
entitle
him
to
public sympathy and support, at least to the extent of
A COMMERCIAL POINT 6f VIEW. fairly trying if
feed her
show
it
be commercially possible for England to
own people. He goes very fully may be profitably done. Some
this
gret to say but very few, of your
seem
to notice his
importance.
89
This
into figures to
few, and I re-
numerous correspondents
remarks, though none can doubt their is
am^iteurs of England,
not very creditable to the poultry
who
are ever ready to discuss
most
zealously and learnedly about the breeds of fowls, or the
proper colors of cocks' legs and
tails,
but
who seem
to ig-
nore such practical dry business details as the produce of
hens and the cost of feeding them.
These are mere questions of
detail,
and resolve them-
selves into a matter of pounds, shillings,
and pence
;
but
the success of Mr. Geyelin's project depends entirely on the
amount and
cost of production
and the market value
of the produce. It is not for me to interfere between Mr. Geyelin and " C. S.J. " so I leave them to settle as they can, for it is evident both mean well, though differing considerably in ;
their views.
in
No.
I
must, however, notice two correspondents
206, one "
An
Old Subscriber," on
the wholesale
price of eggs, the other " Barndoor," on poultry food and
annual egg produce. Botli are apparently adverse to Mr. Geyelin's figures, but in point of fact neither seems to affect him in any way. His scheme only refers to London prices, and to the productive powers of hens fed and lodged, so as to stimulate the utmost powers of production. It is but fair to Mr. Geyelin and the public to use the utmost candor and sincerity, so as to put the case fairly.
at
He
fixes
the produce of hens fed on his plan
one hundred and eighty, while "Barndoor" writes.
POULTRY BREEDING IN
go
"Cochins, Bramahs, &c., should lay one hundred and True, but how many more may be reasonably expected ? Does " Barndoor " give this as twenty eggs in a year."
the actual result of his
own
how
the
mere opinion of one man, or even
the hens were treated, their ages, &c. ?
perience, can carry but very ever,
little
quote some well-known
sustain
If so, will he
experience?
say
Mr. Geyelin's
weight
authorities
;
I can,
how-
which
fully
calculations about the produce of
low
hens, while but one goes so
as one
hundred and
twenty, the figure of " Barndoor," for the best
egg-producing breeds.
admit
I
his practical ex-
known
Cobbett says eleven hens should
give two thousand eggs and one hundred chickens,
if
well fed, in one year, and allows eighteen bushels of barley to feed them with one cock.
Richardson
relates
that three Polish pullets laid five hundred and twenty-four eggs, cost sixteen shillings and six pence. that four hens laid seven at a cost of
penny, and
Baxter records
hundred and ten eggs one year,
one pound two shillings and a penny
fifteen shillings
half-
hundred and ninety-four the next year,
five
at
and nine pence halfpenny.
In the work called " Farming for Ladies," we read, " Hens lay nearly all the year round, except when moulting and in the depth of winter least ten to twelve or fourteen
counted on."
I
much depends on
case.
In
my
dozen eggs a year
may be
dare say the experience of most of your
readers will differ quite as so
but generally speaking at
;
much
as that of those writers,
the peculiar circumstances of each
opinion a fair average can be taken only by
the actual results obtained careful breeders,
by a
who keep
large
number of the most
their poultry in the best
and
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. cheapest way.
I
am
in candor
bound
to add, that in
" Chambers' Information for the People " laid
down
that
no hens will pay
9
it
broadly
is
for their food if
all
it
is
is
most
purchased.
This question
is
strictly a national one, for
important to ascertain by actual experiment poultry
may be produced by
it
if
eggs and
ourselves as cheaply as
by
various nations immeasurably behind us in everything relating to agriculture.
If
Mr. Geyelin can succeed
may be
teaching Englishmen that this
in
done, then few
will deny, his claim to be fairly considered a national
benefactor. it is
At
present his task
is
not an easy one.
As
really the duty of every well-wisher of his country to
aid this noble effort
by every
practical means, so your
experienced readers should each contribute, as far as he can, to simplify this question
and
difficulties that
surround
and shy of embarking
their
by clearing up the doubts
it.
Men
money
are naturally timid
in
any novel experi-
ment of which they have but very scanty knowledge and which of us can say that he has any knowledge of thus producing eggs and poultry commerci^ly in England? ;
For the present I shall say nothing about the little animal which is well known to be a decided commercial success in Belgium, where many are largely engaged in breeding, feeding, and exporting to hungry, wealthy England the
—
OsTEND Rabbit. Poultry and Egg Company.
By to
nature I
see
my
am
a timid and cautious man, and dread
opinion appear in print; I
feel,
however, I
POULTRY BREEDING IN
92
must make an exception in favor of Mr. Geyelin, whose interesting articles on poultry-breeding, published in your valuable journal, I have read with vantage.
For some years past
I
much
pleasure and ad-
had an idea of breeding
poultry on a large scale, but the dread of becoming the
my
laughing-stock of hitherto deterred
neighbors in case of failure has
me from
doing
When
so.
I
saw the
advertisement in your journal for the formation of a Poultry-breeding and Egg-preserving
mined
to
come up
a view to elicit
London and
to
full particulars, as I
company would,
if
Company, I deterMr. Geyelin, with
see
formed, supply
consider that sujch a
me
a
at
trifling risk
with such practical information as I could not expect from personal experience at a
much
greater outlay.
Mr. Geyelin has very kindly explained his
mode of keeping
has given
me
me
solution of the
bound
feasible
it is
that of
he
The
Mr. Geyelin.
importance
it
behooves, therefore,
interest in poultry
all
is
of national
persons
who
take
breeding to contribute to some ex-
tent towards the expense of
making
the experiments.
for one, subscribe for ten shares of five let
"fact,
problem whether poultry can be bred as
England as on the Continent
;
his plans,
In
to say that if ever a plan
profitably in
an
me
such ample and satisfactory explanations
that I feel in justice
appeared to
to
accounts, and feeding.
pounds each
the result prove even a failure, I shall
a good investment, as
it
still
will have been the
;
I,
and
consider
it
means of ob-
some valuable information but should it, on the other hand, prove a success, it will confer a great benefit on the country. There are opportunities in life taining at least
which,
if
allowed to pass,
;
may
never present themselves
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
93
At tlie presmoment tliere is a gentleman, not only willing, but able, to make the experiment on scientific principles, and
again under such fovoiable circumstances. ent
whose
statistics, if
kept according to the plan
will be so precise as to
poultry breeder.
If
we
I
have seen,
become most valuable
to
every
lose this opportunity, shall
we
ever have the like again? Shall
ing that
be said that Englishmen are so
it
we
than ascertain
at a trifling individual
cannot supply our ti-y,
little
enterpris-
prefer to purchase in foreign markets rather
and rabbits?
own wants
expense whether
we
in the shape of eggs, poul-
— A Sussex Farmer.
Poultry Keeping from a Commercial Point of View. defender of " C. S. J.," has my best thanks for his kindly lecture as to what is required to
"
Nemo,"
the
establish the success of anything
nowadays.
I
do not
find fault with his opinion as regards the profits poultry
breeding will yield, and in the absence of any actual of
statistics
ate
what
my
system on a large scale, I can only reitermy reply to " C. S. J." There are,
I stated in
however, a few assertions with which
I
beg
to differ,
even
with " Nemo." I St.
Were
it
not for sanguine minds, few improvements
would ever be carried out and were even the minimum would still be found many persons who ;
profits given, there
would, with just as good reasoning, reduce 2d.
with
The in
my
artificial
it
below
zero.
hatching can be entirely dispensed
system, as for every one thousand hens, I can
POULTRY BREEDING IN
94
rear at least ten thousand chickens
cumstances
it
when hens have system of
ceased to be broody.
artificial
or any other, I ity,
;
and under any
cir-
will only be resorted to to hatch chickens
may
hatching
is
state that I
As
whether
to
my
superior to that of Cantelo
do not claim any original-
but rest the success only on the well-known law of
which there is not the slightest difficulty to hatch chickens and this uniform heat can be maintained either by manual or mechanical means, which a uniform temperature, at
;
known to engineers, and which will be described some subsequent number of this journal, under the
are well in
The
laws of nature in relation to poultry keeping.
fail-
ure of Cantelo and others cannot be ascribed to the hatch-
Now,
ing, but solely to the rearing of the chickens.
my
is
system, and on
breeding
;
it
I rest the
this
success of poultry
and though I do not intend to rely on
artificial
hatching, yet I shall entirely depend on artificially rearing all
the chickens, whether hatched
by a hen or by an ap-
paratus. 3d.
My
system of breeding poultry, and
its profits,
can
no more be judged by the present mode than railway travelling,
coaches.
when For
its
first
projected, could
success
it
from the old stage-
will require a staff of servants,
and a subdivision of labor, then a good disciplinarian as
and the whole will form a piece of mechanism which will work with the greatest precision, and superintendent
;
afford such statistics as will surprise sceptics. this out is a
mere matter of money and
a private individual or a public
will,
company
;
To
carry
whether by
but the idea
of an association of working partners to attend to fowls
is
'
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. simply ridiculous, and found, they 4th. cle
If
I
doubt whether,
would long remain a united
"Nemo"
if tliey
95 could be
family.
will take the trouble to read the arti-
on natural hatching, No. 198, he will find that I advoand artificial rearing. Has it ever
cate natural hatching
occurred to him, in estimating the annual profit of a hen,
one or two broods ? more valuable than the number of eggs
to charge to her credit the hatching of
which surely
is
she could lay in twenty-one days.
POULTRY BREEDING IN
9$
REPORT OF MR. GEYELIN, May Gentlemen The
17,
1865.
:
owe you a debt of gratitude for having by your discriminating confidence in my plan proved nation will
yourselves the pioneers to an increase of our national
wealth and comfort.
The
section of the intended building
you have inspected
to-day must have convinced you that, whilst constructed
on the most economical plan,
it
yet combines all necessary
requirements for the health and comfort of poultry, and the saving of labor.
We
are not about to carry out any
new
invention in
poultry breeding, but merely a wise combination of Wellestablished facts
i
individually the facts are well
known,
but a combination of them applied to poultry breeding has hitherto escaped the notice of rural Economists. instance,
it is
well known,
—
For
That earth is the best and cheapest deodorizer. That poultry manure is a first-rate fertilizer. That in moderation the gases generated by vegetables life, and vice versa. That poultry require vegetables, and vegetables manure. That poultry cannot thrive on a manure-tainted ground,
are beneficial to animal
which consequently requires frequent renewing. That the earth requires manuring after each crop.
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. Now, when in connection
97
the above well-known facts are considered
with poultry breeding,
it
must become
dent to the most superficial observer that to render
commercial success,
we
teachings of Nature
:
kingdoms are so
a
must follow more closely the great animal and vegetable
in truth, the
closely allied,
on the other, that
eviit
and so dependent the one
each as a distinct undertaking
to treat
must necessarily increase the expense of production, and consequently decrease the
now
I will
ble
profit.
review poultry breeding and vegeta-
briefly
growing as separate undertakings,
point of view, in order to
omy
the
two ought
to
show
that in
commercial
in a
sound rural econ-
be combined, both for sanitary and
economical purposes.
Poultry Breeding. In any establishment where large numbers of poultry
must often be renewed
are kept, the gi'ound
getting tainted tiiere is
ments
;
this requires labor
only one material which combines
for the floor of a poultry
to prevent
and materials. all
it
Now,
the require-
home, and with which
Providence has supplied us bountifully, namely, earth. It is
composed of
all
the necessary materials to the an-
imal economy of- the poultry nature
;
and,
when
;
it
is
of a deodorizing
tainted with the manure,
a valuable fertilizer
;
becomes
but even earth can absorb but a
moderate amount of decaying matters without losing valuable properties
us that what in excess.
is
;
beneficial in moderation
Then comes 7
its
and, in this again, Nature teaches
becomes injurious
the question of a cheap supply
POULTRY BREEDING IN
98
of earth, and of the disposal of the tainted without caus-
ing a nuisance by
this, also. Nature by growing vegetables in manure-tainted land they absorb and feed on the noxious gases, and give out in return oxygen gas, so essential to the health of animal life. Thousands of tons of manure, decaying vegetable and animal matters, are
comes
its
accumulation.
our assistance
to
:
we know
annually buried in the earth of the fields
!
Therefore,
if.
;
In
that
and yet
how
sweet the
air
by growing vegetables we can
convert an expensive and objectionable material into a
and profitable one, should
beneficial
we
not be to blame
what we are
were we Nature ?
not' to
homes.
In a sanitary point of view, these, buildings ought
take advantage of
Next comes the land necessary
allow for an
to stand at least fifty feet apart, to
supply of fresh
air, light,
and sun
;
offered
ought
by
for the poultry
we
efficient
to lose the
advantage of rendering profitable land so conveniently situated,
when
three fourths of the poultry food, should
consist of green vegetables? also
The
be heated by hot-water pipes
should
we
not render them serviceable in .
irrigating or watering the land Lastly,,
poultry
why
;
and
why
summer
for
between the buildings?
should the laborers of the poultry estab-
lishment not be profitably employed in attending
homes must
in winter
on
the: adjacent
in their leisure time
land?
Vegetable Growing or Market Gardening, I believe, is generally admitted to
be highly profitable,
and that a quick succession of crops can only be obtained from a
plentiful supply of rich
manure.
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
A market gardener to
pay
labor, rent,
his waste or to his crops,
obliged to purchase his manure,
is
and taxes
weeds
;
99
;
he has no valuable use for
worms and
the
slugs are destructive
and in dry weather he
is
either obliged to
incur great expenses for watering, or sustain the destruction of his plants.
Poultry Breeding and Vegetable Growing. Poultry breeding and vegetable growing ought, there-
be carried on conjointly, as the waste, weeds,
fore, to
inferior vegetables,
for poultry
ought
to
;
and the
pay
worms, and
slugs are valuable food
profit derived
for the poultry's
from choice vegetables
keep
;
stances this plan cannot be considered
must be obvious that where separately, they
must be
still
under any circum-
mere theory,
as
it
both branches are profitable
more
so carried
on conjointly
and contiguously
Estimate of Revenue, and Expenses
For
the
Tear beginning July
June
I,'
1865,
i,
and ending
1866.
Expenses.
£ Cost of Buildings
*
Cost of Plant and Materials
s.
d.
500
o
o
30b
o
o
00
Cost of Stock' as per annexed Details
.
.
.
.
125
Food and Working Expenses
.
.
.
.
889 10
o
.
£1,814 10
o
Total *
As
.
at present projected, the building -will be three hundred feet long, and contain fifty homes for fowls, and fifty for chickens every home will consist of two rooms, one open and one closed, each twelve feet long and three feet wide.
POULTRY BREEDING IN
lOO
Revenue.
£
g.
d.
5CX)
o
o
300
o o
125
o o
o
416 13
4
£3>84i 13 i)8i4 10
o
£2,027
3
4
60
o
o
6s
o
o
£125
o
o
Value of Buildings Value of Plant and Materials Value of Old Stock Value of Young Stock
•
.
.
.
.
.
.
2,500
From Eggs
Deduct Expenses Leaving a Net
...
Profit of
.
o
4
Proposed Stock. Laying Stock. Cocks. Hens.
—
400
Common
Fowls, at
3s.
each
Breeding Stock. 6
Crfive Coeur
6
La
6
Houdan
3
3
Dorkings, gray " partridge
3
Cochins, buff
3
"
partridge
Eggs
3
Spanish, black
3 3
Hamburghs, golden " silver
3
Poland,, black
51
will produce
about 6120 Eggs for
for each
Hen
per annum, and
lowing
"
at
an average of 120
3
3
Which
hatching, taken
Bramahs, light " dark
3
14
Fleche
for
1120
al-
Eggs
casualties, will
give 5000 Chickens.
golden
= 65 Birds, at-20s. each
Total Cost of Stock
.
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
As
the
Company's
object
lOI
eggs as well as rear
is to sell
poultry, the proportion of the above laying stock to the
breeding stock will be found the most economical.
Tak-
ing the average of eggs from a hen to be one hundred and
twenty per annum,
about
this gives
thousand eggs
fifty
from the laying stock, besides hatching about
five thou-
sand eggs from the breeding stock, allowing even only one sitting
male them
annum
per
lay at six
months
birds,
to
each hen
old,
we may
;
and as chickens begin
and making a
anticipate
witliin the next twelve
fifty
fair
to
allowance for
thousand eggs from
months.
Working. Expenses.
£
Keep of 465 Old Birds, at 6s. per head Keep of 5,000 Chickens till twelve months
.
.
.
s.
d.
139 10
o
o
o
old, at 35.
per head
750
Revenue. 100,000 Eggs, at id. each
5,000 Chickens, at los. each
Deduct above Expenses Leaving a Net
Thus taking
we
common
Profit of
...
and the young ones only
obtain in the
part of which
4.
o
o
.
2,916 13
4
8S9 10
o
£2,027 10
o
the cost price of the parent birds at twenty
shillings each,
each,
416 13 2,500
we
fowls.
first
at ten shillings
year a most valuable stock,
can dispose
of, as
well as the stock of
POULTRY BREKDING IN
I02
In the foregoing
I
have
made no
allusion to artificial
hatching, which can be entirely dispensed with in an .
establishment where the object
not to rear poultry-
is
only, but also to produce eggs for the market will perceive that the
on
artificial
feeding,
of
and you
hatching, but on a judicious system of housing,
and rearing poultry
artificial
;
commercial success does not depend
;
yet
we
shall avail ourselves
hatching at a period of the year
when it is when
highly profitable to hatch chickens, and at a time
hens are not broody
;
but even at the most inclement
season I anticipate that
we
shall
have a great number
of broody hens, on account of the genial temperature shall
As
be able
we
to maintain in the building.
regards the provisions
less casualties
that they will
made
to rear chickens with
than by the present system,
I
doubt not
prove as satisfactory as they are eco-
nomical. I remain, Gentlemen,
Your
obedient Servant,
Geo. K. Geyelin.
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW.
lOj
REPORT OF MR. GEYELIN ON
THE POULTRY ESTABLISHMENTS July
Gentlemen Having
at
tions I
I
on the
1865.
io,
:
your
request
France with a view
Company,
IN FRANCE.
now beg subject,
to
to
undertaken
promote the
a
lay before 'you
and which
for
journey to
interest
my
more conciseness
have arranged under the following headings
1.
The
2.
Natural and
3.
Rearing Poultry
4.
Fattening and Feeding.
Ai'tificial
—
Incubation.
in France.
Killing and Dressing.
6.
Utilizing the
7.
:
Object of the Voyage.
5.
8.
of our observa-
Waste Products.
The System of Selling. The Distinct Breeds.
10.
Caponage and Virgin Cocks. Opinions on my System of Poultry Breeding and Rural Economy.
11.
Analysis of
9.
my
Observations.
POULTRY BREEDING IN
104
The Object of the Voyage.
I.
The primary
object of the
voyage was
to
ascertain
everything connected with poultry breeding in France,
which might undertaking
;
assist
in
promoting the success of our
also to inquire into the truth of
numerous
assertions in the public papers, that there existed in the vicinity
of Paris most extensive Gallinocultural estab-
lishments,
which by
incubation, rearing, realized in one
their particular system of artificial
and feeding poultry on
instance, viz., in
horseflesh,
M. de
that of
Soras,
upwards of jE40,ooo per annum. I need scarcely say that, after the most searching investigation within a radius of forty miles of Paris,
confirmed
fully
that
such
my
opinion has been
establishments
do not nor
now
firmly assert
can possibly
exist
that there
not one establishment in existence within
fifty
is
;
moreover, I can
miles of Paris
where poultry breeding
is
carried
on otherwise than on the old farm system in fact, as you will perceive hereafter, I have spared neither time ;
nor expense in
this inquiry
:
yet,
although I have been
unable to trace anything like a system in poultry breeding in France at to carry out,
it
all
approaching
to that
cannot be denied that
I
we
are about
have obtained
very valuable information, which will, no doubt, prove of great advantage to our
Company
moreover,
:
I ob-
served such startling novelties connected with poultry
breeding in France, that I deemed
it
to
the interest of
our society that at least two of the directors should
come
there also
to
enable
them
to
corroborate this
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. which otherwise might have borne
report,
ance of exaggeration
have
IO5
still
a
left
wliether I really
many
in
made
possible
all
and perhaps
respects,
doubt in the mind of
the appear-
many
persons
inquiries into
the
truth of the reported existence of Gallinocultural estab-
lishments in France. I
will
now
At
the Jardin des Plantes of
to
our Zoological Society in
which corresponds
Paris,
the steps I have taken to
briefly relate
inquire into this matter.
Regent's Park, also at the Acclimatation Society in the Bois de Boulogne, where the various breeds of poultry
form an important
object,
the existence of
Gallinocultural establishments in France
known really
of
it.
any such totally un-
and they observed very justly that if any such were to exist, they would be the first to know Next I called three consecutive market days at ;
the wholesale poultry market, all
was
La
where
Vallee, Paris,
the poultry, dead or alive, forwarded from the vari-
ous parts of France,
is
sold
by auction from
five
till
nine o'clock in the morning.
Several agents and poul-
me
of poultry merchants from
made
terers
inquiries for
the different parts of France, but with the I
made
the Halles Centrales, also of a try dealers, but all to
calling again
A. GeofTroy friend of his
ment
same
result.
further inquiries at the dead poultry market at
really
number of fancy
no purpose
;
at the Jardin d'Acclimatation, St.
Hilaire,
the
director,
had informed him did exist at
me
told
Monsieur
me
that a
that such an establish-
Mouy, near Beauvais
in Pi-
and the following
in
writing, adding, however, that he did not believe in
it,
cardie,
and he gave
poul-
a few days later, on
his card,
POULTRY BREEDING IN
Io6
and that he should
him
to
"
the result of
They
my
that
investigation
:
communicating
—
M. de Soras has he ought
inquiries are right
fowls, with I
me
my
my
Mouy, near
at
a large poultry-breeding establishment
B.,
to
tell
by
feel obliged
(express) B.
the following
Have you an
at
but
;
Mouy
if
I2,cx)0
"
:
De
Soras,
M.
establishment for poultry
Reply by return of
breeding?
have
which he supplies the Paris markets."
telegraphed
then
to
mail.
Geyelin."
At
the
same time
I posted a letter to the
and asking permission reply to the telegram yet has not been
was
effect,
The known; the letter as but to make the inquiry
— not
returned
triply sure, I started
same
to visit the establishment.
;
myself for
Mouy
;
arrived at Reil
was informed that such an establishment Junction, really did exist at Mouy, and within half a mile of the railway station, which news delighted me, to know that my journey was not like a wild-goose chase therefore, on arriving at Mouy, I proceeded at once to the poultry establishment, but not of M. de Soras, whose name is not even known to any person in that neighborhood, but of M. Manoury, ^leveur Angy pres Mouy, to whom I briefly related the object of my call. I was received with every courtesy, and informed that I
;
§,
he knew of no such name as
M. de
Soras, nor of any
establishment of the kind, but that he devoted his time to
rearing
annum
;
some
five
thousand
heads of poultry per
he neither fed them on horseflesh nor supplied
the markets of Paris
;
that he sold
none but pure breeds,
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. and those
to
gentlemen and
theless, that his
was
fancj'-
107
poultry dealers
;
never-
system of hatching, rearing, and feeding
so different to that adopted
by others
that
it
might
possibly have given rise to those exaggerated reports
which he conducted me over
after
his
establishment,
and explained most minutely the system he has adopted, which, however, shall
have to
will
now
I
need not explain
refer to
it
in
this part, as I
under the several headings.
conclude by adding, that
those places in France so justly
have
I
famed
visited
I all
for their poultry,
and from which those celebrated breeds of Houdan, La Fleche, and Creve Coeur are obtained, where, also, I
met with the utmost courtesy in my inquiries, though I had been informed that the farmers never explained or showed their system of poultry rearing to any one, which possibly may be true as regards their countrymen.
2.
Of
Natural and Artificial Incubation.
artificial
incubation
have observed four
I
different
systems, which, although said to answer well, are yet far
to hatching in a
from being applicable
point of view.
tem
is
It matters, indeed, very
adopted, provided the heat
even temperature
:
to
obtain
this,
is
commercial
little
what
maintained
various
sys-
at
have been invented, but none of which can as yet pense with regulators
personal
are perfect
dis-
say that
their
the temperature of the
room
care. if
They
an
regulators
all
can be kept at the same degree of heat during incubation
;
that then they can regulate the heat of the incuba-
tor to
any given degree
;
but as such conditions of a
POULTRY BREEDING IN
Io8
uniform temperature are impossible to maintain, considering the variations in the temperature of the atmos-
phere, I consider
hatching too expensive for
artificial
ordinary purposes, and only to be adopted at certain times of the year, and then only in establishments where the heat can be maintained at a uniform temperature,
day
a'nd night,
At the
by personal
care.
the Jardin des Plantes, in Paris, the
poultry
department,
M.
manager of
employs an
Valine,
ap-
paratus of his owrn invention, which he has patented,
and
for
The lamp
which he has obtained prizes
at
principle consists of water heated
as a
medium
for
hatching
:
two exhibitions. by means of'
the temperature
is
by admitting more or less cold air by means of a valve opened or closed by a mercury float. At the Jardin d'Acclimatation two systems of artificial incubation are in use, and although both are on tlie hotregulated
water principle, yet they
differ materially:
the one
is
heated by means of a lamp, and the temperature regulated
by a valve admitting more or less cold air, and which is effected by a piston acted upon by the expansion or condensation of air under different temperatures
;
the
other consists merely of a zinc box covered with non-
conducting materials.
This apparatus requires neither
lamp, regulator, or thermometer; the hot water
newed every twelve hours
;
and
it
is
said to
is
re-
answer
admirably. The eggs are placed in a drawer underneath the water tank, but I cannot help thinking that
with an atmospheric temperature at or below freezing, point it would be very difficult to prevent the rapid cooling of the water.
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. The notice
next and last system of
It consists
artificial
hatching
me by M. Manoury of an ordinary wine cask lined on
that
is
I09
shown
to
with plaster of Paris.
I shall
Mouy.
at tlie
inside
In this cask several trays with
eggs are suspended, and the top of the cask
is
provided
with a certain number of vent-holes for admitting
which
regulated
is
by means of vent-pegs
:
air,
the cask
is
surrounded to the top with a thickness of about four feet
Though
of horse manure.
I
am
assured that this
principle answers well, I entertain serious doubts about it
for the
same reasons
as before stated.
The Natural Hatching from what
Differs entirely
I ever
saw
and in
before,
some parts of France forms a special trade carried on by persons called couveurs, or hatchers. These hatch for
farmers at
all
egg, or purchase
times of the year at so
much per
eggs in the market, and
tlie
sell
the
chickens, as soon as hatched, from threepence to six-
pence each, according system
may
and, in
way
my
to the season of the year.
This
aptly be called a living hatching machine,
opinion,
is
it
the very best and cheapest
of hatching, as will be seen by the following de-
scription
:
—
The Hatching-Room Is kept dark,
and winter.
and
at
an even temperature in summer
In this room a number of boxes, two
feet
long, one foot wide, and one foot six inches deep, are
ranged along the walls.
These boxes are covered in
no
POULTRY BREEDING IN
with
wire work, and serve for turkeys
lattice or
any kind of eggs. sions, are
boxes
is
to
The bed
provided for broody fowls.
formed of heather, straw, hay, or cocoa
and the number of eggs for turkeys
and one dozen
hatch
Similar boxes, but of smaller dimen-
to
hatch
is
of the fibres
two dozen,
for hens.
At any time of
the year, turkeys, whether broody or
not, are taught to hatch in' the following
addled eggs are emptied, then then placed into a nest
;
filled
manner: Some
with plaster of Paris,
which a turkey
after
is
fetched
from the yard, and placed on the eggs, and covered over with
lattice
deavor
:
to get
reconciled to
for the first forty-eight hours she will en-
out of her confinement, but soon becomes it,
when
plaster of Paris ones
;
fresh eggs are substituted for the
they will then continue to hatch,
without intermission, from three to six months, and even longer
and
;
the chickens being withdrawn as soon as hatched,
fresh eggs substituted
:
after the third
day the eggs
are examined, and the clear eggs withdrawn,
then sold in the market for soiled or discolored
new
laid
;
from having been
them with water and
which are may be
but, as they sat
upon, they clean
silver-sand to restore their original
whiteness.
The and
to
turkeys are taken
remove
oflT
their nest
their excrements
once a day, to feed,
from the nest
a while, they cease self-feeding,
when
it is
;
but,
aflier
necessary to
cram them, and give them some water once a day. Amongst some places I visited, in company with' two of your shareholders, may be mentioned the farm of Madame La Marquise de la Briffe, Chateau de Neuville, Gambais, near Houdan, where we observed twelve tur:
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. keys hatching at the same time
;
here, also,
Ill
we
witnessed
the rearing and fattening, wliich will be alluded to here-
— that of Mr. Auchi^, of Gambais, — we observed turkeys hatching
In another place,
after.
a hatcher
by
trade,
same time
at tlie
;
sixty
and
we were
informed
that,
during
winter and early spring, he had sometimes upwards of
one hundred hatching at the same time, and that each turkey continued hatching for at least three months. the farm of Mr. Louis
Mary,
at St. Julien
At
de Faucon,
near Lizieux, in Calvados, I saw a turkey that was then sitting,
and had been so upwards of
considered trary,
and
six
months
;
and as
I
rather cruel, the hatcher, to prove the con-
it
took her off the nest, and put her in the meadow,
also
removed the eggs
;
the turkey, however, to
my
and called in then some eggs were
surprise, returned immediately to her nest,
a most plaintive voice for her eggs
;
placed in a corner of the box, which she instantly drew
under her with her beak, and seemed quite delighted. Moreover,
was informed
I
that
it
was of great economical
advantage to employ turkeys to hatch, as they eat very little,
and get very
therefore
fit
for the
3. It
The
of poultry breeding
is
all
countries the great
the successful rearing,
no adequate means have ever been devised
teract the influence of climates.
cold or wet spring
and
of confinement, and
Rjearing of Poultry.
seems strange that although in
difficulty
that
fat in their state
market any day.
it
seems
to
is
to coun-
In France, like here, a
equivalent to a great loss in poultry,
be admitted everywhere that cold and wet
POULTRY BREEDING IN
112
do not agree with poultry novelties I
presently, I
own
;
in fact, they
sanitary considerations
all
particularize I
therefore,
may
were
might well have said that
better than our
of
;
it
not for some
observed in the rearing, to which I shall allude
;
their system
show an
is
no
utter disregard
and without wishing
to
any establishment, whether public or private, even the best conducted
state that
great improvement in this respect.
France, where poultry breeding
carried
is
left
room
for
In some parts of
on as a
trade,
they seldom allow a hen to-lead the chickens after being hatched, as the hen
is
more valuable
for laying eggs
they intrust this office either to capons or turkeys,
;
but
who
are said to be far better protectors to the chickens than a
hen
:
they require, however, a certain amount of schooling
preparatory to being intrusted with their charge, and
which
consists in this
:
When
a turkey has been hatching
some months, and shows a disposition to leave off, a glassful of wine is given her in the evening, and a number of chickens are substituted for the eggs on waking in the morning, she kindly takes to them, and leads them for
;
about, strutting amidst a troop of seventy to one hundred
chickens with the dignity of a drum-major.
When, how-
ever, a troop leader is required that has not
been hatching,
such as a capon or a turkey, then
usual to pluck
some of
their feathers
from the
it
breasts,
is
and
to give
them
a glass of wine, and, whilst in a state of inebriation, to place some chickens under them
:
on getting sober the
next morning, they feel that some sudden change has
come over them and as the denuded part is kept warm by the chickens, they take also kindly to them. ;
Another important matter in rearing poultry
is their
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. which
feeding,
very
differs also
II
much with our own,
but
whicli I shall have to notice under a subsequent heading.
In conclusion, I feel in justice bound to say that these artificial
are most efficient to
living protectors
shelter
chickens in the daytime, and in the evening they are
placed with their charge in a shallow box
from which they do not move
opened next morning. tlie
till
must not omit
I
filled
with hay,
the door of the to
room
is
mention that
chickens are not intrusted to the mother, or a leader,
week
before they are a
old,
and then only in
fine weather.
Feeding and Fattening.
4.
The system of
feeding poultry in France
own
judicious than our
;
and
I
may
is far
more
safely assert that I
have not noticed a single instance of poultry being fed on
whole grain, as reason
why
was informed produce
when fill
it is
that
On
the case with us.
they fed by meal
made
inquiring the
into a stiff paste, I
whole grain would be too expensive, much fat, and cause more disease
less eggs, too
the fowls are fed
ad
lihitum, so as to completely
which renders the digestion difficult. The mostly composed of about one half bran and one
their crop,
food
is
half buckwheat, barley, or oatmeal
made
into
a
stiff
which the fowls are fed twice a day, namely, at sunrise and sunset this diet is given indiscriminately to old and young. In some farms, where the poultry have not the run of meadows, they are provided with
paste, with
;
a certain amount of animal and vegetable food, which
system
now
is
so consonant with
my own
notion that I will
describe that followed at an establishment already
8
POULTRY BREEDING IN
114
All the waste of butchers' shops are obtained
noticed.
at the expense of collecting them fat
skimmed
waste finely
which, when
off,
these are boiled, the
;
coagulated,
is
with the
minced, and mixed with the meal
after
;
which the waste of the kitchen garden, such as cabbagestalks, are boiled in the liquid, and mixed with bi'an, sour poultry food, &c., which thrive admirably
able to
all
on
much
first
is
who
considered prefer-
week
amount after
is
given whole.
The
chickens,
being hatched, and in winter for a
longer time, are fed by hand on barley-meal mixed
with milk, finely
then given to the pigs,
other grains as a stimulant to laying eggs, and
in winter a certain for the
is
Buckwheat
it.
stale
bread soaked in water, and green food
chopped.
The Fattening of Poultry Whilst the rearing
is
carried
on by farmers, the
fatten-
ing forms quite a special trade, and chiefly in the hands of cottagers,
who
purchase the chickens either from farm-
ers or in the market
;
moreover,
it
is
the exclusive trade
of a few villages in each poultry breeding Goussainville, de Saint Lubin, de la
district,
such as
Haye, &c., near
Houdan, Villaine, and Boce, near La Fl^che au Mans also some hamlets near Saint Pierre Dive, Lizieux, Calvados.
however
In these localities the system of fattening ;
the one consists of liquid
differs,
cramming with
bar-
ley-meal and milk, given by means of a funnel introduced into the throat of the fowl three times a is
day
;
this
process
exceedingly expeditious, as one person can easily cram
at the rate of sixty fowls
per hour, and the fattening
from fourteen days to three weeks, according to the
lasts
dis-
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. position of the chicken to take, fat
;
115
the selection of the
some judgment, as some chickens are constitutionally too weak, and others have not the frame to receive fat. This system of liquid cramming is principally adopted in the neighborhood of Houdan and
fattening stock requires
;
an idea of the importance of
to give
this trade, I will
now
was kindly
pre-
give a short extract from the pamphlet I
sented with from a most intelligent agriculturist. Monsieur
De
la
Fosse, Proprietaire k Orval, Goussainville prSs
Houdan — :
"It of as
is to
be desired that our excellent and pure breed
Houdan should be propagated in every other country much as it is in our own, where the poultry trade has
taken such a development that pal sources of riches.
it
forms one of the princi-
A few exact statistics of this
trade
in our
immediate neighborhood will give a correct idea
of
importance.
its
and Nogent six million
le
At
the markets of
Houdan, Dreux,
Roi, there are sold annually upwards of
heads of fat poultry, namely
:
—
POULTRY BREEDING IN
Il6
the meal of barley and
buckwheat
made
is
into a stiff
paste with milk and water, then formed into pills two
inches long and half an inch in diameter into water,
the crop
and
is filled,
tance not to
;
these are dipped
forced into the throat of the fowl, until
twice a day
cram a fowl
vious meal, as otherwise
;
it is,
however, of impor-
until she "has digested the preit
might produce inflammation
and death.
A most ill-founded notion prevails with that poultry will fatten
much
all fatteners
—
quicker without light or
and without ever removing their excrements, which makes these places most offensive and unhealthy ventilation,
no other reason could be assigned
to
me
than that they
were quite sure that the smell of the excrements stimulated the fattening
;
in this there is
about as
much
reason
as in the notion our farmers used to entertain that pigs
could only thrive in I visited in
filth.
In one place, however, which
company with Monsieur Noel,
the Lion d'Or at
La
proprietor of
FlSche, a most intelligent man, and
himself a large farmer, the cottager had provision
made
fall through pen and on pointing out the innovation, he prided himself on his invention, as, said he, I can now remove the manure, and the feathers of the fowls get less dirty, and the birds
for the excrements to
have also more
air.
the. floor of the
This, surely,
is
a step in the right
direction. 5.
This also
Tueurs their
is
Killing and Dressing. a speciality, carried on by
men
called
Appriteurs; they are astonishingly expert in business and unless witnessed, as we have done, it et
;
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. would appear incredible at the rate
man can
work
tliis
and one halfpenny
make
:
the
for fat poultry. tliat
The system
whilst in Paris
a gash in the throat, in the country they stick
the poultry in the
back of the roof of the beak
cause immediate death est
and pluck
about one farthing per head
is
of killing differs, however, in this,
they
kill
of one fowl per minute, or sixty per hour
price paid for for lean
that one
II
and mpst
the latter, however,
;
is
but both
;
the clean-
They deprecate our system of
desirable.
twisting the neck, as cruel, discoloring the flesh, and
causing
early
When
man
a
of
putrefaction kills,
which he drops the
the
coagulated
blood.
he has three baskets near him, into feathers according to size
;
and the
reason of plucking the fowls instantaneously after death is
and the prevention of
the great saving in time,
ing the skin, which latter cannot well be avoided
tear-
when
the fowl once gets cold.
The Dressing.
The tines
;
lean fowls are immediately emptied of their intes-
but not so with the fat stock, which contain a large
quantity of valuable
fat,
which
i^
used for basting, a!nd
to give flavor to lean poultry.
With chickens an index of
they take care to leave the
their age,
and in
all
down
on, as
fowls they leave about
half a dozen feathers in the rump,
which gives a very
pretty appearance.
As laid
soon as the fowl
on
its
is
plucked, and before cold,
it is
back on a bench, and wrapped round with a
wet linen cloth
to
mould
its
shape, and to give the skin a
POULTRY BREEDING IN
Il8 liner
appearance
to give
;
however, they use no
flour, as
with us,
an old hen the appearance of a chicken.
The fat poultry is drawn and dressed by cooks they make an incision under the leg to withdraw the intestines, ;
by which means the fowl
6.
is
not disfigured.
Utilizing the
Waste Products.
Poultry Manure. In France, as well as in our
own
country, most eminent
chemists have proved by analysis that poultry manure a most valuable
fertilizer
;
system in housing poultry, available to rural
says that
when
relation to the
and it
yet, for
is
want of a proper
has as yet not been rendered
economy.
the value of
The
celebrated Vauquelin
manures
amount of azote they
considered in
is
contain, the poultry
manure is one of the most active stimulants and when, as a means of comparison, the following manures are ;
taken in parts of looo, Horse Manure contains
it
will
be found
.... ....
Guano, as imported, Guano, when sifted of vegetables and stones
Poultry Manure,
that,
4.0 parts of azote.
49.7
"
53.9
"
83.0
"
In France, as in England, the poultry manure
"
"
is left to
accumulate in the poultry homes, to the loss of farmers
and
to the detriment of the health of fowls.
The Feathers Are
carefully collected
sold to dealers.
and sorted, and when well dried
H9
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. The Are
boiled, the fat
Intestines
skimmed
off,
which
sold separate
is
the intestines are then minced as food for poultry, and the liquid
is
used for feeding pigs.
The Combs and Kidneys Are
sold to pastry-cooks
— the
first for
decorating and
the latter for flavoring pies.
The Head, Neck, and Feet Are
sold to hotels, restaurants, &c.,for flavoring sauces,
or boiled
down
to
make chicken jelly.
The System of Selling
7.
Poultry in France in
my
is far preferable to our own, although, would be still better were poultry sold However, a farmer or merchant who con-
opinion,
by weight.
it
signs poultry to Paris
sure to obtain a true return of
is
whatever they fetched, as he does not
rely, as
with
us,
on
the honesty of a dealer.
At
the wholesale poultry market,
where
all
poultry, dead or alive,
parts of France, there are a
whom
the poultry
to the highest
is
bidder
this
market
Vallee, in Paris,
forwarded from
is
number of
consigned, and ;
La
who
is
all
licensed agents to Sell it
by auction
a curious scene,
and
worth seeing, from four
till
nine in the morning, where
thousands of crates, of
all
descriptions of poultry, are
disposed the day.
of,
and cleared
out, before
twelve o'clock in
POULTRY BREEDING IN
I20
Every village has its weekly markets, where farmers and their wives bring their produce for sale, in preference to selling
it
The
at the farm-yard.
police regulations in
The
these markets are strictly enforced.
bound to
to
various products
Each person
are classified before the market begins.
is
keep his assigned place, and not allowed even
much
uncover his goods, and
bell rings,
under a
fine
of
less to sell, before the
At
five francs.
the ringing of
the bell, the bustle to uncover, the rush of buyers, and
the chattering, are worth while to witness.
The
dealers
and merchants take up their stand outside the market, where they send all the products they purchase. The seller has a ticket given him, with the purchase price on it,
and
stand.
is
paid on delivery of the goods at the dealer's
It
seems almost incredible
to believe, that
even
some village markets, within two hours, such a vast amount of business can be transacted with the greatest order and decorum. Some merchants will purchase from two thousand to three thousand pounds of butter others, in
;
twenty thousand to thirty thousand eggs, or some thousand heads of poultry, &c.
warehouse the
to
same day
be
either to
London
the current price for every
immediately
all
;
which are taken to their and perhaps forwarded
sorted, packed,
after the
is
I
may
fixed
add, that
and known
market opens, and depends entirely
on the demand and supply. fetched four shillings each butter, tenpence per
or Paris.
commodity
For ;
instance, fat chickens
twelve eggs, sevenpence
pound, &c.
For the foregoing information, I am mainly indebted to Mr. H. Lindon, Jr., a most obliging gentleman, who represents at Lizieux the Messrs.
Lindon Brothers
& Co.
of
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. London, general merchants ited several
farms, and
makes purchases of
company
in his
;
121
I
have
vis-
attended market, at which he
London
butter, grain, &c., for the
market.
The
8.
There are three acteristic in their
Distinct Breeds.
perfectly distinct breeds, all very char-
appearance
they are very true to
when
and,
;
all their points.
of pure race, only give a
I shall
cursory description of the appearance of those
now
at
we
have
our establishment in Bromley.
Houdan Fowl. Whatever has been said
when
pure,
mitted, that little
is
to the contrary, this breed,
most characteristic
but
;
it
must be ad-
most of the farmers near Houdan know as
of the pure
Houdan breed
and CrSvecceur know of
theirs
;
as those of
and,
if
La Fleche
you were
to order
some first class birds of them, irrespective of price, they would with good conscience forward fowls of a large but, from a want of knowledge, some cross breed3. size
—
To
illustrate this, I
may
mention that I could have pur-
chased, at the markets in
those
respective
localities,
splendid thorough-bred specimens for about three shillings,
the price of
common
fowls,;
— but
worth in France even one pound each. ever, in each locality,
which were There are, how-
some persons who take an
interest
in their pure breeds, particularly since they have been
encouraged by the award of prizes from poultry exhibitions.
POULTRY BREEDING IN
122
The Houdan fowl has
a very bulky appearance,
—a
plumage invariably black and white spangled
its
crest
of the same color comb, triple, the outsides opening like two leaves of a book, and the centre having the appear;
ance of an ill-shaped long strawberry. the
comb
The
scarcely perceptible. color,
with
With
very large, whilst with the hen
is
five claws, the
it
the cock
ought to be
and of a lead
legs are strong,
two hind ones one above the
Strongly-developed whiskers and beards both in
other.
cocks and hens.
This
but
surpass even
qualities
its
is
one of the
of fowls,
finest races
beauty
its
;
besides the
smallness of their bones, the fineness of their flesh, they are of an extraordinary precocity
large
and fecundity
and white eggs, and the chickens are
table at four
months
old.
It is,
is
they lay for the
however, observed that
they are very indifferent for hatching. adults
;
fit
The weight
of
from seven to eight pounds, in which the bones
figure for
one eighth.
old, weighs,
The
chicken,
when
four months
without the intestines, about four and a half
pounds.
The CreveccBur Race, In outward appearance, resembles closely the Houdan, but
its crest,
the crest
is
whiskers, and beard are
still
the cock, but with the hen
plumage ought to be some white, also blue a degeneration
is
;
;
it
is
very small
said to
;
the
whole
perfectly black, afthough there are varieties,
legs black
;
which
are,
however, only
the claws, four in number,
are stronger and longer than those of the
breed
more developed
only double, and projects like two horns with
be superior, in
all
Houdan.
This
respects, even
to
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. Houdan cious
and
1
23
fowls, and justly esteemed as the most preco-
world, as the chickens are
finest in the
the table at three
months
weigh from seven
to
old,
and
pounds when fattened
eight
for
fit
months old
at six
;
the
eggs also are larger, and of a beautiful white.
La This breed
Fleche Race. with the two preceding ones.
differs entirely
;
the plumage,
close to the body,
and gives an
In appearance they resemble the Spanish
which
is jet
black,
fits
idea of less bulk than those of
Houdan and Crevecoeur, They are very
although they actually are heavier fowls.
long in coming to maturity, but which happens generally at the season
when
poultry
most
is
scarce,
on account of
which, coupled with the exquisite flavor of the they fetch fabulous prices
La
and even
;
at the time I
flesh,
was
at
Fleche, the beginning of July, the fat chickens sold in
the market at five shillings each. parent, and very elastic,
extraordinary
from eight
amount of
to ten
Skin white,
which enables them fat.
The weight of
pounds, and the bones
eighth of the weight
;
when
fine, trans-
to take
adults
an is
than one
less
standing erect they measure
twenty-two inches in height and twenty-three inches in
The legs, comb in
circumference, taken from under the wings.
and four claws, of a lead
color, are strong
;
the
appearance like two horns, like those of Crevecceurs, with a ish,
little
crest
behind
;
the face white, like the Span-
and a horn on the beak
like that of the rhinoceros,
form the principal characteristics of is
this fine
said they begin to lay early in the year
;
race.
It
but their
eggs, though abundant, are smaller than those of other
POULTRY BREEDING IN
124
French breeds, and as regards
they are considered
sitters
bad as the Spanish.
as
Caponage and Virgin Cocks.
9.
There seems
to exist a considerable difference of opinion
in various parts of
France as to the necessity of
ing young cocks for fattening purposes. ties
they pretend that
when cocks
castrat-
In some locali-
are not allowed to
when
associate with the opposite sex, they will attain, fattened, a greater weight,
flavor of flesh trated,
it
others again say that
;
can be kept
deteriorating
nary weight
and be much
till
its qualitj',
when
a
finer as regards
when
a cock
is
cas-
more mature age without
and by
attain
this
fattened, besides
an extraordi-
making them
as troop leaders of chickens, as before described.
not decide w^hich of the two systems
is
useful I can-
the best or most
advantageous, any more than I can decide about the two
systems of cramming, without making experiments
much, however,
I
;
this
have noticed, that virgin cocks fatten
very readily, and fetch prices as high as capons.
10.
ing
Wherever I
my System of Poultry BreedAND RtniAL Economy.
Opinions on
I
promulgated
went and whenever
my
I
had an opportunity,
system of poultry breeding in connec-
economy with a view to elicit opinions, having been taught by experience that diversity of opinion is the greatest stimulant to improvemeht and progress. Without naming any individual opinion, I may state that.
tion with rural
A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. without
exception,
1
25
were favorable as regards the
all
when carried out on an working expenses would be
practicability of the undertaking
extensive scale, as then the at their
minimum and
they do not consider
it
the returns at the difficult to rear
maximum
;
that
chickens in-doors,
and spring chickens are all reared in outSome, however, hold it to be beneficial for fowls to get wet, with which I differ, as they are not amphibious, and require only dry dust to clean themas their winter
houses.
selves. it
The
separation system
much approved
is
of, as
enables the races to be kept pure, in which they find
the greatest difficulties in farm-yards for nests, feeding,
commended Englishmen,
—
warming, and
was
in fact I
:
the arrangement
ventilation are likewise
told several times, "
when you do anything you do
it
Ah, you
well and on
a grand scale."
II.
Fiction, statistics,
Analysis of my Observations.
when
well told and supported by imaginary
bears often more semblance to truth than reality
itself; this fact
was never
interesting account given
better illustrated than
by the
by some ingenious and inven-
mind of certain Gallinocultural establishments, whose existence was stated to be in the vicinity of Paris, and where the exclusive diet of the fowls was tive
illusive
horseflesh.
The
story
details so rhinute, that
it
seemed
so
plausible,
was accepted
and
as a fact,
the
and in
due course published in numerous
scientific
papers of this and other countries
indeed, the fact that
;
and other
fowls are omnivorous, and that they have a predilection
POULTRY BREEDING IN
126 for
animal food,
is
so well
known,
that
explicitly stated that their exclusive diet
have credited
I should
just as good,
is
myself;
my
and perhaps
informed
horseflesh,
than
better,
pretended exclusive use.
its
not been
horseflesh,
doubts did, how-
other animals' flesh for the food of poultry,
on account of
it
was
on account of the use of
ever, not arise
which
it
had
— but I
many solely
have been
Jardin des Plantes and at the Jardin
at the
d'Acclimatation, in Paris, that this subject has created
much
as
own,
interest
as persons
and deception
in other countries as our
from Russia, America, and. other parts
come on purpose to Paris to visit those Whether on account of the price of animal food the public mind was
of the world, had
imaginary establishments. daily increasing
prepared to believe in the existence of such Gallinocultu-
where they slaughter fifty horses per whether the publication does more harm than good, I will not vennor can I say whether the persons who
ral establishments,
diem
for the food of poultry, or
of such fictions ture to discuss
;
were disappointed
in the object of their journey
were com-
pensated by learning some profitable matters not included
programme of inquiry
in their
which
I believe will
report,
is,
that
my
be
fully
journey to
;
but what I can assert, and
borne out by the preceding France will prove in many
respects most beneficial to the interest of our
Company.
In support of this assertion I cannot do better than quote
what
I stated in
"We
my first report,
viz.,
are not about to carry out any
new
invention
in poultry breeding, but merely a wise combination of
well-established facts:
known
;
individually, the facts are well but a combination of them applied to poultry
A COMMERCIAL
POINT OP VIEW.
1
27
breeding has hitherto escaped the notice of rural economists."
Such
in fact, the case in the undertaking
is,
about to carry out of
any other country
this or
;
and
are
to
after
we
that the system of poultry breeding
With
in
honored
to
it
Bromley,
must be as
it
you know, — having — your confidence, as was pleasing
satisfactory to
at
we
namely, a combination and adoption
the most successful systems in poultry breeding,
all
whether of
witli
;
me
me
to see,
are carrying out
Kent, combines every element of success.
the exception of hatching
rearing by turkeys and capons, and
by the aid of turkeys, some other novelties
we shall now proved by the
connected with poultry breeding, and which adopt, the soundness of successful
working of
my
its
system
is
several parts in various places
of France. I can
now
with every confidence congratulate you for
having founded the the world, it
and one
will be a
boon
first
Gallinocultural establishment in
that will prove as beneficial to
to the nation at large
must become the national nursery poultry from
with
first
whence farmers and it is
for all
pure races of
moderate prices; an
to be trusted, that will not only prove
the foundation to an increase of animal food
and the ame-
means of more general use than
lioration of poultry breeds, but also prove the
poultry becoming cheaper and of it
now
is.
you as
and which soon
others can be supplied
class breeding stocks at
establishment,
;
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