Show Guinea ulna Raising Is s Quite Profitable Substituted in Fashionable Hotels for Various Valious Kinds of Game Birds Prepared by the United States Department of ot Agriculture Guinea raising Is becoming more profitable as a result of their successful successful successful success success- ful substitution In fashionable hotels and eating places for such game birds as grouse quail and partridge says the United States Department of Ag Ag- When well cooked guineas are attractive in appear appearance nce although darker than common fowl and the flesh of young birds Is tender and of ot especially fine flavor resembling that of ot wild wila game The TIle census m figures show WJ an Increase of 36 30 per cent In the number of guinea fowl on farms In 1920 1020 over the number in 1 1910 10 Raise In Small mall Flocks 3 A few of the the large poultry raisers particularly those within easy casy reach of ot the large eastern markets make a i practice of raising a hundred or so i guineas each year but the great majorIty majority majority major major- ity of guineas are raised in small flocks of ot from 10 to 25 23 on the farms of the Middle West Vest and of the South The highest prices for guineas are paid In the large eastern markets who are near these markets markets markets mar mar- or who have developed a trade among private customers receive prices that make tills this industry very profitable Wholesale prices in New NewYork NewYork York ork usually range from 1 1 to per pair for dressed spring guineas They are marketed late In the tIie summer when they weigh from one to one and I one half pounds when two and one-half one months of ot age and also throughout the the fall when the demand Is for heavier birds Guinea hens usually begin to lay In April or May those In the South layIng layIng laying lay- lay Ing earlier than those in the North From 20 to 30 and often more eggs are laid before the guinea hen becomes becomes becomes be be- comes broody at which time she can be broken of ot her broodIness easily by removing the eggs eggs from the nest when she will soon begin laying again If not a allowed lowed to to sit guinea hens will continue to lay throughout the summer summer summer sum sum- mer laying from 40 to 60 and in some cases eggs during the season Persistent Layers As profitable egg producers guinea guinen hens cannot compete with ordinary hens but during the latter part of the spring and during the summer they are persistent layers The eggs are smaller than hens hen's eggs and consequently consequently consequently conse conse- bring lower prices being graded as small eggs The chief claim to profitableness on the farm is the demand for the fowl by the eastern markets for for- supplying the hotel demand de de- d demand mand for a wild game substitute Their nois noisy never-ending never harsh cry which is often cause for their unpopularity unpopularity unpopularity larity on the farm is s really a point in favor of keeping a few of them as they are excellent sentries giving warning of marauders in n the poultry yard Their pugnacious disposition while sometimes causing disturbances among other poultry also makes them show fight against hawks and other common enemies so that guineas sometimes sometimes sometimes some some- times are kept as guards over the ilie poultry yard |