UNIVERSITY OF B.C. LIBRARY 3 9424 00126 2341 S v\^ m^ w^: r ^ \ POIfLTK ex Xi'^ SICRAGE HEM PKCCESSING-CNE Lpl-F20A U.B.C. LIBRARY 4 THE ILLUSTRATED BOOK OP 4 DOMESTIC POULTRY. EDITED BY MARTIN DOYLE. THE FIGURES DRAWN TEOM NATURE BY C. H. WEIGALL; eHngtaijcU anti ^xinttti in (Bil dLolanxn bg Mi. IBicHes ^ ffl^a. THE GUINEA FOWL. LONDON: GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & CO., FARRINGDON STREET. 1854. FREE ACE. Something preliminary to this additional con- tribution to the numerous publications on Poultry will be respectful to the readers to whom it is now offered, and before whom I venture to appear as a sort of master of the ceremonies (under my nom de plume) to the various individuals of the feathered families which are to be presented in due form and order. I must claim the privilege of stating some of the circumstances under which I make my introductory bow. Having been unexpectedly invited by the Pub- lishers to undertake the editorship of this work, immediately after the appearance of the first two numbers, I had, amidst many avocations, to prepare and complete all the matter of it (the revision of those two numbers inclusive) within the few months which have elapsed from that to the present time. I have endeavoured to be correct in all details ; and while availing myself of the best authorities on every point, I have not introduced any matter which appeared to me as irrelevant or uninteresting. IV PREFACE. or practically useless ; yet relieving the grave style of learned and scientific ornithology by shadings of a lighter and playful character. If my shadings, indeed, could equal the artistic colourings of Mr. Weigall, and the elegant tracery of Mr. Dickes, in the pictorial department, I should be quite satisfied. I can only hope that our combined efforts (as the fly said to the wheel) will make some noise in the world. The possible charge of presumption in offering this book, when so many others are in the market, must be briefly adverted to. I might say that this is no affair of mine ; that it is a commercial case affecting the Publishers alone, and so it is ; but I need not thus escape on their shoulders. The fact is, that the subject of Poultry is so exceedingly popular, that books of all sizes and prices have their customers. Our Publishers' net is capacious, and accommo- dates its meshes to books of every useful and good kind ; and in the present and similar instances, the great object should be to meet the just and daily- increasing demands of the reading public in the most effective manner. MAUTIN DOYLE. CONTENTS. Origin of Domestic Poultry Page 1 Shanghae, or Cochin-China fowl 4 Their habita 7 Proper treatment of chicks. ... 12 The eggs 16 Table of expenses and produce 20 Profitable result of keeping. ... 22 Points to be required 26 Varieties of plumage 28 On crossing with Cochins 39 Spanish 54 Their varieties 67 Comparative advantages QQ Proper mode of feeding 69 Breeding and crossing 71 Eggs of Spanish 78 Dorking, their origin 83 Best kind for the table 86 Not suited to damp soils 90 Their eggs 92 Crossing advisable 92 On the fifth toe 96 Poland, origin of crested kinds . . 97 Aldrovandus' figures of Paduans 99 Numerous crested kinds 101 The several varieties 102 On the colours 106 Chicks require care , . . . . 109 Malay and Indian kinds 113 Their origin 113 Observations of different judges 115 Not adapted to cold climates . . 121 Marks of Pheasant-Malay .... 124 The Silk Cock 124 Chittagongs 125 Negro Cock 127 Malabar Cock 128 On size and eggs 131 Frizzled fowl 132 KuMPKlN, or Tail-less fowl 133 Game kind Page. 135 On cock-fighting 136 The Knowsley breed. 141 The several varieties. .......•• 142 Their hardy nature 148 Bantams, origin 152 Turkish and Bantam allied 153 The several varieties 155 The Speckled 157 The Sebright 158 The Silver-laced and Spangled 160 The Black and White 162 The Silk and Partridge 163 The Turkish and Cambodje 164 Barbary fowl 166 Hamburgh kinds 167 Classification 169 Chittaprats 171 Bolton-Bays ^2 Silver- Spangled 1/3 Golden-Spangled 175 Redcap 176 Black-Pheasant 177 Guinea fowl 178 Discordant opinions of old writers 179 Crested and Mitred 183 Self-coloured, White, and Pied 184 Well worth keeping 185 Their habits 187 Food and diseases 1 90 Peacock, derivation 192 The wild kind 19* The Javan 195 Required points 197 Japan 198 Pied and White 199 Habits 200 Eggs of Pea-fowF 202 Young ones 203 Turkey, early account 205 VI CONTENTS. -Turkey, the wild Paxje 207 Honduras and Bmsh 211 American species 214 Norfolk varieties 216 Pure white kind 218 Habits of laying 221 Care of young ones 222 Geese, Grey-lag 226 Bemicle 227 Canadian 229 Bean 230 China 231 Egyptian 232 Geese, Domestic Paxjt, 233 Toulouse and Embden 234 Anecdotes 237 Habits 240 Ducks, Mallard 241 Teal 243 Widgeon 244 Mandarin, and Carolina 245 Labrador 246 Aylesbury 247 Rouen 248 Musk 249 Habits 250 MANAG Breeding, proportion of hens. . Page 1 Dorkings the best mothers .... 2 Proper age of cock 4 Laying, indications 6 Warmth recommended 7 Progress of formation of the &^^ 10 Time essential 11 Dr. Bostock on the egg 12 Egos, to preserve 13 An experienced housekeeper's practice 15 The best layers and sitters .... 18 Monstrous ones 19 On varieties of eggs 20 Hatching, natural process 23 Artificial 24 Cantelo's mode 29 Reaumur's method 33 Fresh eggs necessary 38 Produce of double eggs 40 Ducks' eggs 41 Number of eggs required 43 Hens must be carefully fed .... 44 Nature rarely at fault \% General remarks on the care requisite 48 Turkey, Goose, and Duck 60 Pi-actical observations 51 Poultry-Yard, proper site 54 Fowl-houses, Mr. Bond's 55 ,, Mr. Adnam's .... 69 E M E N T. Fountains, Mr. Bailey's . . Fa^c 63 ,, Mr. Baker's 63 Poultry-woman's duties 64 Food 65 Times of feeding 68 Use of coops 69 Food for chicks 70 Food for goslings 72 Ducklings, early treatment .... 73 Guineas must be often fed 74 Coops 75 Digestive Organs 80 Feeding, cost 85 Pure and natural recommended 88 Indian mode 88 Geese and goslings 89 French mode 91 Ducks 92 Capons 93 Tlie process of caponizing .... 94 Diseases, classification 98 Fevers and loss of feathers .... 99 Diarrhcea and constipation .... 100 Gapes 101 Gout, rheumatism, and pip .... 102 Roup 103 Phthisis, megrims, and apoplexy 104 Vermin 105 Cramp 106 Indigestion and tonics 108 y ILLUSTRATIONS. BUFF-COLOURED COCHINS page 6 BLACK SPANISH 60 WHITE-SPANGLED POLANDS 88 DOKKINGS 104 BLACK-BREASTED MALAY 114 BRAMA-POOTRAS 118 BLACK-BREASTED GAME 144 DUCK- WINGED GAME 148 BLACK AND DUTCH BANTAMS 156 GOLDEN-SPANGLED AND SILK BANTAMS 162 BOLTON-BAY HAMBURGHS 172 SILVER HAMBURGHS I74 PEACOCK 192 TURKEY 216 COMMON GOOSE— EGYPTIAN AND LABRADOR GEESE ... 232 AYLESBURY DUCK— WILD OR MALLARD— TEAL 246 ORIGIN OF DOMESTIC POULTRY. ^^^sa— Our Domestic Poultry belong, respectively^ to three dis- tinct orders of the class Aves, viz. ; the rasorial or galli- naceous order, the columbine or gyratorial order, and the natatorial or swimming order. As the term Rasores (from rado, scratch) leads us naturally to conclude, the birds included in this order are chiefly, if not exclusively, terrestrial in their habits ; many of them roost, for they can hardly be said to perch, on trees, but some, as the partridge, grouse, and others, are absolutely terrestrial, not only scratching for their food, but reposing on the ground. The generic characters of the genus Galhis, are : — Bill moderate, strong, convex above, curved towards the point, naked at the base, and furnished with two compressed caruncles or wattles. Head surmounted with a flesliy crest or comb. Tarsi J in the male, armed with a long and recurved spear. Wings short and graduated. Tail-feathers fourteen, forming two vertical planes, with the under sides of the feathers towards each other, and so making what may be called a folded tail. The middle feathers longest and recurved. It would seem that all attempts, beyond a certain point, to trace back the history of some of our most common domestic poultry, arc in vain ; but as it is generally agreed B 2 ORIGIN OF tliat tlieir ancestors were natives of Asia, the observations of travellers would direct us to look to the forests and jungles of India for the race in a state of nature. Although some difference exists as to the precise breed from whence they came, or the exact locality, the more commonly received opinion is, that they sprang from the Bankiva or Javan foivl. Sonnerat, differing from others, is of opinion that the origin is found in the variet}^ termed Sonnerafs species — the Jungle Cock of English sportsmen in India; and Colonel Sykes says this bird is very abundant in the woods of the Western Ghauts, where there are two very strongly marked varieties. In the valleys, beyond 2,000 feet above the sea, this species is found, — slender, standing high upon the legs, and with yellow cartilaginous spots on the feathers, even in the female ; in the belts of the woods on the sides of the mountains, at 4,000 feet above the sea, there is a short- legged variety. The Colonel found the eggs of this species to be exactly like those of the domestic fowl in form and colour, though somewhat less in size. Buffon also had suggested their origin from this species. Some naturalists have aflSrmed the parentage can be traced to the Caper- cailzie or Cock of the Woods, which is now nearly extinct in the British isles, although still abundant in some of the northern parts of the continent of Europe. That the fowl was domesticated and extensively spread at a very remote period is most evident ; for when the Romans first invaded the shores of Britain, they found both the fowl and the goose in a state of domestication, but not for the purposes of food, for Csesar says, '' They deem it not lawful to eat the fowl, the hare, and the goose ; nevertheless, they breed these animals for the sake of fancy and plcasure.^^ Sacred history, in the enumeration of the provisions for the supply of Solomon^s household, mentions '^ fatted fowl.^' After the Babylonish captivity, we cannot doubt that the DOMESTIC POULTRY. 3 fowl was among the domestic animals of Palestine ; for Nelie- miah (b.c.445)j in his rebuke of the Jews, says, chap. v. ver. 18, ^^ Now there were at my table, prepared for me daily, one ox and six choice sheep, also fowls/^ Antecedently to this period, the fowl was abundant in Persia. Thus, Peistheteerus (Aristophanes) relates why the Cock is called the Persian bird, and how it reigned over that country before Darius and Megabyzus (b.c, 521). Not only do the classic poets and historians speak of the high antiquity of the fowl, but medals and coins proclaim the same, and bear its figure stamped upon them ; nor is its delineation absent on other relics of remote periods. Among the Greeks and Romans, the fowl figured in the public shows. The Cock was dedicated to Apollo, to Mer- cury, to Esculapius, and to Mars ; and its courage and watchfulness were well appreciated. The Rhodian fowls, and those of Delos, Chalcis, and Media, were celebrated for their superiority in fight, and for the excellence and delicacy of their flesh. At every Roman banquet, this bird formed a highly-esteemed dish, and then, as now, was fed and fattened up to great perfection. The custom was to cram the fowls with meal, and keep them in the dark, that they might more readily fatten. Cock-fighting was a diversion in consonance with the taste of the Romans, and they were as much devoted to it as the Malays of the present day, who will stake their all upon the issue of the battle. The Fowl is also domesticated in great abundance by natives of various parts of Africa, and in America and Australia, colonized as those regions now are by Europeans. It is numerous in all the isles in the South Seas, domesticated for the purposes of food ; and the mode of cooking the fowl is mentioned repeatedly in Capt. Wilkes' ^^ Narrative of tlic United States Exploring Expedition.'^ B ^ DOMESTIC POULTRY. Commonly called Cochin-China, \p This most gigantic of all domestic fowl is universally admitted, now, to be a native of that part of the Celestial Empire called Shanghae, but owing to the circumstance of Cochin-China having been the place whence it was imported into England first, the name of " Cochin-China" has attached itself to this species with a familiarity somewhat improper, it must be allowed. The patronymic " Cochin China^^ will, undoubtedly, with the multitude retain the preference it gained through an accidental event. This addition to our varieties of poultry has been but very lately introduced to us. We believe that the first specimens that made their appearance in England came as presents to the Queen, and her Majesty being desirous that they should be naturalized, and propagated throughout the British Isles, commanded that eggs shoidd be dispersed among some few of her subjects who would be most likely to assist in carrying out her wishes. Since then the Shanghae has wonderfully increased its numbers, being comparatively well known, and reared extensively by amateurs and breeders of eminence. Some splendid specimens from the royal stock were, -at the Dublin Cattle Show of 181G, for the first time puldicly exhibited. For their stupendous size, their shape, the beauty of their plumage, and striking appearance, they elicited abundant admiration, altliough some indications of an addi- tional toe, together with certain deviations from the strict conformation of the pure Shanghae's head, afforded to the connoisseur sufficient evidences that they had been crossed THE SHANGHAE. 5 with the " Dorking/^ The exhibited birds were subsequently presented to Lord Heytesbury, the then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The specimens our breeders first exhibited differed con siderably in some particulars from those which gain prizes in the present day. They were then furnished with a more abundant tail, some had no feather down the leg_, in many instances the hinder parts were more diminutive,, the thigh joints somewhat smaller, and finally they did not then attain to quite so great a growth as now they generally approach. A superficial view will seldom, if it ever did, lead to a just appreciation of the Shanghae fowFs form. Their massive body, short heavy wing, the deep contraction underneatli their crop, the feathers growing down their leg even to the very toes — and more preferred where most the feather grows — form striking contrasts to our English fowls. Strong con- trasts, great abruptness, in some points violations of our European laws of symmetry, in others strict adhesion to them, — indeed a general orientalism of style throughout, is the distinguishing characteristic of the Shanghae. Their heavy-clad and clumsy -jointed thighs give them a most ungainly gait ; but yet in certain attitudes, as may be seen on reference to our illustration, their noble frontal out- line, from the erect and brilliant comb down to the feathery toe, the full mild ej^e, the proud and graceful arching of its finely curving neck, the gay appendages which amply hang suspended from the well-balanced and handsome head, and richly ornament the throat, the hackle opening gently to display the full, advancing breast, the short but decorated leg, the outspread foot, — all these combined present a beautiful and most imposing front. Some authors have described the Shanghae as doubling the wing upon its back in a most curious way. Among our stock we certainly have one which doubles up tlic Aving as they ij 3 Cy DOMESTIC POULTRY. relate, but not another, even of the same stock, betrays such a peculiarity. A skilful and well-known veterinary surgeon has subjected it to a long careful examination, but he could not find, either in joint or muscle, any departure from the general conformation whicli might account for the manoeuvre. We think it simply was a habit first acquired from ha\dng taken cold internally, and, as a confirmation of our opinion, it is by far the smallest cockerell among the brood ; its pro- gress had been checked from cold caught while yet a chicken of a few months* growth. The full-grown cock weighs from nine to fifteen pounds, the hen from seven to ten. In height, the male bird grows from twenty-two to twenty-five inches, the female from eighteen to twenty-two inches. This difi'erence may generally be accounted for thus : being but slow in getting feather, when they are hatched during the months of March or April, all the fine weather lies before them, which they can take advantage of to get well feathered and gain strength before the cold arrives, which ??^c^/ accompany the year's decline ; and if keen winds prevail when they have been hatched only a month or two, the mother hen can generally provide them warmth and shelter, shielding them from every detri- mental influence ; whereas, if hatched so late as June, the ensuing winter may attack their naked limbs before they are well provided with the feathery armour. Their growth will also much depend upon the manner of their rearing, whether fed on grain or meal — the uncrushed corn not being so good for them — whether they have an ample run in field or meadow, or be cooped up in a garden, or otherwise confined, with other matters, which shall be treated of under a special head ; suffice it, that from what we liere have said the reader may form his own conclusions on tlie discrepancy existing in the weight and height of birds of the same strain and age, but reared in difterent circumstances. k. THE SHANGHAE, 7 Tame, inoffensive, sociable, the Shanghae seldom exhibits aught of a pugnacious disposition. They soon become ac- quainted with their feeder and with each other also. The male bird is exceedingly affectionate towards his hens, and may be often seen to contemplate the laying hen with most particular interest, oftentimes going in and out the nest as though preparing it for her reception ; but when she once has entered it, he mounts guard beside her, chuckling his guttural but joyous whisperings into her ear, until the moment that her labours are accomplished, when he departs with loud proud acclamations, triumphantly proclaiming far and near, and wide as echo's reach, his hen^s praiseworthy work. These cocks, beyond all poultry beaux, are gifted with the power to soften the asperities of temper, and to win the love of hens the wildest and the most indifferent — as hens will sometimes be — to the advances of their lords. They never go a courting but to succeed in wooing, soon reconciling to the connubial state their feathered brides. Where other cocks have failed to bring to terms the ladies of the farm- yard harems — and these same ladies ofttimes are especially perverse and prudish — the Shanghaese gallant has soon reduced them to submission by some means best known of course to itself. However much the appearance of this species may be inimical to favourable first impressions, their gentleness is a most excellent substitute for the gentility they lack ; clumsy precipitancy in their wooing does not accompany a clumsy figure ; then, although their person is ungainly, their man- ner is very winning, and a fascination dwells within their bright good-tempered eye, which will inspire with soft emotions the most unsocial and intractable of hens. We will present an illustrative instance of a hen that, from her wild and savage disposition, was the abhorrence of all 8 DOMESTIC POULTRY. cocks, a feeling ylie most cordially reciprocated; between herself and every fowl about the yard mutual antipathies existed. In vain we placed her with the gayest and most captivating suitors; naught would she have to say to them, creating much chagrin and rage thereby within the breasts — and through the feathers — of the ruffled chanticleers. At length we placed a Shanghae Petruchio with this winged Katharine, and with amused anxiety waited some minutes witnessing a few preliminary steps he took towards his vixenish be- trothed^s good graces. Upon his first advance the feathery fury flew away. Eschewing all impetuosity, the nowise baffled lover coolly showed his paces at a respectful distance from her — distant politeness served his turn ; and while his sweetheart^s flurry was subsiding, he imperceptibly con- tinued narrowing the space which intervened between him and his object, until without affording the least pretext for flying in a passion, he soon found himself just within ogling distance of his prize. Our time and patience being now exhausted, we at this moment left the fowler -^ith the bird he sought to snare. The following morning found the bride standing compla- cently beside the bridegroom. The Shanghaej although so tame, running towards us at a call, eating their food out of our open hand, have an insu- perable objection to be handled, struggling with wing and leg to ])c released when taken off" the ground ; not wildly flapping, nor yet screeching out; neither, when released, seeking by flight to avoid all further ruffling of feather and of temper, but on the contrary submitting unreservedly to a repetition of the distasteful treatment, yet just as often as you take them up again, using again their utmost force to reassert their personal liberty. Should any of our readers be disposed to test this patience — almost amounting to stu- pidity— in the Slianyhaej let them remember that its stunted THE SHANGHAE. 9 \viiig'_, so disproportioned to the heavy body^ assists it very little in alighting on the ground ; care must be therefore taken^ lest in the struggle it should fall too heavily and be thereby contused. For reasons that arise from this same liability, we will here point attention to their roosting-place. The perches should not much exceed two feet above the ground ; when left to their own discretion they invariably choose them quite as low, the obvious and sufficient reason being, the incapacity of their short wings to aid them in descending safely from a height, which to any other class of fowl would be but moderate. Some breeders will dispense with perches altogether for their fowls ; we, on the contrary, most strenuously ad\dse a thick round roost eleven inches in circumference, and raised two feet above the ground, a height the best adapted for them. Where Shanghaes are kept in great number, a range of roosts should be erected ; the first should be a foot in height, the second double that, and so on, whilst the last should have an intervening space between it and the wall, sufficient to allow the birds abundant room for the convenient disposition of their hinder parts. For obvious purposes of cleanhness, the perches should not be erected one above another, and should be tolerably thick, because their length of toe and weight of body render it absolutely necessary, that their claws should have a good firm clutch for the maintenance, without too great an effort of their own, of an agreeable and easy equilibrium. Upon the other hand, if forced to sleep upon the ground, their litter must be daily cleansed away, especially in sum- mer time, whereas if they be perched a little height above the ground, once cleansing thorouglily within each week will be sufficient, if only three or four are kept together ; but if greater numbers flock, more frequent cleanings must of course take place. 10 DOMESTIC POULTRY. The flavour of the flesh is different in different specimens^ and truly we have tasted some very indiflPerent. Whilst some are white and juicy^ delicate and finely flavoured^ others are the very reverse. We are^ however^ quite con- vinced that with attention, and by fair, as well as by full feeding, Shanghaes may, in almost every instance, be not only rendered palatable, but really capable of gratifying the fastidious epicure. Let them be fattened upon barley-meal, two or three grains of Cayenne pepper given them now and then, a little barley-meal mixed with their water to the con- sistence of a dilute paste ; by the adoption of such means, the crop and the digestive organs will acquire so high a state of healthy vigour as to compel the food to pass through all its stages speedily. This subject will be elsewhere enlarged upon in an extended form. It will enhance considerably their quality and flavour, if, before killing, they are deprived of food seven or eight hours, during which time, however, they must be placed in dark- ness, to prevent or check a detrimental longing after food ; and thus, the crop receiving no addition to its contents, will become empty, and their internal parts quite free of that offensiveness which often otherwise communicates a taint to the entire flesh, — a grossness which the process of cooking does not entirely overcome. The hen is, from her comfortably maternal size and gentle disposition, peculiarly adapted for fulfilling all the offices of incubator and of mother, of nurse -and parent. She can, if needed, cover seventeen or eighteen eggs, though thirteen are sufficient for her, as, with greater numbers, she is liable to break them in the nest. In the cold months her animal heat is hardly equal to the task of giving warmth to an excessive number. In the summer time, however, we have frequently placed under a hen the highest number named, and reared up a good brood, but still it is somewhat impru- THE SHANGHAE. 11 dent to adventure such a quantity at once. The chances are they may be trampled on soon after being hatched, besides that with too large a brood the most impartial mother may be incapable of ekeing out the tit-bits so that each member of her extensive family may get a share. The sitting Shanghae is also very careful in its stepping in and out the nest, which should be always placed so that she may walk, not be compelled to jump, into it. On this account, we highly disapprove of a deep nest, since eggs are frequently destroyed by the down plumping of the hen. Though somewhat shallow, it should be of wide enough dimensions, since the Shanghae swells out her form to an amazing size. If at any time it is found desirable to move a hen to another court-yard, there is seldom any difficulty in inducing her to take her seat in any place you please, especially if the removal be eflPected after dark. The Shanghae's eggs, like those of other fowl, occupy usually the term of one and twenty days in carrying out the hatching process; but frequently only twenty days is its term of durance ; though in case the eggs are stale, the utmost limit of their time is usually filled up, and often five or six hours more expire before the shell is burst. The vital prin- ciple has then been so near exhausted, that the captive chick has great difficulty in emerging from confinement. The Shanghae chick, from its first step into tlie world, displays the characteristic tread with which the breed pecu- liarly walk and thread their way through life ; exhibiting also, at the same time, that tameness which distinguishes this bird. It is amusing to observe their consequential strut among the chickens of a smaller class, as though the little Shanghae Avere well aware it would eventually become the greatest of them all, although now no bigger than the rest. Tlie feathery down upon their legs is seen as scon as they 12 DOMESTIC POULTRY. lire liatclied. The beak cxliibits a decided greenish tinge, the eyes appear almost as bhick as sloes. Their colour greatly varies during the period of their chickenhood^ fre- quently hatching very light of tint, and afterwards betraying darkish featliers in the Avings and hackles, until at length the chicken, hatched canary colour, grows into partridge or dark brown. Little can be determined of their tints until the down gives place to feathers. These, as elsewhere observed, are very slow of growth : whilst game and other sorts are getting fully feathered, and their strains and colours may be decided on, a Shanyhae of the same age is clothed in naught but down fluff. They are, however, wonderfully strong and hardy, and thrive remarkably from the first moment of their birth until arrived at a mature growth. Those petty circumstances which so often injure other chickens scarcely take effect on them. Their constitutions being robust and strong, such feeding as w^ill suit whatever classes they may at the time be living with is sure to agree indifferently well with them; nevertheless, as rice is certainlv their most natural and con- sequently proper food, we will notice here that grain parti- cularly. It should be prepared by boiling, or by steaming, swollen out until each grain is full to bursting, but on no account broken nor mashed up ; therefore our readers may quite as well, and better, spare themselves the further trouble of so spoiling it. When chicks are troubled with a looseness, rice, from its binding qualities is a most excellent medicine, especially pre- pared as wc have directed. For the retention of this medi- cinal virtue, and that its eftccts may not be blunted, rice — though so good for general food — shoidd not be too exclu- sively and regularly given them as their common food, for notwithstanding it is always of a binding character, still can its properties be somewhat changed — its medicinal quality lost by too constant use. THE SHANGHAE. 13 Young Slianyhaes are most particularly foud of mangel- wurtzel and turnips, especially the first. These, if given to them in a crude state, should be cut lengthwise through the middle. Such food is not adapted certainly for regular meals, but to amuse and thereby greatly benefit them in the interims of feeding hours. And this one observation bears within itself a most important principle connected with the rearing pros- perously your chicks — keep them amused between the intervals of meal times, and best by such means as this. If you do not cut up these roots at all they will be generally neglected, but on the other hand if cut too much, or in small pieces, then the chickens will soon gorge and cram themselves, contrary to the intent with which such food should be afforded them ; added to which some of it will be left and trampled under foot, get stale and dirty, and in that state, Avhen eaten up, is likely to induce a strong disgust towards it ; whereas if cut in half as we described, and then suspended by a piece of string above their heads, just within reach, it will be kept both fresh and clean ; thus being tempting to their young appetites. Barley well steamed, or soaked five or six hours, becomes a beneficial and nutritious food in change when chickens are some two or three weeks old. Previous to that age, sopped bread, bread and (sweet) milk, boiled liver and raw beef chopped fine, eggs boiled about twenty minutes and cut small, boiled rice and groats, these all in turn and given in small quantities are highly beneficial ; but whenever they exhibit a distaste for any special food, immediately desist from placing it before them for at least a week toge- ther. Suspend a cabbage by its roots, and suffer them to entertain themselves by pecking at it as it hangs ; and if convenient, place slantingly a truss of straw in some dry cor- ner, throwing into it, about once a week, a handfull or so of groats : the exercise of scratcliing for them will amuse the 14 DOMESTIC POULTRY. little creatures very mucli_, and as we said before,, and now for its important consequences once again repeat, whatever will afford amusement to your chickens will aflPord a profit to yourselves. It is astonishing with what delighted perseverance the little things will run up and down, diving their tiny beaks into the straw in the hope of finding some of the grains of groats. We have watched chickens hunt among the straw until our patience has been quite exhausted long before they found a single groat, yet is their faith and hope and energy all unimpaired. Where once they find a prize they still believe that prizes may be found again. The chickens soon begin to stray from the maternal wing. The mother hen, too, quickly ceases all remem- brance of her short-lived love for them, and frequently begins to lay again within a month of her confinement, pecking the chickens, then, which may have the temerity to seek the now forbidden nest. Instances indeed occasionally occur in which the hen will suflPer favourite chickens to assemble still around the family bed, even while she herself is " laying '' in it. We have a hen that upon one occasion hatched a brood of chicks which we removed, soon afterwards, with the excep- tion of a pullet that was left remaining with her. The hen began to lay again thirty-two days after the time she hatched the brood just mentioned, whilst our young pullet regularly accompanied her into the nest when she retired there to lay. The hen, after depositing some one and twenty eggs, desired to incubate, and for experiment we suffered her to have her longings gratified; then, highly interesting was the sight to observe the pullet watching about the poultry-house door during the entire three weeks of incubation, walking occasionally into the nest during the temporary absences of the '^ brooding " bird; and always in the night, when the THE SHANGHAE. U old hen moved off to feed_, the filial affection of the little creature would display itself in all the extravagant but pleas- ing gesticulations_, all the mad pranks and capers^ of a body bursting with mirth and gladness. Running before,, behind, beside, atop, and underneath its mother, sure such a funny little spectacle of gleesomeness was never witnessed by us as we then beheld. And when at length the chicks were hatched, our pullet was a very second mother to them, actually gathering a portion of them underneath her wings, and calling them in imitation of the parent fowl. This chicken, profiting by the tuition, doubtless, or imitating and emulating too the example of the hen, on one occasion in our presence flew at a stout grimalkin, who exhibited a hostile view towards the youth- ful family of which their sister thus instituted herself a co- defender with its mother, though, at the same time, labour- ing under great trepidation at the sight of its grim, common enemy. We give these traits and circumstances as an evi- dence, that even fowls possess a portion of those qualities which form the boast of man himself. Some Shanghaes exhibit more desire to sit than lay, others again — and these comprise the great majority — desire to incubate after depositing some five and twenty eggs, whilst others entertain " brooding " ideas but once within a season, and only then after affording fifty and sixty eggs. We tried experiments upon those hens which laid again within a month of hatching. One example Avill suffice us here. This hen was set the seventeenth day of February, and she hatched her brood on March the tenth, on which day we took her chicks away, and placed her on a second batch of eggs which she hatched safely on the thirty-first. This brood we suffered her to rear, and seven weeks afterwards she had commenced to lay again ; thus thirteen days were occupied in incubation and in rearing up her young, whereas at former times when wc permitted her to bring up her first batch of 16 DOMESTIC POULTRY. chickens^ laying when nature forced her to the act, only seven weeks elapsed before her powers of laymg were restored. We are convinced that it is not the lack of eggs within themselves which causes the desire to incubate, but that this " broodincss '' retards their growth. The second cluster Avhen once formed, increases most rapidly in size until attain- ing full maturity, unless the feverish heat accompanying ^' broodincss '' checks the growth. This is, however, one of the subjects upon which we will enlarge under a special head ; nor had we touched upon it here, but that the circum- stance of the Slianghaes laying so soon again after they hatch required a word at least of explanation. It must be borne in mind that if a very early brood of chicks be bred, — for instance, in the months of February or March (though we consider that the latter month is soon enough, and more adapted to secure a good strong brood ; added to which a Shanghae hen should not be '^ set '' too early, since no dependence can be placed upon her keeping to her young beyond a month, or at the most five weeks) ; and as we frequently experience cold and wet after that period, it is sure death to chickens when compelled to run about half naked and alone, with no protection from the damp and cold ; therefore if early broods should be desired, then set apart for " mothers " some other class of fowl — Game, Polish, any variety except the Spanish — to hatch your Cochin eggs, whereby you will ensure a brood against mischances. The egg is generally of a buff or a pale chocolate tint, depending for its depth of shade upon the colour of the bird from whence it formed itself. It is of a delicious flavour, thick and blunt in shape — in harmony with the bird's cha- racteristic form. The Shanghae unquestionably is one of the most productive of domestic fowl. Among our stock we have THE SHANGHAE. 17 three hens^ which laid in twenty days an aggregate of fifty- nine eggs. Another hen laid forty eggs in forty-seven days ; the number wonld undoubtedly have been higher but from the circumstance that during the same period slie^ one day, showed a strong desire to incubate. To check this we fixed her in a coop within full view of kith and kind. The sight of their untrammelled freedom operated so medicinally upon the latent love of liberty within her, as to purge off the obnoxious longings causing her confinement. So, after she had deposited some eggs as bail for future prompt attention to our wishes, she was discharged from further custody. , 3^^J«^3f^1^S|^t?g^!&"'?*^^ '»►" FAC SIMILE OP A SHANGHAE OR COCHIN-CHINA FOWL'S EGG. We here remark that as the season advances, the diffi- culties in the way of checking their desire to incubate increases. In this example the desire to sit continued from the 23rd unto the 28th of February, a period of some five days; but on a subsequent occasion, eleven days were occu- pied in gaining a result the same as that we previously pro- duced by this compulsory sitting on the bare, cold, narrow space enclosed within the coop. 18 DOMESTIC POULTRY. There are recorded cases of some Cochin hens said to lay- two and sometimes three eggs in one day. No hen can lay- more than one cg^ in any single day, save through a freak of nature, or mishap. The bunch of rudimental eggs, or ova, may by accident get shaken, and in consequence, those nearest ripe may fall and afterwards be, by a natural effort of the bird, cast prematurely forth. Again, some have, by a resort to quibbling, inculcated the belief that Cochin-China hens are monstrously productive. An e^^ may thus be laid at nine o'clock to-morrow morning, and another laid at eight the morrow morning afterwards ; ergo — say these ingenious gentlemen — two eggs a-day are laid ! "VVe will now speak of " Cochins,^^ as compared with '^Spanish,'' '^Dorking,'' and the ^' Polish fowl. Fairly to elucidate the subject of their comparative value merely as '^ stock^^ — not fancy birds — we think it necessary to determine not only what the cost of food is which they take into their several crops, but what the crop of eggs amounts to which they severally yield. The following results, which we have selected from the mass of evidence collected by us during our anxious and minute researches into this most important point, will solve a problem mooted to serve the piu'poses of sound economy. In April, 1851, we from one hatch selected, of the several classes named, four pullets of each class. These birds w^ere of the pm-est and the most distinguished breeds, therefore were on a perfect footing of equality, and consequently much more eligible for this purpose. Keeping these several classes in as many separate compartments, for two consecutive years — a term but just expired — a strict account was kept both of the amount of food each class consumed, and the amount of eggs deposited by each, together with the price which they produced. THE SHANGHAE. 19 TABLE I. Hatched When r-> CI o lid from 1852, to 1853. ■■B 0) "7! ). of Eggs uring the ;ars. in bO ^1 Total value April 10, began to ^^ ^ o o ^^ bh IhTJ obtained. 1851. lay. o> 4> u OJ ^ ^-^•^ a> 0)