Fowls; a treatise on the principal breeds. With which is repr. the 3rd ed. of The Dorking fowl

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•y^^

\

FOWLS.

Printed by Hbnninohak & HoLLis, Mount Street, Groflvenor Square.

FOWLS:

A FUnr AM) FAMILIAR TREATISE

OK THB

PRINCIPAL BREEDS.

INSTRUCTIONS FOB BBEEDING AND EXHIBITION.
9[>)pdi (Sfii&oti, ttbiui, totudti vtxii etdargti^.

WITH WHICH IS BEFBINTED

THE DORKING FOWL:

Its Klanspnttnt wsiis ^et^nhtg tinr iT^t f »bU.

FIFTH EDITION.

BT

JOHN BAILY,

113, MOUNT 8TBEET, OBOSYENOB 8QUABE.

LONDON :

HENNINGHAM AND HOLLIS,

MOUMT ITBIIT, OKOSTBNOB SQUABB.

MDOOOLX.

//^, C . /^.

PREFACE.

This is the prelude to the fifth edition of the
Dorking Fowl, and the third of that devoted to
fowls in general.

It is six years since in a former preface, I tendered
my thanks to those, who, by continued support, had
rendered repeated editions -necessary. The obli-
gation is greater 'n4f^,'^and.L)ieartily acknowledge

it. ""^i'Xv^

I have endeavoured to condense all I have learned
from the experience of many years, and to describe
it in a few words, and as plainly as possible.

CONTENTS.

FAGB

Preface ^

Poultry Honae ^

Methodof keeping Breeds separate . . . .11

Food • • -13

„ for Chickens - • -79

Diseases 21

Cochin China Fowl 28—108

Hambro* „ 87—102

Spangled „ 39-103

Spanish „ 41—105

Bantams „ 60—112

Malay „ 64—114

Game „ 55—110

Poland „ 69—107

Brahma Pootia ,,.... . 63—115

Ptarmigan „ 70

Friealand, or Frizzled 70

Japanese Bantam, or &Xkj Fowl 71

Bumpkin, eft Rumpless Fowl. ... . . .72

The Emu, or Silky Cochin 72

The Andalusian Fowl 73

The Rangoon Fowl 73

The Ancona Fowl . ... . .74

Dorking - . . 101

„ Fattening . . . . . .82

Exhibition Fowls . . . . . . . .91

FOWLS.

CHAPTER I.

Ik order to divide the subject of poultry into chapters,
I will begin first with Poultry Houses. It is only of
late years these have been much thought of: in large
farm-yards where there are cart-houses, calf-pens,
pig-styes, cattle-sheds, shelter under the eaves of
bams, and numerous other roosting places, not omit-
ing the trees in the immediate vicinity, I do not think
they are required, for fowls will generally do better
by choosing for themselves ; and it is beyond a doubt
more healthy for them to be spread about in this
manner, than to be confined to one place. But a love
of order on the one hand, and a dread of thieves or
foxes on the other, will sometimes make it desirable
to have a proper poultry house.

The exterior is a matter of taste, but internally the
comfort and weU-doing of the poultry must be the
only consideration ; and the higher the house is, the
less likelihood there is of disease or taint. Another
advantage of Having it lofty is, that the current
through the building, being far above the fowls, puri-

B

hnnga him in contact witfa *lxe ground. Often,

tlie violence of his fell, small gravel stones are f

through the skin of the balls o£ his feet. They f<

and If that does not oeour, t;liey become so t

that the bird dare no longer x>erch; he roosts o

ground, and, for vrant of tfa^ necessary exercis-

legs sweU at the knees, arxd he becomes a 8

useless fowl. This wiU b^ avoided by havin|

perches. Some weU-infori^^ci ^mborities deem

perches of ^o consequence, i>ro^ded the fowls

a plank, with cross pieces, r^^^^ing them fro,

ground. But I believe it
only used to ascend, the des<3

Next, as to ventUation,it is
should be well ventilated : it;
an iron grating, of an ornarrfc
site, or by tlie omission of I
the ventilartors should be
perches, and in severe

closed. It is a great impro^e^^'^^' ^^^ ^ '
to the house. A very slight ^»* to have a a

do, and it is not absoluteljr
have five large openings in it
one a few inclies from each cc
should be above the ceiling-
then ascend through the opex^i
off by tlie draught, whicli
as the foivls i?vill be protectoci

l>e found theg
is done by flig
necessary the
be done eitl
character if
3 inthebuildini
siderably abov
naay be en

common one

ssary. It si

511 the centre

The ventil

vitiated air

» and be ca

l>e conside;

it.

B 2

3 FOWLS.

fies the air without interfering with their comfort.
They do not like a draught, and if, while thej are
perching, an opening is made admitting one, they
will be seen to rouse up to alter their position, and at
last to seek some other place to avoid it.

The best guide in all these things is nature, and
an observer will always find the poultry choose a
sheltered spot. They also carefully avoid being
exposed to cold winds. I would not, then, the
poultry-house should have any opening to the north
or east. My perches are only eighteen inches from
the ground, and are made of fir-pdes sawed in half,
measuring when whole, fourteen inches in circum-
ference; I have none above the others, all are
level, and my fowls do better than they did when
higher up.

My reason for being thus particular in my descrip«
tion of the perch is that to mistakes in its construc-
tion and position, many disorders in the feet of fowb
may be attributed.

For instance, it has been complained of that large
fowls become lame, and what we term bumble-footed,
more especially when carefully kept in poultry-houses.
Now the reason for it is obvious, their perches are
too high. In the morning the cock fiieS from the
perch, twelve or fourteen feet ; the whole weight of
his body, added to the impetus of his downward flight.

FOWLS. 8

brings him in contact with the ground. Often, from
the violence of his £Edl, small gravel stones are forced
through the skin of the balls of his feet. They fester,
and if that does not occur, thej become so tender
that the bird dare no longer perch; he roosts on the
ground, and, for want of the necessary exercise, his
legs swell at the knees, and he becomes a sleepy
useless fowl. This will be avoided by having low
perches. Some weU-informed authorities deem high
perches of no consequence, provided the fowls have
a plank, with cross pieces, reaching them from the
ground. But I believe it will be found these are
only used to ascend, the descent is done by flight.

Next, as to ventilation, it is verynecessary the house
should be well ventilated : it may be done either by
an iron grating, of an ornamental character if requi-
site, or by the omission of bricks in the building, but
the ventilators should be considerably above the
perches, and in severe weather, may be entirely
closed. It is a great improvement to have a ceiling
to the house. A veiy slight and common one will
do, and it is not absolutely necessary. It should
have five large openings in it, one in the centre, and
one a few inches from each comer. The ventilators
should be above the ceiling, the vitiated air will
then ascend through the openings, and be carried
off by the draught, which may be considerable

as the fowls will be protected from it.

B 2

4 FOWLS.

The house should be often cleaned out, and the
walls lime-whited. The floor should be of earth
well rammed down» and covered with loose grayeU
two inches deep. This is easily kept clean hj
drawing a broom lightly oyer it eyery morning;
and if it is raked, it is kept even and fresh.

There should be an opening towards the west or
south-west, for the fowls to go in and out, and this
should never be closed, as fowls are fond of rambling
early in the morning, and picking up such food as is
to be found at break of day.

There should be no poultry allowed to roost in the
house but fowls; no ducks, turkies or any other
sort ; neither must t&ere be too many fowls, lest the
house become tainted and the fowls sickly. This
last remark applies equally to a farnx-yard.

The poultry-house should have three compart-
ments: one the largest, for roosting, another for
laying, and another for sitting. In the two latter
boxes should be placed round the house, but on the
floor; aU that is required is to fasten two boards
against the wall, each being twenty-eight inches
high, the same length, and eighteen inches apart.
This aflbrds the hen all the privacy she requires.
About eighteen inches from the wall, a wooden bead
should be put, just high enough to prevent eggs
from rolling out.

FOWLS.

• Althougli I am here speaking of houses, yet on the
question of a sitting house, it may not be out of place
to mention, that as no hen should be allowed to lay
where the others are sitting, and difficulty may be
experienced with some from their almost unconquer-
able repugnance to sit anywhere but where they have
been laying, it may be done in this way : — move the
hen and her eggs at night into the sitting house, and
cover her till the morning, by hanging sacks, or old
carpet, or matting over the boards forming her sit-
ting place, and she will remain quiet and satisfied.

Where space and economy have to be very closely
considered, two houses may be made enough, by put-
ling the laying boxes in the roosting house. They
should occupiy one end of the building and be clear
of the perches. The door of the sitting house should
be always shut when hens are on their eggs, and it
should therefore have a window to open in the
summed, but to shut quite close in the winter.
When the window is ^however open, a wire frame
should supply its place, to prevent laying hens from
intruding.

There is one addition to a poultry yard so advan-
tageous to chickens, that those who have once tried
it, will never be .^thout it. I mean a covered run
for them, to be used in wet weather. Any sort of
roof will do, and it should be in a sheltered spot,

6 FOWLS.

running the length of the yard, and projecting ten
or twelve feet or more from the wall or paling
against which it is placed. It should he exposed to
the sun, and sheltered from cold winds. The floor
should he raised ahore the level of the yard, and
covered with sand and wood ashes, some inches
deep. The hens with chickens may he put here
under their rips, in wet or unkind weather; and
it affords at all times a favourite resort for poultry
to hask, and take their dust hath, which is essential
to their well-doing.

There is nothing hotter for the hottom of a nest,
than a turf cut with short heath, hroom, or grass
upon it : this should he put at the hottom, and some
straw at top. A nest so made is healthier for the
hen and chickens, as it admitsof sufficient yentilationy
and is always free from vermin. lam indebted to a
lady for this suggestion, and I have found it most
valuable. *

If there be difficulty in causing the hens at first
to take to the laying compartment, it is easy to close
the roosting-house during the day, for a day or two,
when they will take to the other, which may be
similarly closed at night. But this must be only for
a time. I think it essential both doors and windows
of roosting places should be open during the day
for purposes for ventilation. The floor should slant

FOWLS. 7

everj way towards the door, to facilitate the cleamng,
and to avoid anything like wet. It should be well
cleaned eyery day, and it should be raised above the
level of the surrounding ground ; it should have no
artificial floor, such as boards, bricks, tiles, or stones
of any kind, but should be of good hard earth and
loose gravel, not disposed to be muddy from the going
in and out of its occupants in wet weather. It
should open on grounds perfectly free for the poultiy
to run in, and if a high dry spot on light soil can
be chosen, 00 much the better ; the roof should be
quite air and water tight.

I deem it my duty to publish the result of much
intercourse with breeders of poultry, and therefore
here insert two methods, one followed by an amateur,
and the other by a breeder, for preventing crooked
breasts. Both have been successful. The amateur
has made his perches larger and flatter, so that the
fowls rest on the perch instead of clasping it. The
breeder has raised some perches only eighteen inches
firom the ground ; he has covered them with straw
till they present a flat surface, on which the fowls
rest»

A gentleman lately told me he had been very suc-
cessful in raising early chickens in the north of
Scotland, and he attributed much of it to the fol-
lowing arrangements. He had always from twenty

8 FOWLS.

to thirty oxen or other cattle fattmg in a long build-
ing, he made his poultry-house to join this, and had
ventilators and openings made in the partition, so
that the heat of the cattle-shed passed into the
fowl-house.

I am not fond of stoves, or hot water pipes iot
poultry, nor have I ever found very good results from
them; but by skilfully taking advantage of every
circumstance like that above mentioned, and by con-
sulting aspect and position, many valuable helps are
obtained*

I would also mention one thing I have noticed
since I wrote the foregoing. I had some fowls in a
large out-house, where they were well provided witii
perches ; as there was plenty of room, I put some
small faggots cut for firing at one extremity, and I
found many of the fowls deserted their perches to
roost on the fSeiggots, which they evidentiy preferred.
I am also more tiian ever convinced tiiat ashes, and
wood ashes before any others, are excellent things to
put in poultry houses. Another valuable thing for
fowls, and especially for laying hens, is to throw
down near their haunts or houses a good basket-full
of bricklayer's rubbish ; they all dust tiiemselves in
it ; it destroys vermin, and the hens pick out tiie
pieces of Hme and mortar which serve to form the
shell of their eggs; attention to this will promote

FOWIS.

their health, and will prevent many from eating their
eggs, as it is certain that at first, it is the shell that
is wanted.

By the kind permission of a Scottish gentleman,!
am enabled to publish the following valuable extract
from one of his letters : " I perceive some remarks
of yours in reference to floors of poultry houses. In
country places, the difficulty of keeping out rats
would be an objection to a gravel floor, unless the
ground were first dug out to the depth of twelve or
fourteen inches, and filled with stones about the
size of an egg, and smaller, and grouted with lime,—
in fact, a concrete — and then, on that, gravel well
beaten down. A mixture of cow-dung and water,
about the consistency of paint, on the surface of the
floor, put on no thicker than paint, gives it a hard
sur&ce which will bear sweeping down. It is used
by the natives of India, not only for the floors, but
often for the walls of their houses, and is supposed
to be healthy in its application, and to keep dovm
vermin." The walls of every poultry house should
be often lime-whited : it destroys vermin, it sweetens
the house, and is both easy and inexpensive ; once
a fortnight is often enough.

I will conclude with one more remark : It is not
necessary to build expensive houses. I kept for
years a cock and four hens in a wooden house. It

ia six feet higli in the centre, six feet square inside,
and is tlina planned : —

b TiDtiUtori.
c BrackatB.

Such a house vill cost, being made of elm, &om
forty to fifty shillings, and will last many years. It
is portable by passing a pole through the brackets
c c oa each aide. It has no floor, being put on the
ground. The boards will be found to split from
exposure to the weather, bat that is not of the
slightest consequence. Healthy fowls are not
tender, and it may besides be pTevented by a coating
of tar or paint.

FOWLS. 11

CHAPTER n.

It is often desired to keep several sorts of fowls, to
have each breed pure, and yet to have but one run
for all. The only plan I can suggest to accomplish
this is to have separate roosting houses, each with a
small netted or wired space in front; let one be
appropriated for each sort ; the hens of every des-
cription may of course run in the open space all day,
but at night they must be compelled to enter their
respective places, — and, indeed, little compulsion is
necessary, as they will soon take to them, and refuse
to go into any other. For the weU-doing of the
fowls, and to prevent crossing, the hens must be let
out early in the morning, and the trap-door then
securely closed till the evening, when they will want
to roost.

A separate place must be provided for them to lay
in, and after the season is past for roaring chickens
the fowls may all run together, if the cocks can agree
sufficiently well, till six weeks before it is intended
to set the eggs. But to ensure purity it is absolutely
necessary the lords shpuld be separate quite six
weeks before the eggs are set, and I am not sure
that a longer time is not desirable.

The rules of poultry houses are not without excep*

13 FOWLS.

tions, except in some particalarsi which I have else-
where pointed out ; but as this is an unasoal plan, I
may be asked to describe the sort of house and run
I would advise for each cock and six hens, the only
stipulation I would make is, that if the dimensions
are altered, it shall be in the way of increase.

I would have the house ten or twelve feet in height^
six in length, and three or four in depth ; the door
at one extremity, not more than twenty-one inches
wide, and opening into the little enclosed space,
which must face the south or south-west; inside
should be two perches running across the building,
two feet from the ground.

The space in front must not be less than eight feet
square, but the larger it is the better ; it must be
securely covered at top and all round ; there must
be a slide to lift up in front, for the hens to go out,
and this must be fastened down, as the escape of
one of the cocks, even for an hour ov two, would
spoil a season, and do injuiy it would take a year to
recover.

This, at first sight, may appear a very troublesome
proceeding, but it is not so in fact. It must be borne
in mind it is an expedient to enable the possessor of
one meadow, to indulge his fancy to the same extent
as he does who is fortunate enough to possess as
many farms as sorts of fowls. This plan has one

FOWLS. 18

advantage over that of scattering the birds about,
viz. — ^thej are always at hand, and to be seen if
required.

Where only two or three sorts are kept, this plan
may be varied by dividing the day, and allowing
each sort to run at large during one portion of it.
In this case, be careful to shut one set up, before
the other is let out. The slides should be locked or
fastened so that children cannot let the cocks out.

CHAPTER in.

It is difficult to assign any portion of food as a suf-
ficient quantity for a given number of fowls, because
80 much depends on the nature of their run, and the
quantity and quality of food to be found. For in-
stance, in a farm yard where the bam door is always
open, and thrashi^ continuany going on. «iult b Jb
require little or no feeding, but if this supply be
stopped, then they must be fed by hand ; again, if
they have free access to stubbles, they will get a good
portion of their food there. I had some fowls a few
years since turned out in some stubbles I rented fox

14 FOWLS.

the purpose — tiiej roosted in the hedge-rows, and
were only fed a little night and morning for the sake
of getting them together to count them. I never had
any do so well, but this will only last till the begin-
ning of November ; by that time they have picked
the stubble clean, and indeed irom the middle of
October the quantity of food given had to be increased
daily. A good healthy growing fowl will consume
weekly two-thirds of a gallon of com, wheat or bar-
ley. I prefer the former, and if the bird come from
a walk where it has been badly kept it wiU for a
time eat more than this ; but after it has got up in
flesh and condition, it gradually eats less, and two-
thirds, or even half the quantity, will keep it in good
condition. Again, the weather must be consulted ;
in mild damp weather they prowl about and pick up
many things, as insects, worms, young herbage —
these all assist ; but in frost, and above all in snow,
they require generous feeding. To use a very homely
poultry wife's expression, there is then " no scratch"
for them.

Do not spare good food for chickens, they require
plenty while they are growing, and they will make a
good return in health and vigour when arrived at
maturity. If it be possible, let them eat their green
food, as lettuce, &c., in a growing state ; it is not
only more nourishing, but they eat it with greater

FOWLS. 16

pleasure, because it resists the puUneoessaiyto tear
it, and it is more natural. I would recommend
those who are obliged to keep fowls in confinementi
to have large sods or turfs of grass cut, and to let
the earth be heavy enough to enable them to tear off
the grass, without being obl^^ed to drag the sod about
with them. I have found a gardeu duxigheap over*
grovm with artichokes, mallows, &c., an ezoellent
ooYort for chickens, especiallj in hot weather. They
find shelter, and meet with many insects there.

Where there is a family, and consequent consump-
tion, Hiere are many auxiliaries, such as bread from
toast and water, groats that have been used for gruel,
soup, and stook meat But it must be borne in
mind these are in the place of other food, and not in
addition to it. When Uus can be had other food
should be diminished* I am not an advocate for
cooked vegetables, except potatoes ; boiled cabbage I
hold to be worse than nothing^->in fact it must be
borne in mind, com, either whole, ground, or crushed,
is the staple food, and the others are helpi> I do
not give my fowls meat, but I always have the
bones thrown out to them afker dinner ; they ei^oy
picking them, and perform the operation perfectly*
I am aware I differ in one point from many expe-
rienced breeders of the present day, and it is, that I
object to raw meat as food* I have always found it

16 FOWLS.

make fowls quarrelsome, and give them a propensity
to pick each other, especiallj in moulting time, if
the accustomed meat he withheld. I sludl be home
out in this hy hundreds who have purchased birds,
above all, Cochin Chinas, at enormous prices, on
account of their great weight, which, being the result
of meat feeding, has proved a real disease, inca-
pacitating them from breeding. When proper food
is provided, all is not accomplished; it must be
properly given. No plan is so extravagant or so
injurious as to throw down heaps once or twice per
day. They should have it scattered as far and wide
as possible, that the birds may belong and healthily
employed in finding it, and may not accomplish in a
few minutes that which should occupy them for
hours. For this reason I disapprove of every sort
of feeder or hopper. It is the nature of fowls to
take a grain at a time, and to pick grass and dirt
with it, which assists digestion ; but if, contrary to
this, they are enabled to eat com by mouthsful, their
crops ^e soon overfilled, and they seek relief in
excessive draughts of water. Nothing is more
iigurious than this, and the inactivity that attends
the discomfort caused by it, lays the foundation of
many disorders. While I am speaking of food, I
would observe, that when firom travelling or other
cause a fowl has fasted a long time — ^say thirty or

FOWLS. 17

forty-eight hours — it should not be allowed any hard
food, neither should it have water at discretion ; for
the first three hours it should have only a small
portion, say a teacupful of sopped bread very wet, so
much so as to serve for food and drink, afterwards
some plain bread and water, and then with a crop
full be turned out If the bird appear to suiFer much
from the journey, instead of bread and water, give
bread and beer.

But the food given to them by hand is not all that
is essential. There is the natural food, sought out
and divided by the hen to her progeny, such as
insects of all kinds, peculiar herbage, &c. And it is
here well to remark, that where fowls are bred for
exhibition, or other special purposes, as cocks for
fighting, a hen should not be allowed to rear more
than six chickens, as she cannot find this food for a
greater number, and if they are intended to be
superior to all others, they must have greater, vr at
least equal advantages, with those they will have to
compete against. For economy it will be found that
ground food is far more profitable than whole com ;
and the most beneficial in every way, both for well-
doing of the birds, and economy of outlay, is ground
oats. The whole com should be finely ground,
without taking away any part in the shape of bran.
This should be slaked with water, and thrown on

18 FOWLS.

the ground so long as the birds will run after it ;
but when they cease to do so it should be disoon-
tinued. If two fowls will not run after one piece
they do not want it. They should be fed in this
way morning and afternoon, or evening, and if their
run affords no food they should haye a little com
scattered among the grass on their haunts. In most
poultry yards more than half the food is wasted.
The same quantity is thrown down day after day,
without reference to time of year, alteration of num-
bers, or variation of appetite, and that which is not
eaten is trodden about, or taken by small birds.
Many a poultry yard is coated with com and meal.
As it is essential fowls should have fresh mixed
food, a careful poultry feeder will always prefer
having to mix twice to having any left, and it is
often beneficial for the birds to have a scanty meal,
^hey can find numerous things wherewith to eke
out, and things that are beneficial to them ; but if
they are kept constantly full they will not seek them.
The advantage of scattering the food is, that all then
get their share ; while if it is thrown only on a
small space the master birds get the greater part,
while the others wait around. Indian com has been
much used of late ; the result of all my experiments
has been, that it is useful for a change, but it is not
a good food by itself. Fowls are very fond of it, and

FOWLS. 19

once or twice per week it may be advantageously
given. The best argument for its use is that the
small birds cannot eat it. Many have been discou-
raged, and some deterred from keeping fowls by the
expense of feeding. If they will themselves attend to
the consumption for a week, and follow the method
I have pointed out, they may arrive at a fair
average, and they will be surprised to find how
much greater the cost has been than was necessary.
It is most essential not to invent or to supply ima-^
gmary wants in fowls— they do not require coaxing
to eat, and wherever food can be seen lying on the
ground in a yard there is waste and mismanagement.
I have seen food enough for three days brought out
for one meal, and vras thought hard-hearted when I
stopped it. But the poultry woman was sensible,
and after a week she acknowledged her birds were
better, although their food was reduced two-thirds.
The economy is not in food alone, they are large
gainers in health, and the pleasure of keeping is
much increased. The tendency of over-feeding is to
make them squat about under sheds and cart-houses,
and instead of spreading over a meadow or stubble
in little active parties, searching hedges and banks,
and basking on their sides in the dust, with opened
feathers, and one wing raised to get all the glorious
sun's heat that they can, they stand about a listless

2

20 FOWLS.

pampered troop. To lay much better, to breed
better chickens, and to last longer, are ihe results
of diminished, not increased expense, and all that
is required is a little personal superintendence at
first, till the new system is understood and ap<
preciated. I will now leave the subject, merely
repeating that in most yards the birds ai^ overfed,
and that there is waste in nearly all.

It is common for those who undertake to be poultry
correspondents, to be asked, what is tiie food to
make fowls lay ? High feeding of any sort wiU do
it, but more particularly hempseed, and tallow-
chandler's greaves. The former is given whole, the
latter should be chopped fine, and then put in &
bucket and covered with boiling water. The mouth
of the bucket should be covered with a double sack,
or other cloth, so completely as to exclude air and
confine the steam till the greaves are thoroughly
softened. When they are neaxly cold they may be
given. These will make them luy, but it is only for
a time; premature decrepitude comes on, and disease
in many forms appears.

The most common is dropsy, and of an ineurable
character. The fowl that would have laid for years,
in the common course of nature, being forced to
produce in two that which should have been the
work of several, loses all beauty and usefulness, and

FOWLS. 21

yet it is often oonsidered matter of wonder that the
most prolific hen in the yard should suddenly be-
come barren. The food for small chickens will be
found in the second chapter of the Dorking Fowl,
printed at the end of this book.

CHAPTER IV.

Ahono the diseases of fowls, nothing is so fatal to
the bird, or so vexatious to the fancier, as roup.

Very close observation and extensive experience,
have taught me the first premonitory symptom is a
peculiar breathing. The fowl appears in perfect
health for the time, but it will be seen that the skin
hanging from the lower beak, and to which the
watde is attached, is inflated and emptied at every
breath ; — I have noticed it for years, but have been
diffident of making it public till I was sure. I have
now gained evidence that convinces me I aoi justi-
fied in publishing it Such a bird should always
be removed.

The disease may be caused, first, by cold damp
weather and easterly winds, when fowls of weakly

22 FOWLS.

habit and bad constitutions will sicken of it, but
healthy, strong birds will not. Again, if by any
accidental cause they are long without food and
water, and then have an unlimited quantity of drink
and whole corn given to them, they gorge themselves,
and ill-health is the consequence ; but confinement
is the chief cause, and above all being shut up in
tainted coops. Nothing is so hard as to keep a fowl
healthy in confinement in London ; two days will
often suffice to change the bright bold cock into the
spiritless, drooping, roupy fowl, carrying contagion
wherever he goes. .

But all the roup does not come from London ;
often in the spring of the year the cocks fight, and
it is necessary to take one away ; search is made for
something to put him in, and a rabbit-hutch, or open
basket is found, wherein he is confined, and often
irregularly supplied with food, till pity for his altered
condition causes him to be let out; — ^but he has
become roupy, and the whole yard sufiPers. I dwell
at length on this, because it is of all disorders the
worst, and because, although a cure may seem to be
effected, yet at moulting, or any time when out of
condition, the fowl will be more or less affected with
it again.

One thing is here deserving notice. The result
of the attention paid to poultry of late years has been

FOWLS. 28

to improve the health and constitutions of the hirds.
Boup is not nearly so common as it was, nor is it so
difficult of cure. It went on unnoticed formerly, till
it had become chronic, and it would not be difficult
to name yards that have now a good reputation, but
which a few years since never had a healthy fowl.
It is now treated at the outset, if seen, but the im-
proved management in most places renders it a rare
occurrence. The cold which precedes it may often
be cured by feeding twice a day with stale crusts of
bread soaked in strong beer.

The suspected fowl should be removed directly,
and if you have plenty without it, and if it be not of
any breed that makes its preservation a matter of
moment, kill it.

There is little doubt of a cure if it be taken in the
first stage, but if the eyelids be swollen, the nostrils
closed, the breathing difficult, and the discharge foetid
and continual, it will be a long time before the bird
is well. In this stage it may be termed the con-
sumption of fowls, and with them as in human beings
there are some cases beyond cure. However I may
differ from some eminent and talented amateurs, I
do not hesitate to say it is contagious in a high de-
gree. Where fowk are wasting without any appa-
rent disorder, a tea-spoonful of cod liver oil per day
will often be found an efficacious remedv.

24

FOWLS.

at ^^ Jiext mention a disease common to chickens

^ ^^ ^arly age, I mean the gapes ; these axe caused

^^merous small worms in the throat ; the best

^ ^^od I know of getting rid of them, is to take a

^ leather, strip it to within an inch (rf the &ad, put

^^^^^ the chicken's throat, twist it sharply round

^^eral times, and draw it quickly out, the worms

. ^ be found entangled in the feathers. When this

^ ^ot effectual in removing them, if the tip of the

^^^thor be dipped in turpentine, it will kill them, but

^Ust be put down the toindpipe, not the^K^- I

^^e always thought these are got from impure water,

^^ 1 have been informed by a gentleman who

^<lnires closely into these things, that having placed

^^3ae of the worms taken from the throat of a

**^ckeii, and some from the bottom of a water butt

^ere rain water had remained for a long time, in a

'^^^croscope he found them identical. I have never

^^^t with gapes where fowls had a running stream

^^ ^o to for water.

There is also another description of gapes, arising
^^^'obably, from internal fever; I have found meal
^ixed with milk and salts, a good remedy. They
^^ sometimes caused by a hard substance at the tip
^f the tongue ; in this case, remove it sharply with
*lie thumb nail, and let it bleed freely. A gentieman
^entioned this to me, who had met with it in an old
-French writer on poultiy.

FOWLS. 35

Sometim68 a fowl will droop almost suddenly, after-
being in perfect health ; if jou catch it directly, you
will often find it has eaten something that has
hardened in the crop ; pour plenty of warm water
down the throat, and loosen the food till it is soft,
then give a table spoonful of castor oil or about as
much jalap as will lay on a shilling, mixed in butter,
make a pU of it and slide it into the crop; the
fowl will be well in the morning. Cayenne pepper
or chalk, or both mixed with meal, are the best
remedies for scouring.

When fowls are restless, dissatisfied, and con-
tinually scratching, it is often caused by lice ; these
can be got rid of by supplying their houses or haunts
with plenty of ashes, especially wood ashes, in which
they may dust themselves, and the bath is rendered
more effectual by adding some black sulphur to the
dust.

Sometimes fowls appear cramped, they have difil-

culty in standing upright, and rest on their knees ; in

lajrge young birds, especially cocks, this is merely

^tlme effect of weakness from fast growth, and the

di^ffioolty their long weak legs have in carrying their

\>o<lies. But if it lasts after they are getting age,

then it must he seen to ; if their roosting place has a

stone or brick door, there is the cause ; but if this is

not the case, stimulating food, such as I have de-

26 FOWLS.

scribed for other diseases, must be given. Fowls
like human beings are subject to atmospherical
influence, and if healthy fowls seem suddenly at-
tacked with illness that cannot be explained, a
copious meal of bread steeped in ale, will often,
prove a speedy and effectual remedy. For adults,
nothing will • restore strength sooner than eggs
boiled hard, and chopped fine. If these remedies
are not successful, then the constitution is at fault,
and good healthy cocks must be sought to replace
those whose progeny is faulty.

Jalap and Eue are both good poultry medicines,
but if the ground is not over-stocked, if they are
well fed and have clean and fresh water, there will
be no disease. Nothing is so bad as impure water,
it is a slow poison. If they are obliged to drink
from ponds and ditches infected by being receptacles
for all the sewage of a house, and for all the drainings
of stables, cow-houses, and pig-sties, or rendered
filthy from the decayed vegetable matter, as leaves
from overhanging trees and shrubs — it is impossible
imder such circumstances they can do well.

Prevention is better than cure — and the cause of
many diseases is to be found in enfeebled and bad
constitutions; and these are the consequences of
breeding-in. Objection is taken to the use of the
word " cross," and I believe, justly so ; I will there-

FOWLS. 27

fore say, the introduction of fresh blood is absolutely
necessary every second year, and even every year is
better. Many fanciers who breed for feather, fear to
do so lest false colours should appear, but they should
recollect one of the first symptoms of degeneracy is
a foul feather; for instance, the Sebright bantam
loses lacing, and becomes patched, the Spanish fowls
throw white feathers, and pigeons practise number-
less freaks. An experiment was once tried which
will illustrate this. A pair of black pigeons was
put in a large loft, and allowed to breed without any
introduction of fresh blood. They were well and
carefully fed. At the end of two years an account
of them was taken. They had greatly multiplied,
but only one-third of the number were black, and the
others had become spotted with white, then patched,
and then quite white, while these latter had not only
lost the characteristics of the breed from which they
descended, but they were weak and deformed in
every possible way. The introduction of fresh blood
prevents all this ; and the breeder for prizes, or who
wishes to have the best of the sort he keeps, should
never let a fowl escape him if it possesses the qua-
lities he seeks. Such are not always to be had
when wanted, and the best strains we have of every
sort, have been got up by this plan.

as FOWLS.

CHAPTER V.

CooHiN China Fowls will always form in them-
selves a history of poultry. The first were possessed
by Her Majesty. This gave them great importance.
Then properties were attributed to them, such as
never fell to the lot of any fowls. They were scarce*
and this made people anxious to possess some.
There is never a want that cannot be supplied, and
Cochin China Fowls, or birds dignified with that
name, were imported or manufactured. They were
sold for large sums, and as buyers were assured th^
were pore, and paid heavily for their specimens,
they spread the delusion, although the fifth claw
of the Dorking, and the head and comb of the Malay,
GontLnoally gave evidence of foreign elements in
their composition. But while late years have abun-
dantly proved the interest in poultry which first
"begSiJ^ to be taken some time since, to be a sound and
enduring one, yet we cannot help agreeing with
ipimj who contend that it was no mis-nomer to call
the early Cochin China fancy by its familiar name,
the Cochin mama. The prices made were ridiculous,
a hundred good Cochins would purchase a small
farm, an<l «• ^^^ an<i two hens from favourite strains,
were thought cheap if bought for less than fifty

FOWLS. d9

pounds. Had these birds been shy breeders — if
like song birds the produce of a pair were four or at
most five birds in the year, prices might have been
maintained, but as they are marvellous layers, they
increased. A book' might be written on the schemes
and counter-schemes employed by those who kept
the fowls, and those who lived in the neighbourhood ;
the first to destroy all vitality in the egg before it
was sold, the other to discover some expedient by
which it could be saved or restored. Both failed at
times, while they succeeded now and then. We
know one large breeder of these birds who sent his
eggs to market without comment, and many an
omelette or batter pudding was made with eggs
bought twenty for a shilling, the fellows to which
brought from four to five shillings each soon after,
and the produce of which, if hatched, would have
realized pounds at a few months old. This gen-
tleman had the fowls years before he knew their
value, and the best birds we ever had were hatched
from eggs bought for eating. They bred in large
numbers, and consequently became cheaper, and
tlien the mania ended, because those who dealt
most largely in them did so, not from a love of the
birds or the pursuit, but as a speculation. As they
had over-praised them before, they now treated them
witli contempt. Anything like a moderate profit

80 FOWLS.

was despised, and the birds were left to their own
merits. These were sufficient to ensure their popu-
larity, and now after fluctuating in value more than
anything except shares, after being over-praised, and
then abused, they have remained favourites vrith a
large portion of the pubUc, sell at a remunerating
price and form one of the largest classes at all the
great exhibitions. We will now proceed to describe
them.

The Cochin-china cock is a bold, upright bird,

with erect, indented single comb rising from the

beak over the nostril, projecting over the neck, and

then slanting away underneath to allow the root to

he fixed on the top of the head. The beak is strong

and curved, the eye bold, the face red, the w^tde

pendant, and the ear-lobe very long, hanging much

iower than in other fowls. He is a bu-d of noble

carriage, and differs from most other fowls in the

^oilowingr points : He has little tail, indeed in very

^© specimens it may be said, they have none; they

^® the liackle large and long, it falls from the

^eok to the back, and from its termination there is a

small gradual rise to where the tail should be, but

jrhere its apology, some glossy, slightly-twisted

eathers fall over like those of an ostrich. The last

J^t of the wing folds up, so that the ends of the

ght feathe2-s are concealed by the middle ones, and

FOWLS. 31

their extremities again are covered by the copious
saddle. The next peculiarities of these birds, are,
what is technically called, "the fluflf" and "the
crow." The former is composed of beautifully soft,
long feathers, covering the thighs till they project
considerably, and garnishing all the hinder parts of
the bird in the same manner ; so much so, that to
view the widest part of the Cochin-china cock you
must look at him behind. His crow is to the crow
of other cocks, what the railway whistle is to that of
the errand boy in the streets, it is loud, hoarse, and
amazingly prolonged. They seem to delight in it,
and will continue it till they are on tip-toe, and are
compelled to exchange their usual erect position for
one in which the neck is curved and the head
brought down to the level of the knees. Viewing
the broadside it will be seen, there is in this bird
a deficiency of breast, it slants off in a straight line
from the end of the neck to the beginning of the
fluff that covers the upper part of the thigh.

The pullet has most points in common with the
cock. Her head is beautiful, the comb small, very
upright, with many indentations, the face, if I may
use the term, intelligent. Her body is much deeper
in proportion than that of the cock ; her fluff is
softer, having almost a silky texture ; her carriage is
less erect. She has none of the falling feathers at

83 FOWLS.

the tail, but the little she has, is upright, and should
come to a blunt point, nothing like the regular
rounded tails of other hens. In both, the legs should
be yellow, and well feathered to the toes. Very
particular fanciers require that the outer toe of the
feet should be much shorter than the others, and
that the web between the toes should be larger than
in other fowls. Flesh-coloured legs are admissible,
but green, black, or white, are defects. No other
bird shows its shape in feathers so plainly as this
does, and with an old-fashioned Chinese puzzle, com-
posed of a number of small triangular pieces of
wood, it would be easy to give a good notion of a
Cochin-china hen.

In buying them, avoid long tails, clean legs, fifth
toes, and double combs. Above all take care the
cock has not, nor ever has had, sickle feathers.

I have endeavoured to describe the best birds of
their species; such may be always obtained, and
afterwards bred, but they will be the pickings of the
yard.

The colours are BuflF, Lemon, Cinnamon, Grouse,
Partridge, White, and Black. The two last are of
more recent introduction than the others. The
white were principally bred from one pair imported
and given to the Dean of Worcester. They after-
wards became the property of Mrs. Herbert, of

FOWLS. 33

Powick, whose name will always be identified with
them. It is imperative these fowls should have
yellow legs. The origin of the black is still shrouded
in mystery. It is said they were first produced by
the cross between the buff and white. Be that as
it may, there is one peculiarity about them, that the
cocks though perfectly pure in colour till about six
months old, after that age become brown in the
hackle, frequently throw red feathers in the wings,
and are often found on close examination to have
white under feathers, and others barred with white.
A description of a fowl is now hardly complete
without a few instructions for classing for exhibi-
tion. Both grouse and partridge hens require a
black-breasted red cock. There should be no mix-
ture of colour whatever, the hackle and saddle should
be red or gold, and every feather striped down its
centre with black. Buff and cinnamon birds are
always classed together, but very meritorious fowls
often lose the distinction they otherwise deserve, by
both colours being in the same pen. The set of
competing birds must all be either cinnamon or buff,
and especial care should be taken to avoid the com-
mon error of putting a bnff cock with cinnamon hens.
There are two shades of cinnamon birds. The first
are the silver cinnamon. The hens have a body
plumage of pinky or French white, with a yellow,

D

84 FOWLS.

or a light brown hackle. The cocks should be of
light plumage, almost white under feather, with
yellow hackle and saddle, and yellow feathers inter-
mixed with the light all over the body. The other
cinnamon pullets or hens have bodies of a light cin-
namon colour, with darker hackles spotted with
black. These require cocks with plumage exactly
the colour of wetted cinnamon. Both these are now
become rare, and the latter are almost lost. They
were common formerly in Dorsetshire, and were
birds of marvellous weight. The cock for the buff
and lemon, should be the colour of the hens, but
possessing the brilliant colouring of hackle and
saddle peculiar to their sex. Black feathers must
be carefully avoided. They are admissible in the
tail, but one of a richly shaded chesnut is very
preferable.

They are very good layers, and I have proved
they sometimes lay twice in a day. I have known
two instances of it, but I think the explanation I can
give wiU bear out the opinion, it is not in the nature
of any hen to do so as a rule. The fowl in question
more than once laid early, and again (in the summer)
just before dark, one probably at four in the morning,
and another at eight in the evening, thus two eggs
in sixteen hours, but she never laid the following
day : several times she did this, but very often'the

FOWLS. 35

second egg had an imperfect shell, yielding to the
slightest pressure. They seem to lay at a certain
age, without any regard to weather or time of year,
beginning soon after they are five months old; I
have had pullets of that age laying regularly in very
cold, frosty weather, when those of other breeds
running with them, showed no signs of following
their example, although hatched at the same time.

They do not lose their qualities as they get older,
but they lose their beauty sooner than any other, and
every year seems to increase the difficulty of moulting.
I am convinced, the age of beauty in a Cochin-china
fowl is from nine to eighteen months ; after this the
hens become coarse, their feathers grow with diffi-
culty, their fluff is a long time coming, and the
beautiful intelligent head is exchanged for an old
care-worn expression of face. I am also sure that
the tail of the cocks increases as they get older.

The commonest fault in these fowls at exhibitions,
in the present day^ is that both cocks and hens are
shown with twisted combs. This should be avoided
in selecting breeding stock, as although the breeder
may not care to exhibit, purchasers may, and the
value of the stock is affected by it.

I have always found them hardy birds ; the little
naked, ostrich-like chickens doing well in bleak
spots, without any unusual eare.

D 2

36 FOWLS.

I imported some black birds, and even the cocks
remained true to color.

Too much cannot be said in favour of their gentle-
ness and contented disposition; a fence four feet
high suffices to keep them from wandering, and they
allow themselves to be taken from their perch, and
replaced, to be handled, exhibited, or made any use
of, without the least opposition. They are also
most valuable in a yard as layers during the winter
months, and sitters early in the year. They are
broody when others are beginning to lay.

CHAPTER VI.

The real Hambro' Fowl is a beautiful bird. There
are two sorts, the golden and the silver ; they differ
in one respect only, the foundation colour of one is
white, the other yellow ; one dfescription wfll serve
for both. They have bright red double combs,
which should be firmly fixed on the head, inclining
to neither side, nor even being loose, ending in a
point which should turn upwards; clear hackles,
either white or yellow ; taper blue legs, and ample
tails; bodies and taUs accttrately pencilled with

FOWLS. 37

black eyery where except th^ neck. The more
correct the marking, the more valuable the bird.

Their carriage is gay and proud ; their shape is
symmetry, and their appearance is altogether in-
dicatiye of great cheerfulness, and carries an air
of eiyoyment, which always prepossesses in their
favour.

The plumage of the cocks differs somewhat from
the hens; they are very little speckled, if at all,
except while chickens, when the wings and hinder
parts are marked, but this seldom lasts after the first
•moult. In the silver variety, the cock is almost
white, having sometimes a chesnut patch on the
wing, and towards the tail some black spots, but
these disappear as he gets older. The tail should
be black, and the sickle feathers tinged with a
reddish white, while in the golden cock they should
be shaded with a rich bronze or copper. The cock
of the golden is red all over, and both must have
well defined white deaf-ears.

No fowls require mor^ watching than these if it
be desired to breed them for exhibition. Degeneracy
shows itself in the cocks either by a black tail, or one
in which white or silver predominates, or by the
absence of the white deaf-ear : — all these must be
fatal to success. In the hens it is apparent in
upotted hackles, and in patchy plumage. The

88 * FOWLS,

delicate and distinct.pencilling is lost, and a cloudj
uneven mixture takes its place. This is fatal to
them as exhibition birds.

The great virtue and merit of these fowls sre,
they are prodigious layers, and this is not brought
about by any undue feeding, it is tilieir nature.
They are said never to sit, and as a rule it is true
of them ; not one in a thousand deviates from it»
but when I lived in Davies Street, I had one at
liberty; she stole a nest in a lumber room, and
brought out a brood of chickens.

They are excellent guards in the country, for-
when disturbed in their roosting place, they are the
noisiest of the noisy, and nothing but death or
liberty wiU induce them to hold their peace. I
think I may say with truth, they lay twice as many
eggs as any others.

In these, as in other breeds, erroneous ideas and
names have crept in, some being correct descriptions
of the same fowl under another name, but others
being imaginative, so far as real Hambro' fowls are
concerned.

The Bolton bays and greys, and Chitteprats are
identical with the Hambro*. I have also seen so-
called Turkish and Creoles, which were the same.

As a general rule, it may be observed, no true bred
Hambro' fowl has topknot, single comb, white legs>

FOWLS. 39

any approach to feather on the legs, white tail, or
spotted hackle.

I know no bird that gains so much by change of
climate as ibia does ; the British bred are infinitely
better than the imported.

There is another Hambro* now at least admitted
into that family. They were originally called Pheasant
fowls, as that bird was accused of being the parent
on one side with about as much truth as the other
story, that the Barnacle that adheres to the bottom
of a ship, produces the goose that bears the same
name. They were also called Moss fowls, then
Moonies. This last name would seem to have some
foundation, because the end of every feather should
haye a moon figured in black, on the yellow or white
ground, according as they are gold or silver. They
are very beautiful, gay and proud in carriage ; very
full double and firmly fixed combs, with point at the
end turning upwards ; dark rim round the eye, blue
legs, mixed hackle.

Like the Pencilled varieties, these are of two
sorts, the golden and the silver. There are few
breeds in which points are so scrupulously observed,
and defects so insisted upon as in this. The
Capulets and Montagues are Yorkshire and Lanca-
shire. The former insist on black breasted cocks,
the latter must have spangled. We hold with the

40 FOWLS.

latter. There was formerljha contest about the tails
of the cocks. Some contended they should be hen-
tailed, t. e., have no sickles, streamers, coverts or
turned feathers. This notion has however dis-
appeared ; and we may venture to give the principal
points of these breeds, as admitted by most amateurs
and exhibitors.

In golden cooks, the hackle should be elouded
without any patches or rings of black, the
saddle should be clouded or intermixed with black,
the wing accurately barred and laced, the tail black,
the breast well spangled. The comb full, tlnokly
spiked, and well piked, turning upwards behind.
The deaf*ear small, round and perfectly white.
The foundation colour of the body a rich dark red.
The same rules save as to size of comb, apply to the
hens.

In silver the cocks have not the same clouding in
the hackle or saddle, but they require the same
comb, deaf-ear, laced and barred wing. They must
also have a white tail, every feather of which must
be tipped with black. The pullets are subject to the
same laws of combs, ears, wings, and tails. They
must also have clouded hackles, and their bodies
must be accurately spangled. In each variety the
legs must be blue.

FOWLS. 41

CHAPTER Vn.

The Spanish Fowl is easy to describe, as no yariety
of colour is admissible. These birds must be black
throughout, richly shaded with metallic green lustre.
A purely white face is imperatiYely necessary to con-
stitute a perfect specimen. Care must be taken not
to mistake the ear-lobe for the face, as in the very
worst samples of the bird this will be found quite
white. In a Erst class bird this colour must be un-
mixed with red spots, and ext^iid from the insertion
of the comb to the gill, and from the ear*lobe to the
beak. The ear4obe must be large, pendant, thick,
and quite free from any other colour. This part of
the face is more developed in the cook than the hen ;
in fact, he has it much larger than any other fowl :
it is composed of a double skin, forming a sort of
hag. Very capital cocks are also white betwe^i the
wattles, but here the colour is in spots on a red
ground, slightly shaded with a blue white. The male
bird should have a lai^ upright comb, reaching to
the nostril. His watdes should be very large and
long; his breast round and protuberant; his tail
•ample ; his carriage noble and veiy upright. The
combs of the hens should fall over, and when in good
condition be large enough to hide one side of the face.

4/2 FOWLS.

Their breasts are prominent, but not so much so as
in the cocks. Their faces very long, thin, and skinny.
I next come to the points both sexes have in common.
Taper blue legs, and deviating ^m the required line
of perfection in most other fowls, they should be
long. In shape they slant downwards from the
neck to the tail, and the body narrows from the
shoulders, tiU at the end it approaches a point In
walking they carry themselves very upright.

They are invaluable layers, because, although
they are only moderate feeders, their eggs are
larger than those of any other fowl. We have seen
them four-and-a-half ounces each. The difference
between these eggs and those of any other fowl is
so manifest, that they will always sell first, and realize
a better price than any others in an open market.
They are for the same reason more valuable for
culinary purposes, three of them being equal to five
of many other breeds. They do not sit The best
time to rear them is between March and the end of
May ; although not perhaps to be considered delicate
chickens, so far as growth is concerned, yet it is
certain they do not bear a check so weU as many
other breeds, and it is therefore Well to watch them,
that stimulants may be given in time. They are
very naked when hatched, and are often a long
time before they feather. They may be seen

FOWLS. .Q

ZT^ about, with black feathers in their ^„„,
and scarcely any other on their bodies A^f '
Penod they require to be cover^^!!; ^
at niffht Ti,^ covered verjr warmly

this^ ^\T """^^'--^ cl'ickens of
This i« . ,. ^^'' *^ *°*^ *»^ ^««i« old.

milTtr^/''^ ***y- ^« «I«o 8i-e bread and
fine f!^ r ^' '"'^ *'~^«'' '"«**• "tapped very

mutton. These fowls are rather more difficult to

or, by their constant health, being perfectly
n^ from most of the banes of the poultry-yard.

e sex of them is easUy distinguished, as the

^^B show their combs plainly at a month old. At

8 age we always look for growth in our Spanish

tWn k' ''"* "'^ ^^^^ **'"• *** «>»«teract any

Dg that may appear to be going wrong, and

we repeat, our only remedy is stimulants. Being

at ^ab^ ^^^^^ *° over-stocHng, we km faulty cocks,

* * nt seren or eiglit -weeks old, it they show the

. J . *"^* they can have, and the only one that

^P ° 7 <leveiopgd a* an early age, we mean, a

J'b^v!^'^^- Tb^ g^test merit a Spanish fowl

tte best ^?P««fectI:r ^Mtef«e-, hutif acockhad

^m i^».l<ile88 ^** ^** ®'^' ^''*

44 FOWLS,

would not excuse or palliate a drooping comb. If,
therefore, there is no desire to rear them for the
table, Bueh peccant cockerels should be killed as
soon as the comb can be seen falling orer, as there
is no possibility it can ever repay even one day's
food. The chickens, and the best of them com-
mon^, indeed, almost always have white feathers in
the flight of the wings, and if they appear when
hatched like magpies in colour, it need cause no
apprehension, as it is a common thing, and they will
bec4>me U^^k*

It is almojst impossible to name any time when
these fowls may be what is termed "weeded,"
when the faulty and inferior may be cast aside for
market or table, and the dite reserve for exhibition
or breeding. Cocks show the white face earlier thai^
pullets, indeed, we have known many that never
had any red on any parts of their fSeuses ; but it is
fair to add, they were precocians birds, and like
most such prodigies, their exc^ence was confined
to their youth, and in after life they could neither
compare nor compete with those that took their time
and ripened into excellence in due and natural
course. We have no hope of a Spanish cock, if at
twelve months old he has any red in his &ce. We
would not even excuse that which some indulgent
people would call only a blush, but the case is very

different mth puUets. We have been constantly
ndstaken, and therefore, warn others. We have
many a time sold a draft pullet for a few shillings,
and have been vexed by hearing soon afterwards
she had made as many poands.

At three months old, the lower part of a Spanish
pullet's fece should be whitening, then the same
change should take place in front of the eye, and the
skin above the eye should become brown, instead of
red ; mixed, or spotted with white. The progress
of the change in colour may now be slow, but
should be gradual The skin pale white, tinged
"With blue, should become a dead opaque c<dour.
The spots above the eye should enlarge and extend
till but the shade of any colour remains. It is
never safe to discard such a pullet as a bad one.
But some may wish for directions to guide them m
making selection among such as appear aU pro-
mising. Choose cockerels with long legs, bold
carriage, combs feultlessly upright and firm, ample
*8il, good width between the eye aatid the insertikm
of the comb, and blue legs. Pullets high on the
legs, long taper bodies, long tails, and do not mind
if the two long feathers look like young sickleSi and
^'^ ^^er at the extremity. Look for long skinny
faces, and lo^g gtrong beaks. Do not be guided by
forward and deveiop^^ combs, unless the fexje has

46 F0WI.9.

kept pace with them. If you have to choose
between those that have large red combs and dark
hces, and whitening faces with backward combs, do
not hesitate to take the latter. The comb must
come in due coarse, the face is not subject to any
similar compulsion. If at twelve months, a pullet
is only white below the eye, and deep dark angry
red above, she may be got rid of without com-
punction, she will never be perfect.

Lovers of these fowls have called them the
aristocracy of poultry, and assuredly nothing can be
prettier than a goodly troop of them, with their
glossy plumage of raven black, their snow white faces,
and bright red combs, spreading over a park or
meadow. They do not, however, reserve their
favours for those who can afford them these ex-
pensive luxuries, they will live healthy, beautiful,
prolific and contented, in the smallest, darkest, and
dirtiest, back yard of a manufacturing town. It
inay, perhaps, amuse some, if I describe a place
where I saw some of the best Spanish fowls I ever
saw. I offered £ 10 for the cock, and £ 7 for the
hens, ineffectually.

In a dose suburb of London, was one of a row of
small houses, each had a yard, of perhaps three
yards by two. This space was partly occupied by a
water butt, and the remainder was needed as a

FOWLS. 47

drying-ground, and play-ground for the young Lon-
doners, &c. The amateur was a man of resource,
and knowing the capabilities of the breed, he con-
structed a walk round the yard, resting against
the wall and house. It went round three sides of
the yard, was two feet wide, and the same height, a
small space at the end was covered, and afforded a
roosting and laying place. It was made of common
laths, nailed lattice fashion, except the bottom,
which was close, and kept gravelled, while a cabbc^e
suspended by its stalks afforded them green meat.
At times they had the luxury of a run in the yard ;
but as a rule they lived in the place I have described,
and I have never seen better or better conditioned
birds than they were. It is contrary to my practice
to relate anecdotes, or to use one unnecessary word ;
but I know nothing that will illustrate the goodness
of constitution, or the endurance of these fowls
so weU as that I have related. In preparing these
birds for exhibition, it is unquestionable that they
do better during the last fortnight before the show
in comparative confinement than they do at full
liberty, and it is essential that they do not have
too much light — clever people must enquire why
and wherefore such is the case, we have only to do
with results, and if any be incredulous, they may
try the experiment. Let them take a Spanish hen

48 FOWLS.

or pullet faulty Reused, shut her up in a dark cage or
box, keep her there for some days, and then look at
her, they wiU see the improvement in consequence.
One test of condition in the birds we speak of, more
particularly of the pullets, is the state of the comb,
which will be red, soft, and developed, just in
proportion to the condition of the bird. While
moulting, and they are almost naked daring this
process, the comb entirely shrivels up.

Birds of the highest strains will sometimes show
foul feathers : the hens will have white spots — the
cocks red in the wing, hackle, or saddle. These are
blots that a judge cannot overiook, but they are not
necessarily hereditary, nor should an otherwise good
bird be discarded as a breeder for these freaks of
plumage. The amateur of these fowls, who expects
to rear many first class fowls, will be doomed
to disappointment. Even from the most carefully
selected parents, the perfect birds will not be more
than one in twelve, or not so many. But the
others will be good saleable birds, and the two or
four will always repay the expense and trouble of the
lot. This is one of the old fashioned breeds —
favourites of long standing in England, and will
always be admired.

There are white Spanish fowls, but they are not

FOWLS. 49

much admired ; the fieu^e, which forms so good a con-
trast with a black plamage, looks sickly and poor
when put with feathers of the same colour ; it is one
of their vagaries in moulting to turn quite white. I
have one now that has done so, and I know of many
others. I once had a cock with a white ring, Hke
that of a mallard, round his neck.

We formerly got all our best Spanish fowls from
Holland, and still get some good ones ; but the great
demand for them in this country has nearly exhausted
the market there. They are known as Minorcas in
DeYonshire^ where there were great numbers of them,
but they are iiost degenerating into common black
fowls.

We are not, however, writing for those only who
look for perfection in their birds; we have, therefore,
a word to say to those who care not, or who cannot
afford to keep oidy perfect, and, consequently,
expensive ones. AU the beauties we have enu-
merated as characteristic of this breed, can be
secured at a small cost, provided some spots of red
are overloked or put up with. These birds are
quite as vigorous and as free in laying as the most
expensive that can be purchased. We leave them
with advice to the amateur who lives in a small
place in a dose town, and, therefore, is perforce

50 FOWLS.

content to keep fowls and eat eggs, but is obliged to
class cbickens among unattainable luxories, to
adopt Spanish.

CHAPTER Vni.

B AKTAMS have long been favourites in England, their
small size, their beauly, and their impudence gaining
them admirers. Many years since, only those that
were feathered to the toes, were admired. The late
Sir John Sebright, by much attention and a thorot^h
knowledge of the subject, succeeded in producing
birds of surpassing beauty and symmetry. Those
that bear his name are the most appreciated by
fanciers ; they are of two colours, gold and sflver ;
they must haye double combs, with pointed end rising
upwards, and well seated on the head, firmly fixed, not
inclining to one side, nor yet raised on a fleshy ped-
estal ; laced feathers, each being edged with black ;
blue legs, without even the suspicion of a feather on
them ; upright tail tipped, with black at the point,
which must be round and equal in width to the widest
part of the feather. There should not be eyen a

fowls: 51

tendency to a curve in it. The side tail feathers
rising from the back to the tail should also be flat,
round topped, and accurately lsu;ed. There must
be no hackle or saddle. In many respects they should
closely resemble a hen cock. These are the princi-
pal points of the male. The hen requires the same
comb, the same accurate lacing, the prominent breast,
drooping wing ; her head should be very small, beak
sharp. The carriage of these birds should resemble
that of a good Fantail pigeon ; the head and tail
should be carried up in the strut of the bird, tiM they
are nearer meeting than in any other fowl ; and the
wing should drop down the side instead of being car-
ried up. In both sexes, the wing feathers should be
tipped with black, and even the long feathers laced.
Like all other first class birds, these are difficult to get,
and lest amateurs should be discouraged, Imay almost
yenture to say, a faultless bird is hardly to be found.
From the best bred parents, single combed chickens
will constantly appear, but these will again produce
perfect double combed progeny. Such are however,
only to be trusted when the possessor of them is sure,
that although defective themselves, their parents were
faultless in this particluar. Small size is a desidera-
tum in these fowls, they are therefore seldom bred
early, as growth is not desired. August is early
enough ^to hatch them. Perfect cocks should not

£ 3

53 FOWLS.

weigh more tban seventeen ounces, nor the hen
more than fourteen.

None but those who understand the process, can
imagine the difficulties of producing the Sebright ban-
tams. They were the result of years, and can only
now be kept up by frequent changes of blood ; if this
be neglected, and the same stock is bred firom year
after year, the lacing first disappears, next the colours
come in patches, and at last you get single combs,
sickle feathers, and ugly yellow and black birds.

Other Bantams, to pretend to excdlence, should
be diminutive as the Sebright, and should have the
same arrogant gait. But they differ inasmuch as
the males should be large cocks in miniature, with
hackle, saddle, and fully developed tail. The rule
of comb is not so imperative. In black and white
birds it should be double, but it is not so necessary,
nor does the substitution of a single one cause dis-
qualification. In the black breed, white deaf-^ars
are necessary to excellence, and in both those of
which we speak the sickle feathers should be long
and well carried. No fowl has made more rapid or
certain advances in public favour than the Game
Bantam. At present we have duck-wings and black-
breasted reds in numbers; we have seen some
brown reds. The progress made justifies us in
believing that ere long we shall have every variety

FOWLS. 68

of Game represented among these diminutive birds.
They are subject to the same laws of matching as
the game fowls, the cock must not have the strut of
the bantam, but the bold, fearless, unquailing de-
meanour of the game ; his wings must not droop,
but must be carried close up to his body, and his
feathers must be hard and close. As they are also
subject to the same laws of colour and matching,
they should be carefully mated with hens of the
same breed, both as to feather and colour of legs.
The hens should be longer than ordinary bantams,
and like the cock should be clean, hard, and rather
scanty of feather. They should also have the game
head and expression of face, and have small straight
upright, and numerously serrated combs. Feathered
legged Bantams may be of any colour; the old
fashioned birds were very smaU, falcon-hocked, and
feathered with long quill feathers to the extremity
of the toe. Many of them were bearded. They are
now very scarce ; indeed, till exhibitions brought
them again into notice, these beautiful specimens of
their tribe were aU neglected and fast passing away.
Nothing but the Sebright was cultivated, but now
we bid fair to revive the pets of our ancestors in all
their beauty.

64 FOWLS.

CHAPTER IX,

The Malay fowl, thoagh formerly much fmcied
and sought after, has of late years been suffered to
decline. However unpalateable the truth may be to
some who recollect the palmy days of competition^
it must be said, this bird has fallen before the spirit
of utility ; it was not useful, and it has lost grooad.
It is a long, rather than a large bird, standing re-
markably upright, falling in an almost uninter-
rupted slope from the head to the insertion of the
tail, which is small and drooping, having very beau-
tiful, though short, sickle feathers. It has a hard,
cruel expression of face, a bold eye, pearled around
the edge of the lids, a hard small comb, scarcely
80 long as the head, and having much the appear-
ance of a double comb trimmed very small and then
flattened; a red skinny hjce, very strong curved
beak, and the space for an inch below it on the
throat destitute of feathers ; it has long yellow legs,
quite clean ; it is remarkable for very hard plumage,
and the hinder parts of the cock look like those of a
game cock trimmed for fighting. The hen is of
course smaller than the cock; she has the same
expression of face, the same curious comb, and in
both sexes, the plumage should be so hard, that

FOWLS* 55

when handled, it should feel as though one feather
covered the whole hodj ; from this cause the wings
of the hen are more prominent than in other fowls,
projecting something like those of a carrier pigeon,
tibough in a less degree. It is a heauty in these
birds if the projections or knobs of flesh at the crop,
on the end wing joint, and at the top of the breast,
are naked and red. They are moderate layers and
good setters ; their eggs have a dark shell, and are
said to be superior in flavour to any other.

The original colours were, cocks of a bright rich
red, with black breast ; and hen of a light chocolate
or cinnamon colour, generally one entire shade, but
in some instances, the hackles were darker than the
rest of the plumage. We have since had beautiful
white specimens, and a few years since, there was a
handsome breed of them coloured like some of the
game piles.

CHAPTER X.

Qahe fowls. — ^Although there are many different
strains of game fowls, the distinctions are so depen-
dent on colour, that the description of one suffices
for all, as the points are identicaL

56 FOWLS.

All Englishmen have a sort of liking tor a game
cock, although many abhor coek fightings and hun-
dreds who dread their comihats still ding to the
breed. There are two seta of amotears, one loaka
only to befltaty of plumage; the other, careless ei
feather, scans closely those points that will teM in
the pit If fowls were not wanted for the table^ and
i£ perfect eymmetry, beaatiM colonr, haziLihood tmd.
daring, were aU that was required of them, the
amateur might possess duokwings, piles, or blade
breasted reds, or any other of the numerous yariettes,
and rest content. He would indeed be obliged to
limit the number of his pets, becanse the maLes will
not i^ree ; and unless the young eoeks ore looked
upon with pride, as those that are to figure in a
main, there is always sadness in seeing sprightly
ones growing up, because it is certain they xnuat be
got rid of in some way, or they will fight among
themselves till but two or three remain. Nor is
this propensity confined to cocks; I have known
high-bred hens quite as pugnacious ; and fatal con-
tests between them are things of common occurrence.

The game cock is of bold carriage ; his comb is
single, bright red and upright ; hi» face and wattle
a beautiful red colour ; the expression of count^xance
fearless, but without the cruelty of the Malay ; the
eye very full and bright ; the beak strong, curved,

FOWLS. 67

well fixed in the head, and very stout at the roots.
The hreast should be full, perfectly straight, the
body round in hand, broad between the shoulders,
and tapering to the tail, having the shape of a flat-
iron. The thighs hard, short, and round, the leg
stout, the feot flat and strong, and the spur not high
on the leg. The wings are so placed on the body
as to be available for sudden and rapid springs.
The feathers should be hard, very strong in quills,
and like the Malay it should seem as though all their
feathers were glued together till they felt like one.
A game eock in hand should be what fanciers call
** clever," every proportion shoxdd be in perfect har-
mony, and the bird placed on his breast in the palm
of the hand should exactly balance.

This is another of those breeds where any devia-
tion from perfection is fatal. It has been well said
**A perfect one is not too good, and therefore an
imperfect one is not good enough.** Abundant
plumage, long soft hackles and saddles, too much
tail, or a tail carried squirrel fashion aver the back :
the least deviation from straightness of the breast
bone, long thighs, in-knees, weak beaks, or coarse
heads are all faults and should be avoided. These
birds are„ dubbed before they are shown, and this
should be neatly performed, every superfluous piece
of skin and flesh being removed, so that the head

68 FOWLS.

should stand out of the hackle, as though it were
shaven. The plumage should also he so scanty that
the shape of the hird, especially the tapering of the
hack, and the roundness of the hody may he seen,
every feather should feel as if made of whalebone,
and if raised with the finger should ML into its
original place. It should be abnost impossible
to ruffle the plumage of a game cock. The tail
should be rather small than otherwise, and be car-
ried somewhat drooping. The plumage of these
birds is trimmed before they fight — this is called
" cutting out,'' — ^and the less there is to remove in
the way of feather, the better the bird. They are
in every respect fighting birds, and we think every
one sees a set-to between two of them with pleasure,
if it occurs as they pass through a yard. The hens
should be like the cocks allowing for difference of
sex, the necks and heads fine, legs taper, plumage
hard, and combs small, upright, and serrated. Hens
should not be chosen with large or loose combs, and
they should handle as hard as the cocks.

FOWLS. 69

CHAPTER XI.

The original Poland Fowls were Black with white
top-knots, and Gold and Silver spangled. There
was formerly a breed of White with black top-knot,
bat that is lost. There are now White, Black,.
Spangled, and Chamois. The three first are well
known, and amenable to rule both in description
and jadging. The others may be called in process
of formation. Before treating of them generally,
a few remarks are necessary on the subject of
beards. These appendages were not admired till
recently, and it is still question of dispute, whether
the pure bird should have them or not Individual
opinion can have but little weight in deciding a
difficult point, unless some proof can be brought in
support of it. I am not the partisan of one or the
other, but as at Exhibitions aU are classed together,
and objections have been taken by the amateurs of
bearded birds, that those destitute of that addition
should be allowed to take prizes, I think it but fair
to state as an importer of very many years standing,
that among the early birds brought from the Con-
tinent, not one in a hundred was bearded, and those
that were so were often rejected. The first really
good pen I ever saw was at the show held in the

00 FOWLS.

Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, in 1846. They
were exhibited by the late Lord Saye and Sele, and
being successful in gaining a medal, were christened,
in honour of their owner, " Belvedere" Fowls, that
being the name of His Lordship's seat. Those who
judged in the early days of shows can recollect when
the bearded were the exceptions. I am not the par-
tisan of either, but I thought a few words called for
in favour of those who have not yet joined the
" beard and moustache movement."

Having said this, I will now describe the general
characteristics of the Poland fowls as now shown
and admired.

The crest of the cock is composed of straight
feathers, something like those of a hackle or saddle ;
they grow from the centre of the crown, and fall
over outside, forming a circular crest. That of the
hen is made up of feathers growing out and turning
in at the extremity, till they form a large top- knot,
which should in shape resemble a cauliflower. The
carriage is upright, and the breast more protube-
rant than in any other fowl, save the Sebright
bantam. The body is very round and full, slightly
tapering to the tail, which is carried erect, and which
is ample, spreading towards the extremity in the hen,
and having well-defined sickle feathers in the cock.
The legs should be lead-coloured, or black, and
rather short than otherwise.

FOWLS. 61

In the black species, there should be no white
feathers save in the top-knot, in that there shoiild
be no black ones, but I have never yet seen anj
without them. It is a very common pr&ctice to cut
them off close to the skin, so that it appears perfect,
but at the first moult they re-appear.

In the golden and silver varieties, the spangling
of the feathers should be black, and as correct and
regular as possible ; the ground colour should be rich
golden tint in the one, and frosted silver in the other.
In both cocks and hens the wings should be laced,
each feather should have a black marking running
the length of it, and when the wing is closed, it
should show three or four stripes, terminated on each
feather by a distinct black spangle. There exists
difference of opinion as to the marking of the breast
of the cock; some like it dark, others spangled.
My own opinion inclines to the latter. The colour
of the top-knot is another open question. Some
admit white feathers, indeed prefer them ; others
would consider them a grievous fault. I hold with
the latter. I have seen spangled birds with pure
white top-knots, and they were very handsome, but
I still think they should be entirely of the same
colour as the fowls ; every feather should be laced
like those of a Sebright bantam, although I admit it
will be impossible to get them quite so distinct.

•^ «■- ^^ r^ J" r-

even the Ie«8t spikes ^»„ k . V " 8^' «»'

^ ^ "'"' oe tolera<Ml tu
improvement ia required in «^'*™- The same

dear white with a black stot T.C^^^ *" ^
feather. The lacina oTl! ^ '"** "^ ««h

and while the colo««wi T ^^ *"*^ *°** I'ens,
Of W feaC^ttr^"'^'- •^•"^-^

iswelflshorsIZtlrh -""''^^' ^*
top-knots it is i„,„„ M •'^^ "^^ »^te

always be left T — '^ "^^^ '^'^ ^^''"Id
andT,!! T. °^« " ^^'*°'^ «" advantage

appearances cannot Jl L* ''/^^•''^' «« ««'*^«
ever much thr^J^^^^ accomplished, how-

ai^ not desiraMeT ^e tT' ^*« ^-the«

Poland hens, but Z, ^^""^ '' ^' ^"^^

,' ""^t they are always there AnA ti.
increase as they get older. "'ere. and they

These birds are veiy subject to deform-* .
crooked backs aro eomn,„ '*e*»nnity, and

amateur who wiZ 1 \ '^"°« **'^'"- The
Who washes to purchase wiU do weU when

FOWLS. 63

he holds the bird in his left hand, to lay the palm of
his right fiat on its back, he will often detect one
hip, i. e., the insertion of the thigh bone higher than
the other ; or he will find a curve in the back-bone
from the hips to the tail. As these are transmitted
to their ofiispring, and as it is often difficult to get
good crosses, such birds should always be rejected.

CHAPTER Xn.

The Bbahma Pootra Fowl. When some years ago
I began writing on the Cochin China Fowl, I stated
that owing to the difierence of opinion that existed,
I approached them with diffidence. I may say the
same now about the Brahma Pootra, but my notions
are strengthened by the reflection, that aU I have
written is the result of observation and close study
during some years. It is unquestionable that we
have much to learn and discover about them, but we
know enough to form an accurate opinion. We have
in them diversity of colour and comb, but we have the
same in the dorking ; yet few will pretend that a rose-
combed cock of that breed is not as pure as a single,
or that a slate or brown hen is not as true as the most

64 FOWLS,

figustidiously correct Grey or Speckle. As I at the
outset advocated their claim to the honour of heing a
distinct breed, I now say I have seen nothing to alter
my opinion. In all adverse writers there is a total
absence of argument, but a lavish use of the assertion
that they axe Cochins and nothing else. One only
point has been touched upon, which is similarity of
shape. Now what is this argument worth? whether
they come from China or India we will not stop to
discuss. It is enough that they come from the East,
from Asia. The deficiency of tail is the characteris-
tic of all their Fowls — Cochins, Brahmas, Malays.
Even the Jungle fowl (the Hyasna for wildness of all
GaUinacse, and one that can weU be called untame-
able), although the most favoured of his country in the
way of tail, carries it drooping. That the eggs are
alike in colour cannot weigh, because aU our Asiatic
birds lay cream or chocolate coloured. If feathered
legs are to prove their identity with Cochins, then
from that I would deduce proof of their distinctness.
Out of large numbers I have bred I have never had a
clean-legged chicken. If the tables were turned, an
Asiatic with equal truth might affino, there is but
one breed in England, because all are clean legged,
heve ample tails, and lay white eggs. If Dorkings
were first imported into any independent state, and
had a run for two or three years ; then when Ham-

FOWLS. 65

burghs or Game took their places, we should, if parties
took the same views they do in this country, have
the importers of the latter advertising their new
breeds, and the holders of the former striving their
best to prove that all were identical, although
differing in many essential points.

I will now give my ideas and experiences of these
birds, and shall honestly tell all I know. If, when
we know more, I am proved to be wrong, I shall at
once admit my error. If right, I shall have nothing
to add or retract.

That these fowls are of Asiatic origin is beyond
dispute, and that they partake of the principal charac-
teristics of the birds of that quarter of the globe, is
also undeniable. Still in my opinion the difference
between them is marked, although perhaps made up
of apparent trifles. Take an analogous case. The
Ortolan is a bird unknown in England, the yellow-
hammer is common. To an inexperienced eye, or to
a man fresh from a town, one would at any time pass
for the other. People have given opinions on these
fowls, without taking the pains to ascertain whether
they were formed on pure specimens. They have
judged their habits where they were oonflned in
small spaces. It is a common remark that an
Englishman is recognized as such every where, while
men of other countries are merely known as foreign-

F

66 FOWLS.

ers : but this distinction is only perceptible to those
who know the characteristics of the inhabitants of the
different countries. A new Zealander would class
all as white men. Now I honestly believe many of
our correspondents on Fowls are in the position of
this New Zealander. I have imported and bred these
Fowls for two years ; I have watched then narrowly,
and find they differ in many points from the Cochin,
with which they are sought to be identified. They
wander from home, and they will get their own living;
they never throw a clean legged chicken ; they have
deep breasts ; they lay larger eggs, and they are har-
dier. I have fiatched them in snow, and have reared
them all out of doors without any other shelter than
a piece of mat or carpet thrown over the coop at
night. From any birds that I have kept I have never
had an untrue chicken, all being more or less grey.
They are hatched almost black or yellow, and the
dark get lighter, and the light darker. I have never
had a dean legged or a five clawed chicken fi:x)m them.
From some fresh imported hens, I have had out of a
hundred, some three or four brown chickens, which I
am keeping to see what they will be. I take little
notice of it, because I cannot know their parentage,
but from my own birds kept through the season, I
have not had one faulty chicken in any particular.
They eat less than the Cochins. They differ in

FOWLS. 67

combs, some being single, some pea-comb. The
latter has never been seen on any other fowl. It
has the appearance of three combs pressed closely
together, that in the centre being higher than
the others. Another thing worthy of remark
is, that in many of the single combs, close
observation will show on either side, the plain
impression of another, the evident remains of that
which had been a pea-comb, and by interbreeding
had disappeared. I would define the points of a
choice specimen thus : pea-comb, protuberant breast,
strutting carriage, well-feathered yellow legs, flat
back between the hackle and the tail, and the latter
fuU of feathers, the principal ones diverging as in a
black cock. The under feathers of both cocks and
hens should be dark. The most perfect specimens
should have for the cocks, mottled breasts, dark tails,
light hackles and saddles ; the hens all over the body
pencilled like the Silver Pheasant, and with what we
should call in others, a silver hackle. I do not
undertake to say these only are pure, nor would I
seek to disqualify those that are single combed.
There may be variety in that respect as in Dorkings,
and I have seen very beautiful birds white, save the
hackle, tail, and flight, which were black.

I have reprinted the foregoing, because there still

remain unbelievers about these valuable fowls. The

f2 •

68 FOWLS.

six years that have elapsed since it was written, have
only confirmed the opinion I entertain of their value
in every respect. They are beyond contradiction,
the best winter layers we have, they rank among
the very prolific producers of eggs throughout the
year, they seem to be as hardy as it is possible for
fowls to be, they are good sitters and mothers, and
good for the table. Although they appeared at a
time when people were suffering from the effect of
the decline of the Cochin mania, they held their own ;
they have made way, and have succeeded in forming
numerous and attractive classes. Their purity and
the possibility of breeding them truly are proved
by the long success of some exhibitors, and the array
of beautiful pens are alike in the main particulars,
which are always seen at the principal shows. The
white birds with black Bights and tails, and striped
hackles, have proved themselves as fine and good as
the pencilled. The color is entirely matter of taste.

CHAPTER Xni.

The various class at the different exhibitions has
brought prominently before the public numbers of

FOWLS. 69

different birds that were before but little known :
We will begin with Creepies, Bakies, or Dumpies.
The first were exhibited some years since by
H. B. H. Pince Albert at Birmingham. These
had more appearance of distinctness of breed than
any I have seen since. They were in feather
somewhat like inferior silver pencilled Hambro's.
They were ridiculously close to the ground. In
those we have seen since, uniformity of feather is
sadly wanted, and unless it can be accomplished,
I fear the fact of their being very short legged will
not gain them a position in the prize list. It is also
necessary they should either all have four or five
claws, as if cross-bred, they deserve nothing, and if
pure, they should be well defined. They were
formerly well known and common in Scotland, and
had the reputation of being excellent layers. Their
principal points are large bodies, very full in hand,
ample tail carried erect, very long and perfect
sickle feathers, and proud carriage. Legs almost
imperceptible. For some time these birds dis-
appeared, but of late we have seen several pens,
apparently well selected, arguing the means of
choice on the part of their possessors.

70 FOWLS.

CHAPTER XIV.

Ptaemigan Fowls. — ^The origin of these birds is
enveloped in mystery. It is the opinion of many
amateurs that they may be made by crossing the old
feather-legged white Bantam cock, with the white
Poland hen. The shape and appearance of the bird
would favour the idea, but in the face of the assurance
of the breeders that they are pure, and breed true, we
are bound to admit it. They are birds of pleasing
appearance, gay carriage, rather upright than other-
wise. Colour pure white ; legs heavily feathered vnth
stout quill feathers to thatoe. Yulture-hocked; the
feathers reaching nearly to the ground. Tail ample
in both sexes and carried well up ; the body rather
small and very round and plump in the hand ; legs
white! The top-knot of the cock should differ from
all others, inasmuch as it should rise from the head
in long feathers, and projecting forwards beyond the
beak, curl upwards at the extremity something like
•the principal feathers of the crest of the cockatoo.
That of the hen on the contrary, although ample,
falls back like a lark crest.

The Friesland or Frizzled Fowl. — This bird

FOWLS. 71

for many years was better known in England as tbe
French Fowl ; it has little merit beyond its extra-
ordinary plumage. Every feather should be stiffly
curled, and the flight feathers of the wings should
be little more than quiUs. As no pains have been
taken to breed them, those exhibited generally vary
in colour, both of feathers and legs. They have no
class, and unless amateurs are more particular, they
will lose all chance of distinction, as other breeds
will ecHpse them.

The Japanese Bantam or Silky Fowl. — There
is no question of the purity of these extraordinary
birds, as they have been known many years in this
country. They are covered with white hair instead
of feathers, but the wings have long quills in them.
Their faces, flesh, combs, legs and bones are blue ;
the deaf-ear varies, inasmuch as it shows white
under the metallic tinge. Many have five toes,
double combs, and small top-knots; others lack
these distinctions. Their chief points are, purely
white plumage, blue skin and bones throughout.
They are hardy, cheerful, and pleasing birds for
those to keep who admire curiosities. They are
average layers, and excellent sitters and mothers.
They are said to be good for the table, but their
appearance is so repulsive, few have had the courage

73 FOWLS,

to taste them. They make capital sitters and mothers
for any small breed of fowls or game.

The RutfPEiN or Rumpless Fowl is another
that delights the amateur in the rarious classes of an
exhibition. If it had a tail, and were consequently
not what it is, it would be a pretty bird. It is a
pure breed, and admits of description. It has a
remarkably sharp, intelligent face, round body, very
full breast, and taper legs. It is, doubtless, the
absence of tail that gives the appearance, but it has
more of rotundity in shape than any fowl I know.
There is no settled colour for them, but they are
generally brown or black.

The Emu or Silky Cochin is of recent intro-
duction. They are an accidental variety. In giving
such au unqualified opinion, I should give my reasons
for it ; they are as follow :

I had a walk of BuflF Cochins, from which I bred
two years in succession ; the next year, out of about
sixty chickens, nineteen were silky; and they were
not partially so, but they were without a feather on
them : they still retained their uniform buff colour.
I have observed and pointed out to many amateurs
at shows where I have been judging, a tendency to
this variety in the specimens exhibited. The first

FOWLS. 73

indication is at the extremity of the wing feathers
and the covering of the thighs, it looks like an
extension of the fluff oyer the feathers. The hirds
disappeared as suddenly as they came. I bred from
the same birds for two years, and breed still at the
same place, but have never seen one since the fore-
going was published.

The Andalusian Fowl. — ^This bird has most
points in common with the Spanish, of which it is, in
the opinion of most judges, an off-shoot. The chief
difference is in colour ; being, instead of black, of a
slate blue, shaded with darker tints. They are
long on the leg ; the hen has a drooping comb ;
that of the cock should be upright. They are
handsome and stately birds, said to be very hardy,
and excellent layers. Although they have been
exhibited for years, they have not yet been deemed
of sufficient importance to deserve a place in a distinct
class. It is however but fair to state, that good
specimens are seldom shown without being dis-
tinguished by the judges. Th^ should have the
white deaf-ear, but are not required to have the
white face.

The Rangoon Fowl. — These are little known ;
they have nevertheless been often exhibited and have
always taken a prize but once. They have much

74 . FOWLS.

the same character as the Malay, but the neck and
head are not so skinny, nor have they the same
cruelty of expression in the face. They are capable
of being made Yery heavy, as the hens in ordinary
condition weigh from eight to nine pounds each,
and*the cocks ten. They are of upright carriage, tail
rather drooping; their legs are of bright yellow, and
their plumage of a deep, dark red spotted with
white, exactly like the red speckled Dorkings, known
as Sir John Gathcart*s. It is some time since we
have seen any of these.

The Ancona Fowl. — This remarkable bird,
although it has been before the public for some
years, has made little progress in becoming a
favourite. It is not surprising, as it is more
curious than handsome. Its chief peculiarity is a
comb of most unusual size, which hangs over,
entirely concealing one side of the face ; its wattles
are also very long and large. It is rather undersized
than otherwise, and short-legged. The common
colour is black, intermixed with white feathers.
They are said to . be prolific layers, and to produce
unusually large eggs.

FOWLS. 75

THE DORKING FOWL.

CHAPTER XV.

However reluctant those concerned with poultry
may be to acknowledge the fact, it is not the less true
that most old women who Hve in cottages know
better how to rear chickens than any other persons ;
they are more successful, and it may be traced to
the fact, that they keep but few fowls, that these
fowls are allowed to run freely in the house, to roll
in the ashes, to approach the fire, and to pick up
any crumbs or eatable morsels they find on the
ground, and are nursed with the greatest care and
indulgence.

I have already stated, I believe, the grey, or
speckled Dorking, to be the best fowl there is for
the table; and, as the first consideration is the
breeding stock, I would advise, in an ordinary farm-
yard, to begin with twelve hens and two cocks, the
latter should agree well together.

Too much pains cannot be taken in selecting the
breeding fowls ; they should not only be of the best
breed but the best of the breed. I woidd choose
them with small heads, taper necks, broad shoulders.

76 FOWLS.

square bodies, white legs, and well-defined five claws
on each foot ; touching the claws, I would remark it
will sometimes happen that breeding from cock and
pullet, each five clawed, chickens will come, lack-
ing that distinctive mark ; it does not follow there is
any fault in the breed, as the produce of these
chickens will probably be five-clawed, but I would
only tolerate it in home-bred chickens ; in buying
for stock, I would insist not only on the presence of
the five-claws but on every other characteristic of
the breed being prominent.

It may be well here to state why the speckled, or
grey, are to be preferred to the white Dorking.
They are larger, hardier, and fat more readily, and
although it may appear anomalous it is not less
true that white feathered poultry has a tendency to
yellowness in the flesh and fat.

Having the stock, the next point will be breeding.
I am a great advocate for choosing young birds for
this purpose, and with that view would advise that
perfect early pullets be selected every year for stock
the following season, and put with two-year old cocks ;
for instance, pullets hatched in May, they attain their
growth and become perfect in shape, size, and health,
before the chiUs of winter. They should be put with
cocks of two-years old, when they will lay on the
first appearance of mild weather, and their produce

FOWLS. 77

has the same advantage as these have had before
them. I do not advocate having young stock fowls
so much on account of their laying early as I do for
the superiority of their breeding. Neither do I
approve of breeding from fowls all the same age, i. e,,
all chickens. I would put a cock, for his first
season, with two-year-old hens. A pullet, such as
I describe, will often begin to lay directly after
Christmas, but I would not allow her to set her
first eggs, they seldom produce good chickens, and
if the weather (as frequently happens) prove un-
favourable, many of the eggs fail to hatch. The
second sitting, probably brings the best fowls the
pullet will ever breed. It is well to introduce fresh
cocks of pure breed, into the yard every second
year; this prevents degeneracy, and for the same
reason, no cock should be kept for more than three
seasons, nor hen more than four, if it is intended to
keep them in the highest possible perfection and
efficiency.

Of hatching I will say very little, as the hen will
do that naturally, and consequently well. A hen
will cover and hatch fifteen eggs ; all nests should be
on the ground, and the hens should be watched, else,
when a setting hen has left her nest for a short time,
another will steal in and lay among the eggs already
set on ; this is an evil, as it causes irregular andim-

78 FOWLS.

perfect hatcliiiig; it unsettles the hen, and the chick-
ens are not properly attended to by her. It is a very
common thing for a hen to steal her nest in a hedge,
or other protected spot ; if she choose a secure place
she should not be disturbed, as these hens often bring
out the best broods.

Coops, in which to put hens with chickens, are so
common it will* be unnecessaiy to say anything of
them. The hen should be kept in the coop, or rather
under it, at least six weeks, and in the winter the
longer she is under it the better ; the coops should
be often moved, to give the young brood the advan-
tage of as much sun as possible, as this promotes
their growth, and also prevents the ground from be-
coming tainted. I would always advise, where space
will permit, that fresh ground be chosen for the dif-
ferent broods during the breeding season ; thus, one
part in April,. another in May, and so on.

CHAPTER XVI.

I NOW come to the question of feeding. It is too
often presumed that little care is required as to their
feeding from the time they leave the coop until the

FOWLS. 79

time* they are put up for fattening. They are
allowed the run of the yard, without considering
what a precarious suhsistence this affords; there
may he ahundance of food at some periods and little
or none at others. They should he fed regularly,
and care should he taken that each of them (for they
are aU either to he hrought up for the tahle or for
stock) shall have a fair share.

I advise, from the first, to feed the hen and her
chickens weU, in the following manner : — instead of
throwing downhandsful of whole com let it he ground
and slaked with lukewarm milk, to such consistence
that when a hall of it is thrown on the ground it will
hreak and scatter ahout in particles; if there he
green-meat, such as onion-tops, chopped fine and
mixed with it, so much the hotter. They should he
fed only so long as they will run after it, as soon as
they are careless ahout it they have had enough.
They may also have chopped egg, roast or hoiled
mutton chopped fine, in fact a continual change.
They must he fed every hour, or oftener. As they
get older this may he gradually discontinued, and
they may feed with the old fowls. But even with
old hirds a change of food is not only advantageous
hut necessary; and I would tl^erefore advise that
twice per week the food he changed for a day or

80

POWLS#

two, and boiled or crushed corn substituted for meal.
Tliej must also hare constant opportunities of peck*
ing among grass and other herbs. Fowls in oonfine*
ment will starve and pine to death, with heaps
of barlej around them, unless they have these
opportunities.

Next as to water. It is too much the idea that
any description will do, and that provided there be
some within their reach, though it have been there a
week, nothing more is required. This is a mistake.
Water for fowls and chickens should be very clean ;
the vessel containing it should be well rinsed out
every morning ; it is a good plan to put a little gravel
at the bottom, and it should be changed twice a day.
I am aware many will be disposed to think this
unnecessaiy, but I will ask anyone who has the
opportunity to tiy whether, where there is a stream
of water running throu^ a yard, they can cause
the poultry to forsake it by placing water nearer to
their haunts : it will always be found they prefer
going to the stream to drinking out of the pan or
tub.

Many gentlemen who take pains in breeding poul-
try, and aH gamekeepers, vnll say how advantageous
it is for fowls, pheasants and all gallinaceous birds,
to have a constant supply of pure cfean water.

POWLS. 81

There is little doubt many of the diseases of poultry
arise from the filthy water they are often obliged to
drink from ponds full of decayed vegetable matter,
and tainted by the Ml of -leaves, in autumn and
winter, from over-hanging trees.

The well-doing of chickens depends on the observ-
ance of these apparent trifles. I know fowls will
grow up without it, will lay, set, hatch, and rear
their young, but they only produce the fowls so
universally complained of at the tables of the nobihty
and gentry when in the country. I also know the
fowls brought to the London market have not half
the care I inculcate bestowed on them ; but, on the
other hand, it must be borne in mind the hen
that hatches an early brood of chickens plays an
important part in a cottage ; her young are put in
flannel in a basket before the fire (and the children
are driven away to make room for her), she and her
brood live in-doors, they pick up every crumb and
share every meal.

This is because her progeny will often in May
realize from two to three pounds ; in fact, very often
the hen buys the pig that forms the winter food of
the family ; the poor man or woman tries by such
indulgence to compensate for the scarcity of food
which their situation renders unavoidable.

As the chickens get older they will require feeding

82 FOWLS.

less often, but they must never be allowed to fall off
in condition, and after from ten or twelve weeks in
the summer, or from fourteen to eighteen in the
winter, they will be ready to fat, if required.

CHAPTER XVn.

Thebe are two methods of fatting ; one is by feeding
in troughs, these are called peckers ; another is by
cramming : where merely a good useful fowl is re-
quired the first process will suffice, but when it is
wished to make a fowl equal to those found in the
London market the second must be resorted to:
in both cases such a coop or pen as I will endeavour
to describe will be required.

A coop for twelve fowls should be thirty inches high,
three feet long, and twenty-two inches deep; it should
stand about two feet from the ground, the front made
of bars of about three inches apart, the bottom also
made of bars about an inch and a half apart to ensure
cleanliness, and made to run the length of the coop,
so that the fowl constantly stands, when feeding or
resting, in the position of perching ; the sides, back.

FOWLS. 83

and top may be made the same, or the back may be
solid. There should be a trough in front of the
coop, and I much prefer it wedge-shaped, thus,

Vto the square ones generally in use. It
is much easier to clean. It only re-
quires a flat board, running along the
front of the coop, having a groove cut in it to receive
the bottom of the trough, and an upright piece at
the edge to support it. It is easily movea'ble, which
is necessary, as it must be scalded once every day to
keep it sweet.

This trough must be filled three times a day with
food, the quantity being regulated by the number of
fowls fatting; the food should be oatmeal mixed
slack, but not quite liquid ; it may be mixed with
water, but milk is much better ; in fact, it should
always be borne in mind, the food cannot be too
good or too clean. It is also essentially necessary
that sound discretion be used in the quantity of
food given ; no more should be given than is eateil
up clean at a time, and at every meal it should
be fresh mixed food ; when the time arrives for the
mid-day feed, if there remain any uneaten from the
morning in the trough, it is a proof either that too
much was given before or that the fowls are sick : if
the first, let them fast till the evening ; if the second,
alter the character of the food,, by mixing it. either

G 3

84 FOWLS.

slaicker or stiffer ; but in both cases the food which
has been left must be taken away, or it will torn
sour, and the fowls will take a distaste for it, which
will prevent their fatting; there should be pans
continually before the fowls containing fresh clean
water, and when the troughs are removed for scalding,
and while they are drying, there should be gravel
spread on the ledge before them ; they will pick out
the small stones to assist digestion, which greatly
promotes their health.

Another very excellent thing is to cut a turf, well
covered with grass, and place occasionally before
them. No better proof will be required of this being
good for them than the avidity with which it vnll be
eaten. All these things assist health, 4ind for a fowl
to be good on the table it must be healthy when
alive. By this process a fowl put up in good flesh
and condition will be fat enough for ordinary pur-
poses in about ten or fourteen days.

It will be observed, I inculcate the greatest clean-
liness throughout. I believe cleanliness to be one
essential : another is, that the fowls be fed early in
the morning, as soon as the sun rises, for they vnll
be then waiting for their food. If the first meal of a
fowl is deferred till seven or eight o'clock on a sum-
mer's day the bird has been hungiy, restless, and
dissatisfied four hours, and in that time the progress

FOWLS. 85

made towards fatting the previous day has been
fretted away.

This remark applies both to pecking and the
succeeding method of fatting.

Next, as to cramming fowls. The coop is pre-
cisely shnilar to that used for the peckers ; and here
I would remark^ I am not an advocate for large
coops. I would have several, each capable of con-
taining twelve £dwls, which will be about three feet
long by twenty inches deep ; and as the coops are
liable to become tainted, if in constant use, I recom-
mend that when not wanted they shall be taken from
the outhouse or shed, and exposed to the air ; and
if they be lime-whited so much the better, but on no
l^scount would I be so short of coops as to be com-
piled constantly to use the same, as disease, and
that of the most infectious character, would be the
result.

The fowls for cramming sxe put in this coop, and
if wanted veiy &t in a short time, the best of those
fed by the former process may be selected, and in a
week they will be very good ; but if not in a hurry
then good fleshy young fowls should be put up and
fed as follows ; but (in this and the former method)
care must be taken to put up fowls that have been
accustomed to be together ; if strange fowls are put
in the same coop they will fight, and, if so, they will

86 FOWLS.

not fat ; nor is that all, from the continual excitement
they will become hard. It will sometimes happen.
even a pullet is quarrelsome, if so, she must be taken,
from the coop and kept separate, or slie -will inter-
fere with the ^well-doing of the lot. There' are how-
ever, times wlien twelve fowls are not wanted at the
same time. "Whether they are pecking or being
crammed, two or four fowls must not have as mucli
space as a dozen. With them as with ourselves,
much exercise is not conducive to speedy fatting-
It is easy to divide the coop described at page 83 hy
having boards ready cut, and passing thena through.
the bars from front to back. If fowls are to thrive,
they must be warm. The heat and steam of the
birds should be perceptible to the hajid when it is
put in. For this purpose they must be close to
each other, and the coop should be covered up with
old sacks, carpet, matting, or anything of the sort.

Tbe food is the same as before, viz., oatmeal
mixed with milk, and if it is wished to make the
fowls very fat, a little mutton suet may be boiled
in the milk with which the oatmeal is slakied • the
only difference being it is mixed stiffer, it must now
retain the form given to it. A cram should be
about the size of a woman's finger and an inch and a
half long, six or eight are given morning and eveninff
that is enough to fill the fowl's crop.

The crams should be roUed up as dry as possible,
and in order to render the swaUowing easy, previous
to being given, they should be dipped in milk or
pot-liquor ; women perform this operation better than
men ; the fowl is placed in the woman's lap, the
head is held up, and the beak being kept open with
the thumb and finger, the cram is introduced into
the guUet, the beak is then closed, and the cram, is
gently assisted down tiU it reaches the crop : care
must be taken not to pinch the throat, as ulceration
would foUow, and the fowl would be spoiled. If at
mid-day the fowls appear resUess and dissatisfied
a very httle food may be given to them in the same
way as to peckers. They must also be well supplied
with water and gravel.

It will sometimes happen that when the time

amves for the evening meal, that of the morning has

not digested; therefore, before the second feed is

given, the crop should be lightly felt to see if it be

^^pty ; if it is not, there is proof something is wrong ;

the fowl must be taken out immediately, and the

beak being held open, as if for cramming, some

warm water or gruel should be poured down the

throat, and the beak closed: the bird will swallow it,

and it will soften the food, but if more food were

forced into the crop, ozx tlnat already hardening there.

the fowl would became crop-bound; i.e., the food

would become soUd .^xxd indigestible, and the fowl

88 FOWLS.

would be totjolly spoiled for the table, if it did not
die.

By the foregoing process a fowl may be made
perfectly fat and good in fourteen to sixteen days ;
there is no necessity to feed longer, unless large
size be desired, when feeding may be ooatiBued tkree
weeks ; I prefer the former period, because tiM fowl
l>hen is fat ^lough and in perfect health, but fp^
quently afterwards, although it will get fatter and
apparently larger, it will lose both weight and flesh ;
the latter becomes red and dry, the internal £eit
impedes the exercise of the functions of digestion,
and the fowl becomes diseased ; it is what poulterers
term ** clung," and arises from disease of the Htot,
caused by excessive fat.

There is no possible method by which a fowl may
be kept fifttting and in perfect health afber it has
reached the acm^i of fatness, it must then be killed,
or it will'become worthless.

When put up, either for pecking or cramnuBg,
the bird& mvsst be in some sort of building, com-
pletely sheltered from cold and draughts ; when tlie
weather is chilly, they should be coveved with sacks
or matting, as warmth is very essential in causing
them to thrive.

I believe attention to these trifling ctetails wffl
remedy one of the complaints urged against countiy
poultry,, viz., that it is too lean.

FOWLS, 89

CHAPTER XVm.

I WILL now endeavour to remove another objection,
that it is hard.

I see little difficulty here, as it may be prevented
by attention to simple arrangements.

I consider there are two causes, first, the poultry
is too old ; next, it is eaten too fresh.

Fowls should be put up to fat at ficom twelve to
fourteen weeks old in the summer, and from sixteen
to twenty in the winter ; the difference is caused by
the £EUst that in warm weather they arrive at maturity
much sooner than in cold; and when a fowl is
arrived at maturity, it is too old for the table.

It is a mistake to keep a fowl until it is too old,
for the sake of having it large. It is true it looks
handsome on the table, but it is usdess there.
Perhaps paort of the breast may be eaten, but the
1^8 are fax too hard to furnish any part of a meal.
Still size is much to be> desired, and it can be
attained by following the rule laid down for feeding
chickens well from the first, and the increase in
size and weight during the fortnight^s fatting is
almost incredible to those who have never observed it.

But to be tender the fowl must be young. There
is no process by which an old one can be made

90 FOWLS.

good for the table ; and sarely, though it may be a
shade less, it is better to have a good juicy fowl,
which all will eat with relish, than a larger one,
which from its hardness, cannot be enjoyed.

Another complaint often made is, that although a
good fowl is to be had sometimes, there is no cer-
tainty. The poultry is one day good, the next day
bad: this arises from the fact, that the fowls are
improperly selected; that if six fowls are wanted
they will, perhaps, be taken promiscuously from six
different broods. This is yery wrong: tiie oldest
brood should be cleared off before the next is begun.
It may be said there is only a difference of three
weeks or a month between them ; but in the summer
and autumn a month turns the pullet into a hen,
and, consequently, unfits her for the table.

The next cause for their being hard is they are
eaten too fresh. I use the term fresh in a qualified
sense. A really young fowl does not require keeping
to become tender, because it is naturally so, but if
eaten the day it is kiUed it must be stringy in the
moutb, as every member of the body is still rigid ;
forty-eight hours will be quite long enough to keep
such a fowl.

But, spite of all care, there will sometimes be
fowls beyond the age I have specified as the proper
time for killing ; and then, by keeping them some

FOWLS.

91

days, they will become more tender. To this many
persons and practical ones, will say, I have tried to
keep them and cannot ; I answer, you do not adopt
the necessary precautions.

If a fowl be caught up out of a farm yard, or taken
out of a coop, full of food, and killed directly, as is too
much the custom, the food in the body and crop fer-
ments, and at last corrupts the flesh ; but if the bird*
be fasted, L e,, kept entirely without food or water
from twelve to fifteen hours before it is killed, it will
be found quite empty, and in moderate weather will
keep from four to six days, during which period it
becomes tender. In the winter it may be kept much
longer.

CHAPTER XIX.

■»

EXHIBITION POULTBY.

Thebe is neither so much profit, nor so much
honour in gaining prizes with bought birds, as with
those that have been bred at home. As a rule,
those who are in a position to give the largest sums,
are not those who pay the most attention to their
birds, and it goes far to equalize probabilities to find
that it is almost impossible one person should pos-
sess all the advantages requisite to success. The

9S FOWLS.

prodace of the best birds in the world, if only mode-
rately attended to, will not be better than those of
merely good ones favoured by every advantage.

If it is wished to show at early shows, say in
June, July, and- August, the chickens should be
hatched early in January, and this process is the
more advisable because of late years, January and
Februazy are more fttvourable for rearing chickens
than Majch, one thing alone excepted, that the
nights are longer. About tiiie middle of December,
two or three hens should each be set in a warm
sheltered i^pot, and each should have sev^n eggs
from selected birds, above ail such as have no
capital defect or lack of any virtue. Grant that five
chickens are hatched under each, it is enough and
as many as she can rear. It will take at least
fifteen chickens hatched to produce six at a show in
June. It is easy to give any quantity of food, and
to supply any amount of heat, but it must always be
imposfiibk to giv« suffici^t nourishment in eight
hours,, to last for, and to carry chickens over the-
twenty-four. It will therefore be necessary to feed
them twice after dark, and this is done for those
that are intended only for the London mairket, and
never hope for any distinction beyond that of being
a spring diickan, and eaten with asparagus. Say
that th^ last daylight meal is at four o'clock, then at

FOWLS. 93

eight give another hy candle-light The rip will be
in a shed or out-house covered careful^ -so as to
exclude any cold air. Place a dark board on wMoh
the food, curd, egg, or bread and milk will be easily
seen in front, and then raising a comer of the
covering immediately before the board, throw down
the light of the candle on it, and call the chickens.
They will feed and return to the hen. Let the hen
feed at the same time, as she learns to look for it,
and she calls the chickens. Repeat the meal at
eleven, and again at seven, and the night is reduced
to eight hours fasting which the chickens can bear
without injury. As they grow, if either of them
shows any great defect, fat it for spit or market, and
reserve all your care for those that promise to make
a good return. Of course this is only needed for
those that are hatched early, the later ones do not
require it, they have nature on their side, and she
is a good nurse. These very early chid^ens are not
wanted for late shows; the produce of April and
May will always beat them. Where muiy fowls are
bred from a good stock, and kept in a farm yard
affording all necessaiy food, we should be content to
leave all together, even though we intended exhibi-
tion. Weight is never the principal points in fowls.
It is more important in December and the later
winter shows, than it is between August and Novem-

94 FOWLS.

ber. At this last period that which is looked for in
a prize-taker is a large frame. The food has been
expended in height, length, and breadth, and while
this is the case there will be no weight and fat.
That which stops the growth and induces fattening
lessens the probability of success. We think well
of those prize fowls about which, in September,
hjper-critical observers shake their heads and say
they are leggy. Give such the two months that
will elapse before Bingley Hall calls for them, and
they will be mentioned; but the heavy, squab, round-
beaded, fat pullets, the young hens in September,
will never *grow any larger. Being then sure the
chickens, although having only a farm yard run,
have all they require in the way of food, we would
let all. run together, but we should always keep our
eyes on those we meant for exhibition. Where all
chickens cannot have the same advantages, then
those that give most promise must have the prefer-
ence. But if six or eight chickens are wanted, at
least eighteen should be selected. They want only
a good roosting place, plenty of good food, not given
all at once, but very frequently, and a good run.
All fowls should be together for some days before
they go to a show, and being on the same walk is*
not enough, they should be daily confined in a
small space. If this precaution is not taken, sue-

FOWLS. 95

cess is constantlj marred by the pen being deficient
of one hen, torn to pieces, or at least eaten so far as
the scalp and back of the neck are concerned.
This is more frequently the work of the hen, than
of the cock, and when they are put together if one
begins to beat the other, and is allowed to do so
without resistance, it is useless to dream of their
agreeing, and madness to think of showing them
together. As a hen or pullet is frequently spoiled
£»r exhibition in a few minutes, it mav be worth
while to describe the first appearances of an intended
aggression. The pugnacious hen will begin by
raising herself on tip-toe, till she can look down on
her antagonist, then dropping her wings, and raising
her hackle, she will strike the first blow. If this is
submitted to, there is no hope for the beaten. She
should be removed ; they will never agree, and she
will be eaten. It may be asked why these things
do not occur in yards ; the reason is simple, because
the spaoe allows room for the victim to escape, but
it is one of the inexplicable things of poultry that in
presence of a pugnacious mate, a hen or pullet tries
no resistance, she endeavours to find an outlet for
flight ; failing that, she chooses a comer into which
she thrusts her head, and thus "accepting the
situation" she stands still while she is eaten. But
without fighting they sometimes disagree, and then

96 FOWLS.

they show to disadvantage, because the weakest bird
is always out of sight. It will prevent the proba-
bility of fighting and considerably augment the pos-
sibility of success, if both pullets are of the same
^e. The older beats the younger, and this dispa-
rity has a bad effect, it does away with the perfection
of a pen, and altho' owners may sometimes fancy
that one of the three birds composing it may be
good enough to "pull it through anything," yet
judges have to do with « the pen," and not with any
particular bird composing it. This will perhaps be
the place where I should mention a common fault in
exhibitors who send two pens composed of three ex-
cellent and three inferior birds, so divided as to form
perhaps one third class and one highly commended,
or two highly commended pens : whereas a different
selection would make one of unusual merit. If «xi
amateur who wishes to exhibit, has fifteen fowls to
choose from, and to form a pen of a cock and two
hens, he should study and scan them closely while
feeding at his feet in the morning. He should then
have a place similar to an exhibition pen, wherein
he can place the selected birds ; they should be
raised to the height at which he can best see them,
and before he lias looked long at Ihem, defects will
become apparent one after the other, till in all pro-
bability neither of the subjects of his first selection

FOWLS. 97

will go to the show. We also advise him rather to
look for defects than to' dwell on heauties, the latter
are always prominent enough. The pen of which
we speak, should he a moveahle one, for convenience
sake, and it is well to leave the £qw1s in it for a
time that they may become accustomed to each
other, and also to an exhibition pen.

In all birds, save those in which white plumage
is desirable, we advise that fowls should run at
liberty till they are wanted to send away, Dorking,
Cochins, Brahma Pootras, and all golden birds.
Spanish are improved by confinement (in a dark
place, for some days before showing), giving just
enough of light to enable them to pick their food,
and to perch. They should also be littered with
straw, as cleanliness has much to do with the
success of these birds. Game fowls should be kept
up for a few days, and fed on bread, meal, barley,
and peas. These latter make the plumage hard,
but they must be used sparingly as they have a
tendency to fiEitten. White feathered birds, such as
Silver Pencilled Hambro's, the top-knots of Silver
Polands, the tails of Silver Spangled, all require
washing. This is not difficult. Put a handful of
Boda in a bowl of warm water. Immerse the fowl
entirely, rinse thoroughly with cold water, wipe with
a flannel, and place in a basket with soft straw
before a fire to dry. h

98 FOWLS.

All fowls should have their legs washed clean,
before they are sent to a show, scurf or dead skin
should be removed from the comb, dry dirt from
the beak, stains from the plumage.

Baskets in which they are packed should always
be round, high enough for the cocks to stand
upright, and covered with canvas. If a single
covering of canvas is not deemed enough, it may be
double, and the space between filled with hay,
no injury can then by any possibility or accident be
done to the birds. But if the basket be square,
feathers must be broken, and if the top be un>
yielding wicker-work, whether it be top-knot or
comb that comes in contact with it, it must suffer
by being flattened. Fowls should be thoroughly
fed before they leave for a show, but the food should
be soft. Sopped or steeped bread are excellent.
Hard food is to be avoided, because the digestion will
have to take place without help, from exercise, gravel,
or anything else. This is more important than
may appear at first, when it is considered they
will probably undergo the ordeal of judging within
a few hours of their departure from home, and that
indigestion is accompanied by sickly and ruffled
plumage, dulness of colour, dark comb, and yellow
face. In cold weather it is necessary they should
have plenty of straw in their baskets, for warmth

FOWLS. 99

sake, and when fowls go frequentlj to shows, the
straw should be renewed every time. Discretion
must be used. In summer and early autumn,
wheaten straw in small quantities, in late autumn
and winter, when cold nights may be looked for, a
Isyrger proportion of oat or barley. Fowls are not
chilly, but they dislike draughts, and even in the
guard's-van, there are chinks and crannies, through
which there is an active current. They are also
left in open and exposed spots at stations, and then
the wann straw plays a useful part.

In fowls as in other things, *' Let well alone,"
is a good and useful motto. When they return
from a show, looking in perfect health, do nothing ;
but if combs be dark, or crops be hard, a table
spoonful of castor oil is valuable medicine and
proper treatment. Where it is convenient, it is
useful to have a spare run where birds can be put
down on their return firom shows, and subjected, if
necessary, to an especial treatment ; I do not say
this is necessary, especially in the present day.
They seldom require any other treatment than
purgatives to remove the accumulations of three or
four days of unnatural appetite, undue feeding from
mistaken kindness, and perhaps rubbish from the
bottom of the cages.

These are things so generally known, it would

H 3

100 FOWLS.

seem ridiculous to mention them, yet we sball not
be justified in leaving them out. We speak of one
of them when we remind exhibitors, birds in a
pen must match as to comb and colour of legs. That
is not a prize-taking pen which difiEers in any par-
ticular.

We hope we shall not be thought to be setting a
hard task before our Mends, when we describe what
perfect birds should be. The result of the last few
years has proved the possibility, almost the ease of
accomplishing whatever may be required. Take
Spanish cocks for instance. The worst bird in the
single cock class at the Crystal Palace show in
February, was better than the celebrated Champion
of former days, if judged according to the require-
ments of the present times. Hambro's all have
white deaf-ears, formerly they were the exception.
Silver Polands and Spangled Hambro's have faultiess
tails. They were said to be impossible. These facts
prove how possible it is to attain excellence, and
they are worth chapters of letter-press.

FOWLS.

101

EXHIBITION FOWLS.

DOBKINGS.
COCKS. HENS.

Black, or Black and Slate colour, ash, cob-
white breast and tail, web speckled with brown
light hackle and saddle, or black. Any colour

but black and white.
Such as these are invariahly the heaviest and
largest birds.

SiLVEB Grey.

Entirely black breast Hackles of alternate
and tail, white hackle black and white stripes,

and saddle. No speck of
white on the black, no
buff, brown, or red on
the white can be allowed.

the latter predominating.
Body of light grey, the
shaft of each feather
being white. Bobin
breast.

CUOKOO.

Cocks and Hens alike.

Bed Speckled Dorkings.

Breast, black, red, or Hackle, dark deep
either colour spotted brown, or brown striped
with white. Tail black with gold ; body choco-

102

VO'WLS,

G00E8. HENS.

or blaek and white, late or light brown
Hackle and saddle red spotted with white,
or spotted.

All Dorkings, of both sexes, should have deep
square bodies, broad backs, very full breasts, and
white legs. The symmetry of the body will be easily
judged and ascertained, if being viewed as if divested
of head, legs, and tail, it presents a square.

HAMBKO' FOWLS.

Pencilled.
Double combs, fuU of Double comb firmly

points, ending in a stout
pike turning upwards.
This must be firmly
fixed on the head. It
must not protrude nor
hang over, nor must it
be hollow in the centre.
Even if firm it must not
incline to either side.
White deaf-ear, size and
shape of a fourpenny
piece. If larger, it should

seated on the head, and
scrupulously straight,
full of points, and like
that of the cock, piked
behind and turning up-
wards. Deaf-ear, small,
round, and perfectly
white. Hackle quite
clear from spots. Body
pencilled all over from
the end of the white
hackle to the tip of the

FOWLS.

103

HENS.

tail, and if perfection be

sought, the plumage of
the hen should bear

taking feather by feather

and scrutinizing. Each

should have ten or more

distinct markings, and

tail coverts still more.

COOKS.

not exceed a sixpence in
dize. Ample tail, foun-
dation colour black, but
every feather should be
laced on both sides with
silver or gold. The
black should predo-
minate, and the silver or
gold should be only an
edging. White or red
body, sometimes a little
spotted at the hinder
parts, and on the extre-
mity of the wings. Blue
legs.

These remarks apply alike to Golden and Silver,
with this difference, that the groimd colour of one
is red, the other white. In both, the breast should
be protuberant, the body round, the legs blue, the
tails ample, and the whole carriage of the bird
pleasing and cheerful.

Golden Spangled.

Laige double comb, Bright red, spiked and
full of points, but neither piked, moderate-sized
overhanging the eye nor comb, firmly seated on

104

FOWt/S.

COOKS.

the nostrils; the points
clear and sharp, not
smoothed over till the
comb looks like a fungus.
Full pike behind turning
upwards. Dark rim
round the eye. Round
smallish deaf-ear, bril-
liantly white. Well-
spangled breast; barred
and laced wing; full
black tail ; blue legs ;
cheerful carriage. The
under part of plumage
bright bufif. The hackle
of the cock well clouded,
and, if possible, the
colour so distributed as
to present no patches or
circles of black. The
saddle should also be
well clouded. All the
colours should be rich,
especially on the wing,
where a metallic black

HENS.

the centre of the head,
without the slightest
deviation to either side.
Dark but not black
hackle. Body spangled
all over, wings laced and
barred, under feathers
deep buff. The colour
of the body should be
deep and rich, the spsui-
gling, barring, and laci^
correct, sharply defined,
and bright with metaUic
lustre. The deaf-ear
snowy white, small and
round; legs taper and
blue. It is very essen-
tial the pike of the comb
should incline upwards.

FOWLS.

106

GOOES. HENS.

should bar and lace on a
deep red or maroon
ground.

The cock of the Silver
Spangled is not shaded
or clouded like the
Golden in the hackle and
saddle, but he requires
to have his tail quite
white, with die exception
of a black point at the
extremity of each fea-
ther. A most accurately
spangled breast is also
required.

Black Hambbo's.

These birds are subject to the same rules as the
other breeds, simplified by the fact the 'plumage is
of one colour only. The combs must be spiked,
piked firm and straight as in the others, and the
deaf-ear scrupulously white.

The hen of the Silver
variety requires all these
points, and in addition
a thoroughly clouded
hackle, and a clear tail
spotted at the end with
black. Nothing is more
important than the
clouded hackle.

SPA17ISH.

OOOKS.

Large comb, and per-

HENS.

L<^ge> softj smooth

106

FOWLS.

COCKS.

fecUy upright. It should
also he jBven on its sur-
face, having no indenta-
tion popularly known as
the thumh-mark in front.
Spotless white fsuce from
the comh to the throat.
Long, deep, smooth
white ear-lohe ; very full
tail. Erect, haughty
carriage, unmixed plum-

HEKS.

red comh, hanging over,
and concealing one side
of the £etce. Face tho-
roughly white. Very
full hreast ; hody taper-
ing to the tail which is
very full, and carried
erect. Long thin skinny
face, strong long heaks,
and long hlue legs ; long
ear-lohe, perfectly white.

age, long hlue legs.

Both cocks and hens have in common rich
metallic lustre on the plumage. They should also
he rather leggy than otherwise.

No hird pays hotter for care in preparing for
exhibition than this does. No other hird presents
such a contrast as the white face, red comb, and
black feather. The white face is indispensable to
success, and is perhaps the most important point in
judging ; but it must be home in mind that not any
excellence in this respect can palliate a drooping
comb in the cock, or an upright one in a hen.
Many birds have a much better face on one side
t^an the other. . No amount of white on one side
will counterbalance red on the other.

FOWLS.

107

POLISH FOWLS.

White Crested Black.
Cocks and Hens.
Black lustrous plumage ; top-knots white as may
be without trimming ; leaden blue legs ; prominent
breasts; very fuU tails, and straight even backs.
The cock and hens must haye gills, but the cock
must have no comb nor even spikes in front.

Silver Spangled.

GOOES.

Ample top-knot, well
filled with coloured fea-
thers, and not lying flat
on the head. Well
spangled breast, wing
laced and barred. Tail
white, every feather
being tipped with black.
Hackle and saddle black
and white, clouded. No
comb, gills, or spikes.

HENS.

Full, firm top-knot
made up of laced fea-
thers, and growing up-
ward and close. Mixed
hackle. Body accurately
spangled all over. Wing
laced and barred. White
tail tipped with black.
No gills. FuU breast,
and round body. Blue
legs.

Golden.

As above in all points, As above, except as
Qave that the tail instead regards the tail and Hie

108

FOWLS.

GOOES.

of being tipped with
black is of that colour
throughout, and the tail
corerts, black in the
centre, but having rich
orange shades on each

HENS.

top-knot ; the former
being black, or nearly so,
while the top-knot should
be composed of black
feathers edged with
yellow.

side.

There is in most Polands a tendency to deformity,
but especially in the Blacks. It is always a dis-
qualification at a show.

COCHIN CHINA FOWLS.

GOOES,

Upright comb, with
oorroGt and numerous
serrations ; ample hackle
and saddle ; gradual
slant from the head to
the centre of the back,
and rising thence to the
tail. Very flu% thighs
and hinder parts ; bright
©yo» long deaf-ear and
wattle. Very little tail,
and made up of numerous

HENS.

Sharp intelligent head,
combs small, scrupu-
lously straight, full of
well-defined serrations.
Thighs and hinder parts
entirely hidden in soft
silky fluff; short legs, fea-
thered to the toe ; short
thick - looking necks ;
head carried rather for-
ward than upright.
There should be a gra-

FOWLS.

109

HENS.

dual rise of feathers from
the middle of the back to
the tip of the tail, which
should end in a black
round point.

GOCES.

small curly feathers that
seem to roll over the
back, rather than to
stand up as in other
birds. Legs feathered
to the toes ; wings tightly
clipped up ; upright car-
riage ; bright good eye.

Lemon and Buff.
Cocks and Pullets alike in colour.

Grouse and Partridge.
Black breasts ; hackle Plumage brown all

and saddle black, shaded
on red, or very rich gold ;
tail black; legs yellow
and weU feathered.

over, with as Httle yellow
tinge as can be, and the
feathers marked or pen-
cilled as in the Grouse,
Feathered yellow legs.

Cinnamons, see pages 33, 34.

White.

»

Points same as in others, but weU feathered yel-
low legs indispensable, and vulture hocks not de-
sirable.

110

FOWLS.

GAME.

COCKS.

Bright red comb,
wattle, and face ; strong
stout beak, slightly
curved; round hard body,
tapering to the tail;
short round hard thigh ;
stout leg ; flat foot ; spur
low, near to the foot.
Scanty plumage, but
very hard. The bird
should handle whole, as
if clothed with one fea-
ther; the tail scanty, and
carried rather drooping
than otherwise. The
head should be moderate
in size, but fine in shape,
sharp and snake-like ;
very bright eye. The
whole expression fear-
less, but more dignified
l^an saucy.

HENS.

Sharp intelligent head,
strong slightly curved
beak; taper leg; small
comb, with numerous
serrations, and quite
upright ; prominent

breast ; very hard feather.
Body tapering to the tail,
but round in hand.
Straight breast ; gay and
bold carriage ; flat foot ;
and close tail.

FOWLS. Ill

Colour.

Black Breasted Reds.

COCKS. hens.

Deep, rich, red and Brown body, each

maroon plumage ; black feather shaft being light ;

breast, thighs, and tail, light breast and hackle.

DUCK-WINGED.

Very light straw hac- Nutmeg body ; silver
kle and saddle ; black hackles ; and salmon
tail, breast, and thigh; breast,
copper saddle, and duck
wing; with the Mallard
colour.

There is also the Silver Duck-wing. All red, or
copper or salmon, is a mistake in these birds.

Piles.

Red and White. Ginger and White. The cock
most distinctly marked, as the saddle and wing
should be heavily splashed with the darkest shade
of the colour. The tail should be mixed, all the
rest of the body should be white. The hens must
have less white. Nearly the whole of the plumage
should be covered with a rich deep cream colour,
and it is especially desirable white should not pre-
dominate in any part of the body.

lid FOWLS.

There is another Pile, formerly common in Wor-
cestershire, coloured' like the preceding, with this
difference, that black feathers are intermixed almost
artistically with the other plumage.

Bbown Reds,
cooks. - hens.

Black and red striped Very dark brown,
hackle and saddle ; black with an indistinct under
tail ; black breast, richly shade of gold just visible
striped or shaded on here and there; gold
every feather with bright striped hackle,
brown; very deep red
and maroon wing.

Black and Whites merely require to be perfect in
colour. There are other breeds and other shades,
but it is not necessary to go into detail with them ;
aU that is necessary is to have the cock well dubbed.
All the birds in the pen to match scrupulously in
the colour of their legs ; and to observe the same
care in selecting hens that will be fitting mates for
the cock.

BANTAMS.

Golden and Silveb Sebbigh^.

Well formed double Double comb of mode-
Gombi full of points, rate size; plumage cor-

FOWLS,

118

HENS.

rectly laeed throughout ;
dear tail, having only
the black tip ; blue legs ;
round body ; full breast,
proud carriage.

COCKS.

quite firm, and straight
upon the head, piked
behind, and the pike
turning upwards. No
hackle or saddle feathers.
Hen, tail, without the
suspicion of a sickle fea-
ther, deeir of any mixture
of colour, save a black
tip at the end of each
feather. Breast very
prominent, head carried
back, and the wings
drooping till they nearly
touch the ground. Blue
legs ; each feather accu-
rately laced.

Gahe Bantams.

These must be coloured like Game Fowls. They
must also resemble them in shape, carriage, and
hardness of feather. The cock must not droop his
wings. He must carry them up dose, and must
have the bold carriage of the Game, instead of the
strutting gait of the Bantam. The hen must ex-
change the loose feather, round head, and quiet

I

114

FOWLS.

matron-like air of the Bantam hen, for the close
feather, hard body, snake head, serrated single comb,
and somewhat fierce look of the Game hen.

In Black Bantams, all should have clear, small,
white deaf-ears, small red double combs; and the
cocks should have very long sickle feathers. In
both Black and White, single and double combs are
equally admissible, in both also the cocks must have
streaming tails. The white deaf-ear is not so im-
portant in the white as in the black.

MALAY.

COCKS.

Strong beak ; pearl
eye ; naked throat ; hard
skinny flace ; roimd,
hard, and scantily fea-
thered body; firm flat-
tened comb ; cross, point
of breast and wing, red
and naked. Large head,
slightly erected neck,
sloping body, and droop-
ing tail ; clean legs.

HENS.

Same point as in the
cock, except that the tail
is carried more upright,
but not as in other fowls,
and is more scanty.

FOWLS.

115

BRAHMA PO OTRA

Dark.

HENS.

Bodies delicately pen-
cilled all over. Silver
hackle ; deep body ; yel-
low legs, well feathered ;
pea or single comb.

COCKS.

Pea or siagle comb;
the former preferred.
The breast black
speckled with white ;
thighs black ; hackle
and saddle light; tail
black, and spreading at
the end like that of a
black cock. Yellow legs,
very well feathered,
deep breast; very full
hackle.

Light.

Cocks and Hens alike, but the coek frequently
less marked than the hen. Entirely white plum-
age, save the tail and flight feathers, which are
black, and the hackle, which is black striped.
These should also have well feathered yellow legs,
and either pea or single combs. The under feathers
of these birds should be dark.

116 ^^^^'•

TECHNICAL TERMS,

USED IN DESCBIBING POULTRY.

9

HackU.—'I^Q feathers growing from the neck, »»
covering the shoulders, and part of the back.

Saddte.^'Those growing from the end of the back,
and falling over the side.

2^^,^^.— The silky feathers on the thighs and hinder
parts of the Cochin China Fowl.

Duhbing.— Cutting off the comb and giUs of a cock.

Tail coverts. — The feathers that grow on either side
of the tail. These are longer than body feathers,
and shorter than those of the tail.

Flight, — The last five feathers of the wing.

Vulture-hocked. — ^Feathers growing from the thigh,
and projecting backwards below the knee.

FOWLS. 117

THE FOUNTAIN.

y the use of them many diseases in Chickens
^® avoided, as although there is an ample supply
^ water, they cannot get into it.

The plan of this Fountain is so simple, it is
^■"^ost impossible it can get out of order, and the
workmanship throughout being of the best charac-
ter, durability may be depended upon. To fiU it the
screw A is removed, and the plug B put in ; when
tlie screw is replaced tight, and the plug re-
^oved ; the water then flows clear into the trough C,
keeping it fuU nearly to the brim, so long as any
remains in the reservoir ; the trough is sub-divided
oy partitions D, to prevent the birds of any kind
from getting into it. The Fountain should be
emptied and i^fiJJed every day.

113, Mount areet, Orosvenor Square.

BAILY'S

|lonp anb €mMm spills, for jfolols.

It has long been desirable to possess a cure for that
bane of the Poultrv-vard, the Roup, and after being sub^
mitted to ever jr and tne most severe tests, these Pills have
accomplished it. The first symptom of the disease is a
laboured breathing on the part of the fowl ; the skin below
the lower bill is in^ated and emptied at every respiration.
In this stage of the disorder one pill given every night
makes a care in a few days. In extreme cases, where
the nostrils are stopped, the head swollen, and the bird
offensive, it is well to wash the head, face, and eyes with
vinegar and water every morning, and administer one
pill every night If the case prove very obstinate, two
pills may be given every third night instead of one, but
this is seldom necessary.

Where fowls are drooping, without an^ visible malady,
one pill every ni^ht for two or three nights will remove
every unfiivouiable symptom. In all cases a dose of one
table spoonful of Castor-oil should be given six hours
before the first pill.

Fowls returning from Exhibitions should always be
treated with the oil, and then with pills, for two or three
days, and in all cases fed ^tirely on oatmeal slaked with
warm water.

JOHN BAILT,

113, MOUNT STREET, LONDON

Price 88. per Box, or by Post St. 4(L

BAILT'S

REGISTERED POULTRY & PHEASANT

FOUISTTAINS.

PRICES ;

Fourteen Quarts 17*. 6d. Seven Onarta Ufa.

Throe Qurta 13t.6d.

PHEASANTS ANB FHEASANTRIES.

A very plain, practical, and concise work

on the above,

BY JOHN BAIL Y.

Price Is. By Post Is. Id.

1