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No 7. WHITE-FACED BLACK SPANISH.
As bred by Jos. M. Wade, C. H. Edmonds, A. M. Halsted,
E. C. Newton, and others.
CHAPTER IX.
ON ARTIFICIAL EGG-HATCHING.
To this subject I propose devoting some few pages,
though the process is little understood in America,
and less practised among us. For myself, I have not
attempted to hatch chickens by artificial heat, except
in an experimental way, and have never succeeded in
it, satisfactorily. Yet it is done — in England, France,
Holland, and Belgium — to advantage, at the present
time ; and in some countries it has long been practised
to good profit, while the business of artificial hatching
is being looked into somewhat in this country, latterly.
The Egyptians have for centuries hatched chickens
in enormous numbers, by means of artificial heat, in
ovens, in steam-heated casks, etc. But we have not
yet reached this point in the advancement of ‘ the art,”
and there are no poultry-raisers yet in this country who
undertake thus to multiply domestic fowls, to any great
extent.
Monsieur De Reaumur desired in his experiments,
long years ago, “ that some method might be found out
for hatching chickens in a great quantity, at pleasure,
121
122 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
that would not require heavy expense, that might be
easily practised in the country by the simplest rustics,
even, and which might form an agreeable amusement
to other classes there ; to all who take a pleasure in the
variety of sights and operations the poultry-yard af-
fords; to those who delight in furnishing it in plenty
with fowls of different species; to those who, if asked
why the care thus taken should not be as reputable as
that which we employ in cultivating plants, trees, and
flowers, in a garden — would not hesitate upon their an-
swer; to those, in short, who, being apt to think that
this subject is ennobled by its utility, think also that
animate beings— such as birds — may furnish more
satisfactory observations to a philosophical mind, than
those that merely vegetate.”” And he concludes that
‘“‘ the care of multiplying fowls would thus become an
employment worthy of such naturalists as have in a
superior degree the talent of observation, that of con-
triving experiments, and the constancy necessary to
pursue them, to widely beneficial results.”
Mr. G. K. Geyelin, of London, visited France a few
years since, under the auspices of a large English
Poultry Company, for the purpose of examining into
the modes pursued there in multiplying fowls in great
numbers; and in his subsequent report to his associates,
he mentions having met with four different plans in
vogue, in France, for artificial incubation ; which,
though said to answer well there, are yet (in his judg-
ment) “ far from being applicable to hatching in a com-
mercial point of view. It matters indeed very little
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 123
what system is adopted, provided the heat is maintained
at an even temperature: to obtain this, various regula-
tors have been invented, but none of which can as yet
dispense with personal care. They all say that their
regulators are perfect ; if the temperature of the room
can be kept at the same degree of heat during incuba-
tion, that then they can regulate the heat of the incuba-
tor, to any given degree. But as such conditions of a
uniform temperature are impossible to maintain, (con-
sidering the variations in the temperature of the atmos-
phere) he considers artificial hatching too expensive for
ordinary purposes, and only to be adopted at certain
times of the year; and then only in establishments
where the heat can be maintained at a uniform tem-
perature, day and night, by personal care. He adds —
“At the Jardin des Plantes, in Paris, the manager
of the poultry department, M. Vallee, employs an ap-
paratus of his own invention, which he has patented,
and for which he has obtained prizes at two exhibitions.
The principle consists of water, heated by means of a
lamp, as a medium for hatching; the temperature is
regulated by admitting more or less cold air by means
of a valve opened or closed by a mercury float.
“At the Jardin d’Acclimatization two systems of
artificial incubation are in use, and although both are
on the hot-water principle, yet they differ materially ;
the one is heated by means of a lamp and the tempera-
ture regulated by a valve admitting more or less cold
air, which is effected by a piston acted upon by the ex-
pansion or condensation of air under different tempera-
-
124 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
tures ; the other consists merely of a zinc box covered
with non-conducting materials. This apparatus re-
quires neither lamp, regulator, or thermometer, the hot
water is renewed every twelve hours, and it is said to
answer admirably. The eggs are placed in a drawer
underneath the water tank, but I cannot help thinking
that with an-atmospheric temperature at or below
freezing-point, it would be very difficult to prevent the
rapid cooling of the water.
‘The last system of artificial hatching is that shown
me by M. Manoury, at Mouy. It consists of an ordi-
nary wine cask lined on the inside with plaster of Paris.
In this cask several trays with eggs are suspended, and
the top of the cask is provided with a certain number
of vent-holes for admitting air, which is regulated by
means of vent-pegs: the cask is surrounded to the top
with a thickness of about four feet of horse manure.
Though I am assured that this principle answers well,
I entertain serious doubts about it, for the same reasons
as before stated.”
In this connection, we may say that in our own ex-
periments in artificial incubation, we made use of the
** eccaleobion”’ patented in 1850 by a Norfolk County
mechanic ; which proved alike a very simple, and an
unsuccessful affair, in our hands. This contrivance
consisted of two large cylindrical tin vessels, one of
which was so constructed as to set inside the other,
leaving a space of about three fourths of an inch
around the entire circumference and base of the smaller
vessel. This space was filled with common whale oi,
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 125
and this liquid was heated, from the flame of a triple-
tubed spirit lamp, (attached underneath the bottom of
the outside vessel,) to the requisite temperature, 100°
to 103° Farenheit. Into the inner compartment, upon
racks inserted for the purpose, we placed (at a time)
three or four times, from a hundred to a gross of fresh
laid eggs, lighted the lamp, covered the top, and set
them to hatching. Ina few instances, we found live
healthy chickens, at the expiration of twenty-one days
from the sitting. But the number of chicks obtained
was so trifling, in comparison to the quantity of eggs
otherwise used up in the process, and the constant
vigilance found to be necessary: to keep the temperature
of the heated oil just right—night and day — was
such that we abandoned the object sought, through that
process, in disgust.
More successful, however, has proved the newly in-
vented apparatus of Americans for artificial chicken-
hatching, which have been improved, and latterly per-
fected by Messrs Jacob and Henry Graves of North .
Market street, Boston. These ‘‘ improved incubators,”
have now been in operation under the inventor’s super-
vision at the place named, over a year, I think —and I
have seen a good many nice chickens hatched out with
this contrivance. It has also been successfully in use
in Pennsylvania, during the last year. The patentee
describes this invention in the next chapter, and it may
be seen in operation at his place, where he informs us
it has worked very satisfactorily, thus far. It has been
patented.
126 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
By the Egyptian method of hatching eggs, in ovens,
the estimate is made that over a hundred millions of
chickens are hatched out, annually. But the difficulty
after incubation, is the rearing of the chicks. An Eng-
lish author on this subject says that “ being in London,
I was driven to Cheswick by a friend, to visit Mr.
Cantelo’s “ hydro-incubator,’ and it astonished me, to
see at an inclement season, chickens of all ages, from
those just emerging from the shell to that of being
ready for the table, each in perfect health, and in such
rude health as I had never seen. There had been
reared, in one building, at one time, over 1300; all to
be disposed of, from the London poulterers’ shelves,
and still not equal to the demand. The advantages of
this mode are that they have no hen-mother to drag
them through the wet ditches, or to trample them to
death, and they have no hens or larger chickens to peck
at them ; they have their artificial mother, kept up to
the temperature of the natural mother; and it is be-
yond conception, how they will adhere to the warmth
of this mother, prepared for them, and run in under the
woolen cloth, as if it was natural to them. Each age
has its separate compartment, with an opportunity, in
fine weather, of passing out to a grass-plot; and you
will see them enjoying themselves in the open air, and,
when at all chilled, returning to the artificial mother,
and making themselves perfectly comfortable.
“The hatching apparatus is a table, the upper part
of which is kept up to 106 degrees, and is padded with
Indian rubber ; the eggs are placed in a tray, with per-
e A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 127
forated bottom, and laid on a woolen cloth, and raised,
to come in contact with the rubber, which sinks and
covers the eggs as much as the natural mother is sup-
posed to do; thus nature is represented as nearly as
possible. After incubation, the artificial mother con-
sists of a number of heated pipes, about an inch and a
quarter in diameter, and about the same distance apart;
beneath these pipes is a sliding-board, which is always
at such a height as to allow the backs of the chickens
to touch the pipes, and is gradually lowered as théy
increase in size. This board is removed and cleaned
every day, or replaced by another, which had served
the day before, and had been cleaned and aired during
the twenty-four hours preceding ; above the pipes (about
an inch) is another board, similar to that below, from
which descends a curtain in front of the mother; this
board serves the double purpose of economizing the
warmth, and preventing the chickens from dirtying
each other ,—and the young chickens having been
once placed beneath this mother, will only leave it to
eat, drink, and exercise, and return to it, of their own
accord. The patentee, Mr. Cantelo, has had equal
success In rearing turkeys, pea, and guinea fowl ; and,
although I have seen ducks in all quarters of Great
Britain, I have never seen, in one lot, so fine a col-
lection as those produced by the Hydro-Incubator.
Having, on my journey, visited the great aviary of the
Earl of Derby, I there found the Incubator in its per-
fect working state, and was informed by his lordship’s
intelligent curator, that it was most valuable for hatch-
ing out the eggs of foreign birds.”
Titi
TETTIAUIOHV TOG GLSAEAUALANUVONDITAEEOLITATIOCIUIIAVSNONSCUULECENCLITTAASETANTOEL
GRAVES’ IMPROVED INCUBATOR.
CHAPTER X.
PATENT INCUBATORS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
The inventor of the above raised during the year
1870 several fowls, hatched out in this machine, and he
says of it—‘ It isa well known fact that all Incuba-
tors hitherto brought before the public have failed to
accomplish the work desired ; the reason of this being
a lack of uniformity of incubating heat. We claim in
our improvement, a uniformity of incubating heat ;
which we obtain by the expansion and contraction of
spirits and mercury, acting on floats which are.attached
to levers; these being so constructed, that when the
spirits and mercury expand, it lifts the levers, thereby
diminishing the blaze of the lamp, and also opening
valves connected with the ege-drawer, whereby the hot
» airescapes. The heat necessary for hatching chickens
is from 95° to 105°; but from 100° to 103° is the de-
sired heat. Our machine is so constructed, that when
the mercury reaches 100°, the lights on the lamps be-
128
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 129
gin to diminish. Should the heat continue to increase
in the egg-drawer, and the mercury rise to 103°, the
light is shut off, so that there is no heat from the lamps.
Should the heat in the egg-drawer go above 103°, the
valves connected with the ege-drawer are opened, and
the hot air passes off, thereby cooling the ege-drawer ;
and as the heat diminishes the valves close, and the
light is let on to the lamps. Should the temperature in
the egg-drawer go below 100° the blaze increases, on the
lamps, thereby bringing the temperature back to the de-
sired point. It will be seen at once that we have a self-
regulating machine. This is what has been sought for
for many years, and without which no incubator is suc-
cessful.” These gentlemen have also what appears to
be a very good artificial mother which they sell to ac-
company their Incubator, for the brooding of the newly-
hatched chicks, and which is heated and the temperature
guaged the same as in their Incubator, so that any de-
sired heat can be maintained. With these artificial
mothers and incubators are forwarded full directions for
putting the machines into working order.
The Incubator of A. M. Halsted, of Rye, N. Y., is
another American invention, the proprietor of which
states that it is the result of years of study and careful
experiment. very year brought some improvement.
Success attended the working of his machine, and with
the first one, even, imperfect as it then was, three-
fourths of the eggs placed in it were successfully
hatched. Until the aparatus was simplified, however,
it was deemed prudent not to place it in the hands of
130 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY BOOK;
LS=S=
Hite
NM ces |
ll ill
HALSTED’S INCUBATOR.
those who had not made artificial incubation a study.
The inventor considers his machine so simple, that per- -
sons of ordinary intelligence can manage it, and the
owner claims several points of superiority over other
incubators, for this invention. Experiments have
proved in the hands of several poulterers who testify to
its utility, that it promised to be one of the most
reliable artificial egg-hatchers yet brought to the notice
of the public. |
The Artificial Mother accompanying Mr. Halsted’s
Incubator is a very good one, and has been made, after
many experiments, to answer its purposes admirably.
John C. Welles, of Athens, Pa., H. B. Todd, Mott
Haven, N. Y., J. H. Fry, of New Brighton, and others
have tried, and very highly commend it. We insert
cuts illustrating both these inventions, but the article
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 131
explaining them did not reach us in time for insertion.
We are indebted to this inventor for the most sensi-
ble and lucid paper on this subject we have yet seen,
and regret that our work was so far advanced, upon its
receipt, that we cannot publish it, entire.
Mr. Halsted has satisfied himself, however, from long
and patient experience, it appears, that artificial hatch-
ing cannot be rendered satisfactorily successful with any
invention as yet matured, except the machine be in the
hands of those who understand, and are disposed to
study the process, faithfully. He adds— “JZ can, with
care and attention, hatch 75 out of 100 eggs, in my
Incubator. But I will not warrant that another person
can hatch a single one, with mzne or any other Incuba-
tor; since one day’s mismanagement, while in process,
proves fatal. The difficulty is that “directions ”’ cannot
be followed by the inexperienced. It is like commenc-
ing a new language; and when the novice comes to ap-
ply terms, the result proves unintelligible, and con-
fusion follows. The absolute regulation of temperature
is an exceedingly difficult matter to compass ; and long-
tried experiments have proved, to my satisfaction, that
we have not yet, in this country, reached even the rudi-
ments of artificial incubation, with any show of cer-
tainty. 1 know (because I have proved it individually)
that artificial hatching can be accomplished. But that
it ever will become a frequent or common method, I
doubt. While therefore, I frankly state that — alone,
and by itself—the incubator is a failure, compara-
tively, still as an aid, I deem it invaluable, in finishing
132 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
what the hens begin, as thus: after allowing your hen
to sit 10 days upon the eggs, remove them to the
Incubator, and set ‘another clutch under her. She will
continue to cover three or four settings. You can
complete her work in the machine; and your chicks will
come out strong, healthy, free from vermin, and none
are trodden to death. Then comes in the usefulness of
the “ Artificial Mother,’ which requires little care, and
HALSTED’S *““ARTIFICIAL MOTHER.’’
no study to manage. After five years’ trial, I repeat it,
I would never be without thts machine, if I could pro-
cure or make one. My success has been constant and
perfect, and I thus raise one-fourth more chicks. A
mother such as I use costs but $10. The size above
represented is 20 inches wide, 42 inches long, and 15
in greatest height. This will hover and raise 50
chickens, and will last for years. Others have tried it
successfully, and I recommend it, from personal
knowledge of its utility. But whoever attempts to use
an Ineubator, to any extent, as a means of hatching
chickens, from the outset, must first inform himself,
thoroughly, by patient study and care, as to the details
of its rightful management—to make its use success-
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 1383
ful.” As Mr. Halsted is himself an inventor of one of
these machines, this opinion is certainly a candid and
valuable one.
The ‘ hydro-incubator ” of Mr. Cantello, of Chiswick,
has attained to some degree of popularity in past years
in England, but it has been found by experience in all
countries, save Egypt, (where the warm climate aids
them in their oven-hatching process) that it is the rais-
ing of the chickens after hatching, that becomes trouble-
some. They need the natural mother’s care, and the
‘* artificial mothers ” don’t answer — thus far — though
that of Mr. Halsted, and Mr. Graves, portrayed above,
seems to our view to be the best we have ever seen.
The inventors of Cantello’s hatching machine claim
that only twelve to thirty per centum of the chicks
hatched by this invention, can be brought up. A one-
tray Cantello’s machine, they say, will produce on an
average seventy-five birds to the hatch — eighteen times
in a year—or 1,350 fowls, A two-tray incubator will
give 2,700 a year, and soton. But no provision is pro-
posed except through the artificial mother, Qwhich in
their case is often a failure,) to bring up the chicks.
And in this respect we incline to the opinion that arti-
ficial hatching by any means in our cold uncertain
climate, cannot be rendered successful to any extent.
Mr. Graves and Mr. Halsted are very confident how-
eyer, with thei inventions, and they have already raised
and matured a good many chickens. If they can make
their Incubators work, regularly, and if these “ artificial
mothers” prove reliable— they have accomplished an
134 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
important thing indeed, for the poultry interest in
America. |
How readily these machines, or any other for artifi-
cial incubation, may be adopted by poultry-raisers in the
United States, remains problematical ; but upon a mod-
erate scale, as is indicated in the articles furnished us
by the inventors, the contrivances both of Mr. Graves
aud Mr. Halsted certainly promise well, and are much
the best of any *‘ incubators ” which have had their birth
in “ Yankee invention,” and have died for lack of pa-
tronage among us in the past twenty years.
The Report of Mr. Geyelin, from which we have
quoted the four modes of artificial hatching adopted in
France, gives a further account of the “ dive hatching
machine ’’ used in several places, there — which process
has been also adopted with success by a few breeders in
the West,and in Pennsylvania within the past five years.
This is but the natural way of hatching — turkeys being
used instead of hens. Mr. Geyelin says upon this point
that this » |
- “Natural hatching differs from what I ever saw be-
fore, and in some parts of France forms a special trade
carried on by persons called Couveurs, or Hatchers.
They hatch for farmers at all times of the year at so
much per egg, or purchase the eggs in the market and
sell the chickens as soon as hatched, from threepence to
sixpence each, according to the season of the year.
This system may aptly be called a living hatching ma-
chine ; and in my opinion it is the very best and cheap-
est way of hatching, as will be seen by the following
description :-— |
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 135
The hatching room is kept dark, and at an even tem-
perature in summer and winter. In this room a num-
ber of boxes two feet long, a foot wide, and a foot six-
inches deep, are ranged along the walls. These boxes
are covered in with lattice or wire work, and serve for
turkeys to hatch any kind of eggs. Similar boxes, but
of smaller dimensions, are provided for broody fowls.
The bed of the boxes is formed of heather, straw, hay,
or cocoa-fibres, and the number of eggs given each tur-
key to hatch is two dozen.
At any time of the year, turkeys, whether broody or
not, are taught to hatch, in the following manner: Some
addled eges are emptied, then filled with plaster of
Paris, and placed in a nest; after which a turkey is
fetched from the yard, placed on the eggs, and covered
over with lattice. For the first forty-eight hours, she
will endeavor to get out of her confinement; but soon
becomes reconciled to it, and then fresh eggs are sub-
stituted for the plaster of Paris ones; they will then
continue to hatch without intermission, from three to six
months, and even longer; the chickens being withdrawn
as soon as hatched, and fresh eggs substituted. After
the third day the eggs are examined, and the clear ones
are withdrawn, and sold in market. These turkeys are
taken from the nests once a day and fed — the nests
cleared of excrement, and thus they are kept busy for
months. After a time they cease to feed of themselves,
and are necessarily ‘ crammed ’ with food and water.”
The writer visited several different places in France,
where this turkey-sitting process was largely carried on
136 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK.
— jin one place (that of Mr. Auche, at Gambois,) noting
sixty turkeys there thus occupied. Often a hundred are
so employed on a single place. These birds seem to be
so fond of this sitting process, that instances are re-
ported where they sit constantly for five or six months,
the chickens as they come being taken away, and raised
under “ artificial mothers,” or glass, subsequently. The
sitters are said to grow fat too, during this long period,
and are very steady in their work, after commencing
— appearing rather to like the ease of this monotonous
occupation.
The setting of turkeys upon hens’ eggs, may undoubt-
edly be rendered largely profitable, in producing chick-
ens for early marketing, from the facts above quoted,
since double the number of eggs can be placed under
each bird, at a sitting. This is so much gained, in point
of time ; and if the chicks thus hatched are looked after
with care, from their birth, a majority of them can easi-
ly be brought up to marketable size and condition — of
the ordinary varieties of barn-yard fowls. For the mul-
tiplying of fancy stock and good breeders, however, the
hen-mother is the only sure thing to begin and end with,
in our confirmed judgment.
nan
tl
BLAM
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th 463
Mayi/ i
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i]
A MODEL (MALE) SHOW BIRD.
CHAPTER XI.
POULTRY EXHIBITIONS AND SHOW-FOWLS.
To the eye of the initiated, the above spirited en-
eraving will at once suggest the copy of a capital por-
trait of a perfect Cochin or Shanghe cock, at from a
137
138 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
year and a half to two years old, in fine plumage and
high condition. The general form is that of a fine
Dark Brahma, but its color better represents the Buff or
Partridge Cochin bird. We consider this a very faith-
ful likeness, however, of a first-class male representa-
tive of the Chinese race, and an admirable model of a
crower for the Show-pen; executed for us by Bricher
and Conant, in their best style.
The original establishment of Poultry Societies,
for the amusement of enthusiastic breeders, the im-
provement of the domestic feathered race, and for the
Exhibition of, and competition in, the various strains
and varieties of Fowls bred by fanciers, amateurs, and
dealers, dates back some years, in England — where
premiums were first awarded to those who contributed
what were deemed by the judges to be the best repre-
sentatives of the different kinds of birds thus bred, from
year to year. In this country, Fowl Shows are of a
more recent date—the first one of any magnitude
having occurred in Boston, Mass., about twenty-one
years ago; which was inaugurated at the Public Garden
by the author of this Book, in conjunction with Dr. J.
C. Bennett, Rev. Mr. Marsh, Col. Jaques, Dr. Eben
Wight, Mr. Alden, H. L. Devereaux, Capt. H. H. Wil-
liams—and a few other gentlemen, which proved a
great success. The first Poultry Society in America
was then formed, and other similar associations sprang
up subsequently, in New York, Rhode Island, Connecti-
cut, &c. Latterly, the New York State Society has
taken the lead, in this direction, in this country.
.
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 139
In Massachusetts, the New England Poultry Club,
centering at Worcester, has been in successful operation
a few years, and in the spring of 1871 another new
society was formed at Boston, by a number of eastern
breeders and fanciers, who thought the ‘ hub’ the most
appropriate place for their exhibitions; from the fact
that it is the Capitol of the State and is more conve-
nient for the shows of the association —all the Massa-
chusetts and New England railways entering and
verging from that city. The gentlemen connected with
this enterprise are well known among the lovers of
good poultry, and several of them have not only bred
fowls carefully, but for a good while ; and no doubt they
will so conduct the affairs of the “ Massachusetts Poul-
try Association ”’ as to cause it to aid in the furtherance
of the important objects generally contemplated and
proposed by these excellent societies. When properly
and rightfully managed, these can be made the media
of wide-spread good, and are conducive to real improve-
ment in the character and production of poultry. The
advantages of such associations are too often turned to
the especial account of individuals, or cliques, however —
it is to be regretted; an error in management which
we trust may not creep into the conduct of the newly
organized ‘ Massachusetts Poultry Association ;’ and
a reasonable guarantee against which mistake is af-
forded at the outset in this Society, in the selection of
its officers — Messrs. Philander Williams, W. J. Under-
wood, EH. C. Comey, Henry F. Felch, C. Carroll Loring,
Geo. B. Durfee, John B. Moore, J. N. Cady, HE. L.
140 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
Rice, Nath’l. Foster, John P. Buzzell, Jacob Graves,
Col. Geo. A. Meacham, Mark Pitman, C. E. Tuttle, C.
L. Copeland — and other enthusiastic breeders, gentle-
men of integrity and good standing in the business
community. This society was inaugurated under highly
favorable auspices.
The production of specimens of different kinds of
Fowls merely to compete for prizes at our Poultry Ex-
hibitions, now-a-days, will scarcely remunerate the fan-
cier for the requisite outlay for stock, the subsequent
necessary care that must be given such birds, and the
attendant expense that inevitably occurs first and last,
in bringing the birds to the Show-room in the best con-
dition and most acceptable shape, to compete for offered
premiums. The benefits derivable from these exhibi-
tions, nevertheless, which are realized by such breeders,
seem to be satisfactory, since through this means from
time to time they may be successful in carrying away
the prizes ; and the notoriety thus obtained, ensures the
fortunate premium-takers abundance of orders for this
same stock, subsequently. |
Now it is scarcely to be expected, (and every one,
upon a moment’s reflection, can see the force of this
assertion,) that any breeder of poultry can deliver to
order, at call, precisely such birds as are thus given the
preference at these exhibitions, unless he disposes of
the identical individual specimens to which are ac-
corded these premiums. And this result is not attained,
ordinarily, except at enormous figures; since the suc-
cessful competitor uniformly ‘ puts his bes¢ foot fore-
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 141
most,” in this sort of thing, and naturally, too; and he
must rob himself, to accommodate a patron, in comply-
ing with the other’s ambitious wishes. The same
stock, of course, can be purchased, and occasionally,
this turns out equal to the prize specimens. But, as a
rule, amateurs can scarcely obtain in this “‘ same stock,”
exactly such fowls as bear off the palm at the shows.
The “ Poultry Bulletin,” a well conducted monthly
publication, under the auspices of the N. Y. State
Society, has spoken repeatedly and fairly upon this
point, and in a late issue upon the subject of raising
“‘ fancy’? Poultry, with a view to its paying, merely, the
editor says, aptly —‘“ half our fanciers do not care
whether it pays or not, and the care, study and ex-
penses of journeys undertaken for the sake of the
birds, if added to their cost, would demonstrate that
poultry keeping, to the real fancier, is anything but a
paying business in nine cases out of ten.” And he
adds that “ the razsing of poultry, or any kind of fancy
stock to be successful, must be conducted with a sensitive
love for the kind of stock bred, and a fellowship with
others of similar tastes. Breeding fancy poultry, etc.,
to sell, will not do. Money may be made by it, for a
few years, but reputation, never. After a fancier once
establishes the reputation of his strains of blood, from
careful breeding and good success in winning prizes, he
can get very remunerative prices, for all the good stock
he has to spare.” And this result is the leading object
to be attained in owning or breeding specimens ‘ up
to the standard’ for the prize-pens. Indirectly, this
142 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
specialty contributes largely to the general welfare and
improvement of Poultry, of course; but it is attended,
as the Bulletin suggests, with heavy outlay, care, study
and labor, to compete successfully, and is usually ac-
complished by the few “fanciers who do not care
whether it pays, or not.”
While, therefore, the good effected in its way by this
means cannot be denied, it ought not be, nevertheless,
either the province of the general breeder, or his pur-
pose, to aim only at producing show-birds. Few of
these premium fowls are duplicated, as we all know, by
this time. And if a fortunate strain of blood be gained
possession of, it should be bred clean and purely, and
followed up — without admixture with other varieties —
for results that will tell at large, in the end. In sup-
port of this theory, or principle, we have only to point
to the unrivalled success of the well-bred Brahmas, the
Shanghes, Games, Dorkings, or Black Spanish Fowls,
forexamples. These birds have always been in demand,
from the outset, and they will continue to be sought
after for general use, in our judgment, long after the
present producers of these unexceptional true varieties
pass beyond the pale of poultry-breeders !
The emulation incited through the establishment of
these poultry associations and their annual or semi-an-
nual exhibitions, is altogether commendable, however,
in the main. They bring together the best stock in the
neighborhood for comparison side by side, and the soci-
ety-principle keeps the breeders in friendly communica-
tion with each other (or ought to do so) whereby they
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 143
may readily compare notes, and excel their neighbors,
if possible, from year to year. The prices maintained
at these shows for good fowls, are kept up to paying
limits, and those who originally spend their money
time and brains upon this kind of undertaking, are thus
enabled to obtain remunerative returns for their in-
vestments and labors toward improving the general
poultry stock of the country ; since successful contribu-
tors are now required to bring the quality of their birds
up to a high mark — to win.
The breeding of good stock is in consequence reduced
to avery fine point, with some fanciers among us. I
have noticed the recent published accounts of one
elaborate raiser of Brahmas, who has elevated it to the
“‘ nedigree ”’ system — Mr. J. K. Felch, of Natick, Mass.
His birds have been very successful in the show-room,
and are noted for good size, color and truthfulness, gen-
erally. This nicety in the genealogy of poultry may an-
swer to amuse the enthusiastic fancier who indulges in
its observance, and it may prove sufficiently interesting
to him to pursue its ramifications, and attend to the
records it involves. But its utility is,in our humble
judgment altogether equivocal, in ageneral way. Still,
for original breeding-stock, such birds as the Brothers
Felch produce and offer ‘“ with a pedigree,’ may be
most desirable to certain purchasers. For ourselves,
however, we agree with the editor of the Bulletin, that
“the fowls must stand or fall upon their individual
merits, when they come into the ring ;” and though this
furnishing of a pedigree for poultry (which no one cares
144 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
to dispute or to inquire into,) may serve the purpose of
such ticketed stock, it is of no mortal use, certainly, to
- the general purchaser. The fowl bought is either a good
or an indifferent one; and a paper record of his ances-
try makes him no better, no worse, surely. Yet this
hobby of Messrs. Felch has proved no disadvantage to
them — naturally ; and their laudable aim appears to be
to breed steadily quite up to the required standard. In
an earlier chapter on the subject of purely-bred stock,
we refer to the manner of “ Topknot,” who permits “ all
varieties of fowls to run together in the fall and win-
ter,” promiscuously. Such breeders as Messrs. Felch,
for example, we opine, would hardly run this sort of
risk, and then undertake from succeeding hatchings of
eggs of their stock, to furnish pedigrees very confidently !
In reference to the “standard of excellence ”’ estab-
lished in England in late years, and followed generally
in this country latterly, much discussion has eventuated ;
and in the fall and winter of 1870-71, certain leading
poulterers connected with the New York State Society
conceived that a revision and refining of this scale of
points in fowls was advisable, to be adopted as the fu-
ture required American standard, exclusively. A con-
vention was called, but it was subsequently announced
authoritatively that parties had made so many protests
against adopting the standard, as revised by the Poultry
Convention, on the ground of incorrectness in descrip-
tions, the committee appointed to revise the same have
determined not to take the responsibility of putting it to
press, and propose another convention in May, 1871.
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A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 145
It seems that the wide difference of opinion current
as to the merits and demerits of certain nice points in
color, conformation and other characteristics of the
leading breeds of poultry is so apparent, and so much
can be said on both sides, as to straight-combs, pea-
combs, and straw-colored saddles in Brahmas, for in-
stance, and fifth-toe or no fifth-toe in Houdans, muffs ‘or
no muffs on other pure varieties, etc., etc., that no defi-
nite agreement can be arrived at, among the savans in
the chicken trade, upon this interesting subject. For
ourself, we think this matter of ‘standard’ is brought
down to a pretty fine point already, on this side of the
Atlantic. And without designing hereby to criticise the
ideas or opinions of any individual, anywhere — we can-
not but respectfully suggest that the refining process,
in this direction may be “run into the ground.” easily,
and would suggest that to our view it is very well, as
it 1s.
For the reasons given, however, we are of opinion
that Poultry Societies and their public shows are bene-
ficial; albeit there has heretofore existed abuses in con-
nection with both, that have not been creditable to those
who have controlled these affairs simply for their own
agerandizement, or for the benefit of the selected few
who enjoy the privileges of certain rings. A sensible
‘old farmer” at Ambleside, N. Y.,in a late communi-
cation, indicates that in the Empire State, an extraordin-
ary degree of interest has latterly been evinced through
the influence of the New York Poultry Society, upon the
subject of improving the character of the common fowls
146 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
around him. He says: “Through the efforts of the New
York State Poultry Society, many farmers not only in
this, but other States, have already been aroused to the
importance of improving their poultry, and have sectred
thorough bred males to cross with their own fowls,
have also built houses and yards for their poultry and
small coops for their hens and chickens, and have shut
chicks up at night, and kept them from the rats and out
of the wet grass. Those who have done this have been
agreeably surprised at the result; their fowls, (ever
from the first cross) are increased in size at least one
third. The pullets are better layers of larger eggs, and
in place of raising thirty per cent. of their chicks, they
now raise seventy per cent. I see there are many new
Poultry Societies forming in different states, and that
the people are awakening to the importance of the ben-
efits that will arise from the improvement of poultry.
At the third exhibition of your Society, held in Decem-
ber last, I was much gratified to see the great improve-
ment made by professional breeders of thorough-bred
poultry. They there had turkeys weighing 37 lbs.
each, geese 27 lbs., ducks 10 lbs., and fowls 10 to 12
Ibs.
“Tt may be far in the future, but I believe the time
is coming when every farmer will have his comfortable
poultry house, and his choice poultry, and will look upon
them as one of the blessings that God has given him to
be taken care of and improved. When this time comes,
the farmers’ poultry and eggs will be of better quality,
and will average more than twice their present weight,
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 147
and be cheaper than any other food. The benefits of
caponizing will then be better known and practiced by
all, as there is as much difference between the flesh of a
capon and cock, as there is between steer beef and bull
beef. If the merchants and gentlemen of wealth, who
now think poultry of so little consequence as to be un-
worthy of their notice (unless it is cooked) would look
upon it in the light it deserves, and encourage and aid
the Poultry Societies, then the good work would pro-
gress, and the results would soon be manifest.”
We may all join in the expressed hope of this com-
mon-sense ‘ old farmer ” that such results may soon be
brought about, generally. It is the influence that these
societies exert upon the mass of poultry-raisers, that is
of vastly more importance to the universal good, rather
than whatever benefit may accrue to the few individuals
who go in for the ‘ highest premiums,’ with one or two
or half-a-dozen fancy specimens, which ‘ can’t be beat,”
nor duplicated either! And so while we will do all
that in us lies to promote the growth, advancement and
success of the poultry Societies, and their shows, let us
not forget that the true aim of such institutions should
be not merely to improve fowl stock for the fancier and
amateur, but to disseminate among the farmers of the
land this improved stock — at reasonable rates ; and so
contribute to the benefit of the community at large, as
well as to the national wealth of our country.
— =>
LIGHT BRAHMAS.
CHAPTER XII.
VARIETIES OF POPULAR FOWLS.
Thus far we have endeavored to point out in concise
and plain language, the better general course to be
followed in the selection of eggs, hatching chickens,
feeding and rearing the young birds, breeding older
fowls, furnishing poultry houses, raising poultry and
egos for market, and briefly regarding the production
of poultry through artificial incubation. We proceed
to consider the qualities and merits of the different
varieties of popular fowls at present sought after, and
now bred in the United States.
As will be seen in the pages which follow, we are
148
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FowLs. 149
under obligations to American breeders, in different
parts of the country, for many of the tasteful and re-
liable illustrations which adorn our Poultry Book, with
accompanying descriptions and valuable hints from
these contributors, as to the character and qualities of
the beautiful portraits furnished us. In one word —
these gentlemen individually will please accept our ac-
knowledgments, here, for their favors ; which are appre-
ciated by the author, and we are confident will be
quite as well valued by the readers of this volume.
We commence our consideration of the merits and
qualities of popular.modern poultry, with what we con-
sider the leading race, or variety, in this country —
as it is, and has been for many years, also, in Eng-
land—to wit, the Chinese, or Asiatic Fowl; and at the
head of this list, we unhesitatingly place the justly
famous ‘‘ BRAHMAS,” a variety that has enjoyed an un-
exampled popularity, for twenty years. We call them
by this name, now, because this has become established
by universal consent and usage. Yet, as the fact is
well known, my own fowls of this splendid variety,
were the first ever brought to public notice, both in
this country and in England. Originally, J called them
‘““Gray Shanghes,”’ for the simple reason that they
were gray in color, and most of my first pure stock
came direct from Shanghe. Subsequently, other speci-
mens turned up, and certain breeders then ambitious
of notoriety, through mystification, trumped up the
name of “ Brahma Poutra”’ for this superb variety.
This title was found difficult of pronunciation, however,
150 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
and it came to be changed, in various ways, directly.
Different poultry societies and different dealers spelled
it Bramerpooter, Bralhmapootra, Burrampouter, Buram-
peotra, Bramapoota, Brahmapootra, Bramah, and in a
dozen other ways —and finally we have it conveniently
reduced to * Brahma.” Let it stand! It is a good
fowl, and not a bad name. Weare content.
The true Brahma fowl is clearly of Chinese origin.
The tasteful cut at the head of this chapter, represents
a pair of KE. C. Newton’s stock. All the characteristics
of this magnificent bird, like the ‘ Buff,’ or ‘ Par-
tridge ” or ** White”? Shanghes which have reached us
in the past twenty years, are identical, save in color
alone. Wo specimen of either of these varieties (now
called ‘ Cochins’’) has been shewn ever to have seen
Cochin China, or “ the Brahma-putra, a River, that dis-
charges its waters into the Bay of Bengal,” as one late
writer has stated it.
This is entirely immaterial, however. They came
from the East, “and were first seen in New York,”
says this same author, “in 1850.” Now the record
shows that in 1849, ’50, I purchased from ‘ Asa Rugg’
(Dr. Kerr) of Philadelphia, for twenty-five dollars —
at that time deemed a very remarkable figure for
two chickens —a pair of large gray fowls, which then
were called ‘ Chittagongs.” They were feathered
legged, plumage clear white and black, like the Brahmas,
and were undoubtedly the same variety of Chinese
birds we now have here. Shortly after this, I procured
from on board a ship direct from Shanghe, half a dozen
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 151
other gray fowls, which were enormous in size, but
fanciers said *‘ too white ” at the time. I bred them all
together a while, and then I sold the two original grays,
and they were bred by Dr. Bennett, in Plymouth, Mass.,
with his duff Shanghes. The first progeny came white
and black, and had a slight top-knot, some of them;
but were considered very handsome and uniform fowls.
The owner placed them in the second Boston Fowl
Show, then called them ‘“ Burampooters ;” they took a
prize, while my gray fowls also took another, as “* Gray
Shanghes ;” and, from that beginning, sprung the
stock that was for years afterwards known the world
over as “ Gray Shanghes,” or ‘“‘ Brahmapootras.”’ Mr.
Cornish, or Mr. Hatch, had fowls of this stock (similar,
in every particular) at this same show, I think. But
all were fine, and we all succeeded subsequently, very
satisfactorily with our fine ‘Gray’ or‘ Brahma’ fowls
and their progeny.
Cut No 3 is a good representation by H. Weir, of a
cock and hens, of the light Brahma fowls I had the honor
_ to send to Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain; of
which this stock are the exact counterparts, in great
size, perfection of color, superior laying qualities, and
all the desirable properties of good poultry. The London
Illustrated News, in noticing the arrival of the Queen’s
poultry in England, said “they are a very choice
consignment, and the largest domestic birds known, at
the time of their shipment by Mr. Burnham from Amer-
ica, these weighing over twenty-two pounds the pair!”
The following acknowledgment of these Brahmas, is
$52 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
From Hon. Col. Phipps, H. B. M. Secretary.
WInpsor Caste, Ena., 1853.
Dear Sir :—
The cage of gray Shanghe fowls intended asa
present from you to her Majesty the Queen, has this
day been received from Mr. Mitchell, of the Zoological
gardens, and they have been highly admired by her
Majesty. Ihave received Her Majesty’s commands to
assure Mr. Burnham of her appreciation of his attention,
and to add that it affords another addition to the many
marks of good will from citizens of the United States,
which the Queen has received, and to which Her Maj-
esty attaches so high a value.
I have the honor to be
Your ob’t and humble servant,
C. B. Pipes.
A few weeks afterwards, the author received another
letter, accompanying a beautiful portrait of the Queen,
and referring to this cage of Brahmas (through her
Majesty’ Secretary of the Privy Purse, Hon. Col.
Phipps,) as follows : —
) BucKkINGHAM Pauacg, Marcu 15, 1853.
Geo. P. Burnham Esq. Melrose, U.S. A.
Dear Sir: —I have received the commands of her
Majesty the Queen to assure you of her Majesty’s high
appreciation of the kind motives which prompted you
to forward for her acceptance the magnificent Chinese
Fowls which have been so much adimired at her Majes-
ty’s aviary at Windsor. Her Majesty accepts, with great
pleasure, such a mark of respect and regard, from a cit-
izen of the United States.
I have, by her Majesty's command, shipped in the
“ George Karl,’ to your address, a case containing a
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. a
portrait of her Majesty ; of which the Queen has direct-
ed me to request your acceptance.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your ob’t and humble servant,
C. B. Puiprs.
This extraordinary stock has bred for years with
marked fidelity — in color, size, form and other. charac-
teristics, and thousands of superb samples have been
sent by me all over the United States, and to England,
Canada, France, Bavaria, Lisbon, Cuba, &c., where they _
have uniformly given the highest satisfaction. They are —
as fine this year and last, as ever —and will be found
altogether unexceptionable.
I could add largely-to these commendatory letters, by
printing several received from those to whom this strain
of fine poultry has been forwarded latterly from my
yards ; but I will conclude the opinions on my Light
Brahmas, with the following communication, acknowl-
edging the receipt of three cages of this variety, which
I shipped south in April, 1871.
From Hon. kh. B. Bullock, Governor of Georgia.
ATLANTA, Ga., APRIL 8, 1871.
Dear Sir. — The three cages of Brahmas you sent
me, arrived safely this day, in fine order. They appear
in good condition, are very handsome birds, and | am
highly pleased with them. One coop I send to my plan-
tation, one lot I retain in town, the third is for a neigh-
bor. I shall most cheerfully recommend your fowls
and establishment to my friends, and am
Yours truly,
Rurvus b. Butwock.
G. P. Burnuam, Esa.
154 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
On pages 156 and 157,I give admirably executed —
portraits of a cockerel and pullet, of well-bred Light
Brahmas, about ten months old. The feathering of this
pair of young fowls is very perfect, and those who ap-
preciate this nicety of plumage, will find on examina-
tion of these two pictures, that they represent the color
and markings required by the “ standard of excellence ”’
established in this country and in England — quite ac-
curately delineated, though the form of both is not of
course fully developed, at the age presented in these
two cuts. The qualifications required by the‘ standard’
referred to, are, for the Light Brahma Cock — head
white ; neck white, with distinct black stripes down the
centre of hackle feathers; breast, body and thighs,
white; back and shoulder-coverts, white; primaries,
black ; legs, bright yellow, fringed to the middle toe
with white feathers, or slightly tinged with black. Hen,
white — similar in details; neck to be distinctly striped
on the hackle feathers with black ; breast and back,
white ; thighs and fluff, clear white; legs yellow, well
feathered to toes — like the cock.
The pair of fowls delineated on these two pages are
very correctly drawn, and will serve the nice fancier for
a good model to imitate—if he desires to breed up to
the standard.
On the history of the original Brahmas, Mr. W. B.
Tegetmeier F. Z. 8., in his London “ Poultry Book,” a
magnificent and altogether reliable work, says ‘ There
is not a particle of evidence to show that they came
from India. The banks of the Brahmapootra have
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 155
long been in possession of the British, at least the
lower part of the course of this River, and no such fowls
were ever seen in that locality. In fact, the Brahmas
originated not in India, but in America. The light
Brahmas undoubtedly were identical with those Gray
birds that in the first importation came from Shanghe,
and public attention was first called to them in conse-
quence of an acute American fancier, Mr. George P.
Burnham, presenting a consignment to Her Majesty ;
and these birds were. subsequently exhibited by His
Royal Highness, the late Prince Albert, at the London
and other Shows, as “ Brahmas.” * * * These light
Brahmas, with pure white or cream-colored bodies, and
elegantly pencilled hackles, were in great favor; they
were universally admired for their beauty, and esteemed
for their good qualities, when suddenly a new variety
sprang upon the scene. A pair of birds were shown at
Birmingham, which were sold for 100 guineas. These
were dark in color, and different in general character ;
they were the first Dark Brahmas seen in this country.
These birds were subsequently figured in the “ London
Field,’ having been drawn by Mr. Harrison Weir.’’*
On this subject of the Brahma fowl, Mr. Saunders,
the author to whom I just now briefly referred, in his
work on “ Domestic Poultry,” speaking of Mr. Baily
of London, the eminent breeder, says that Mr. B. in-
forms him that “he has imported and bred the Brahmas
* Portraits of these original Dark Brahmas, (which Mr. Burnham sent to
Mr. Baily of London, ) thus accurately described by Mr. Tegetmeier, taken
from Mr. Weir’s picture, will be found among the tinted illustrations in our
book.
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LIGHT BRAHMA PULLET, TEN MONTHS OLD.
_ 158 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
for two years; and that they differ in many points
from the Cochins, with which they are sought to be
identified.” This information from Mr. Baily must cer-
tainly have been given this author a long time ago, in-
asmuch as J sent out to London a cage of Brahmas,
which were exhibited at the Birmingham, Eng., Show,
in 1853, “one pair of which, from Mr. Burnham of the
United States, the property of Mr. Baily, of Mount
street, shown among the extra stock, were purchased
from him by Mr. Taylor, of Shepherd’s Bush, at one
hundred guineas —”’ says the record ; and in the month
of September, 1870, (last year) I received a letter from
Mr. Baily, in which he writes me, among other mat-
ters, thus: “I continue to breed from the progeny, the
old type of “ Brahmas” you sent me, as you may have
observed, from the fine birds I have sent to Mr. P.
Williams, and others, in the United States.” Now Mr.
Baily has been breeding these fowls steadily for fifteen
or sixteen years. And the fine Brahmas he has thus
returned to the United States, (bred out of my stock,
with others,) have taken first prizes, repeatedly, as their
parents did, before them, at the principal shows in
America, in the last four years— Mr. P. Williams’
splendid samples frequently bearing off the palm, lat-
terly, as among the best.
Mr. Mark Pitman, of Salem, who has enjoyed a large
acquaintance with, these fowls, and who with Mr. J.
Graves of Reading, Mass., has a splendid stock, in a
communication to the N. Y. Bulletin, thus states what
he knows of the Brahma’s origin; which coincides, in
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 159
the main, with the facts I have always claimed, from
the beginning. Mr. Pitman says “the Dark and Light
Brahmas as originally bred, have both nearly the same
origin, and are the product of the union of the Buff
Cochin hens with the Grey Chittagong cock. They were
not imported, but bred first in this country.” And
upon this point, I first stated years ago, (in another
work of mine on Poultry) the following facts, which
the editor of the Bulletin kindly quotes from that book,
in a previous number of his paper. ‘“ The variety of
fowl itself was the Grey Chittagong, the first samples
of which I obtained from ‘ Asa Rugg ’(Dr. Kerr) of
Philadelphia, in 1850. But my friend the Doctor (Ben-
nett) wanted to put forth something that would take
better than his “ Plymouth Rocks,” and so he consulted
me as to a name for a brace of gray fowls I saw in his
yard. I always objected to the multiplying of titles;
but he insisted, and finally entered them at our Fitch-
burg Depot show (in 1851) as “ Burrampooters ” all
the way from India.
‘¢ Those three fowls were bred from Asa Ruge’s Gray
Chittagong cock, with a yellow Shanghe hen in Ply-
mouth, Mass. They were then “ Burrampooters.” Sub-
sequently these fowls came to be cailed ‘* Burampootras”’
‘¢ Burram Putras” ‘“‘ Brama-pooters,”’ “‘ Brahmas,” etc.”
‘An ambitious sea-captain arrived at New York
from Shanghe, bringing with him about a hundred
China fowls, of all colors, grades and proportions. Out
of this lot I selected afew gray birds, that were very
large, and (consequently) ‘“‘very fine,’ of course. I
160 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
bred these with other gray stock I had, at once, and
soon had a fine lot of birds to dispose of, to which I
gave what I have always deemed their only true and
appropriate title (as they came from Shanghe,) to wit,
Gray Shanghes,” and to these corroborative facts I
shall briefly refer. again, in these pages. I never
claimed aught but this: that my Gray Shanghes, or
Brahmas were the first bred in Massachusetts, and the
first (of both Light and Dark) that were sent to Eng-
land, from America. As to where I procured my stock
from time to time, subsequently, (and 1 bought a good
many fowls, I remember, in those days!) it is surely
not of the smallest consequence, now. Mr. Pitman
continues, as follows: —“ Mr. G. P. Burnham, who sur-
prised not only the Royal family of Queen Victoria, but
all the breeders of fowls in England, by his present of
an clegant lot of Light Brahmas to her Majesty, saw in
the Darks still greater remuneration, and eagerly pur-
chased, disposing of them, at what might even now be
termed fabulous prices. This variety at once took the
lead of all others, even of the long esteemed Dorking.
From this importation, many of the large breeders of
England and Ireland were supplied; but wishing to im-
prove them if possible in size and color, those old
sagacious breeders crossed the hens with the black-breasted
Dorking, the only bird which would give the qualities
desired ; and this progeny was bred back again with the
Dark Brahma cocks sent from this country; so that
‘now weare receiving from Great Britain, not the original
Darks, but the improved. A gentleman who visited
those old establishments a few years after the first birds
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 161
were sent from the United States,* was in time to de-
tect this cross, which undoubtedly was intended to be
kept secret; and at once observed the change in size,
the black breast, and actually saw the fifth toe.”
SL
Seas
vA
DARK BRAHMA HEN. G. P. BURNHAM’S STOCK.
*I presume that Mr. Pitman intends here to intimate by the words “‘ first
birds sent from the United States’’ of this variety, that they were mine:
though the language is rather ambiguous.
162 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
As to “ purchasing ”’ Grays, after a time, I did so very
generously — from among the birds I had sold as
chickens, or which were raised from eggs I supplied to
scores of fanciers in this country, when the demand for
the Brahmas was at its best. And I had to pay for
these purchases, roundly, too !
On this subject of the Brahmas, Mr. Tegetmeier says
that Mr. Burnham sent into England, the first Brahmas
ever seen there. And Dr. Wm. Custe Gwynne says, in
this same work, page 177, “a circumstance which con-
firms me in my view as to the identity of these birds
(the Brahmas) with the Shanghe breed, is the fact that
the fowls previously presented to Her Majesty, by Mr.
Burnham under the name of ‘ Gray Shanghes,’ are ad-
mitted by Dr. Bennett, (the author of the name ‘ Brahma
poutra,’) to be precisely similar to his own.”
This is true also. Dr. Bennett originated the name
of “ Brahma poutra;” he bred my first pair of old gray
fowls, when I got the second lot; and he says that my
Brahmas, (or Gray Shanghes) and his Brahmas, “ are
precisely similar.” . . . Thus much for thisname. And
in the other poultry work to which I have alluded (Mr.
Saunders’,) under the head of ‘‘ Cochin-China Fowl,”
(which, by the way, is illustrated with a fine picture of
heavily-feathered-legged Shanghes,) it is stated that
‘“‘the Cochins were first possessed by Queen Victoria,”
&c. So they were. But the ‘ Cochin-China” fowls
first possessed by her British Majesty, were no more like
the present birds called “ Cochins,” or like this illustra-
tion in his work, than they were like the Malay, or
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 163
Game fowl—nor half so much; for they were tall,
gawky, smooth-legged birds, as every one knows, who
ever saw the originals; and the exact history of which
we give in the next chapter.
Referring to the remarkable hardiness and general
useful qualities of the Brahmas, the Editor of the Can-
adian Poultry Chronicle strongly recommends this breed
to farmers, for a stock fowl — since they have been tried
in that cold country, thoroughly. The writer in the
above named Canada paper says, ‘* much has been writ-
ten about which breed is most profitable for the farmer
to keep, and it will not be denied that there are some
breeds possessed of such general characteristics for use-
fulness, as to render them more suitable and better adapt-
ed to the farmer and general breeder than others. That
which combines within itself large size, good laying and
flesh-forming qualities, and hardihood, requiring the
least amount of care and attention either in chickenhood
or maturity, will at once be admitted to be the most suit-
able fowl for the farmer. He wants not only a good
supply of eggs during the year, but also meat for his ta-
ble, or for the market. It is useful, not ornamental
fowls he requires; although if both are combined in the
same breed, it becomes a still greater favorite. We
have no hesitation, then, in saying that the Brahma fowl
possesses all these qualities, and many others beside ;
and that of all the recognized breeds of fowls, this is the
best adapted and most suitable to the farmer.
‘¢ It is not our intention to draw distinctions between
the respective breeds of fowls, nor to seek to elevate the
164 BURNHAM'S NEW POULTRY-BOOK 3
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LIGHT BRAHMAS. BURNHAM’S IMPORTED STOCK.
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 165
one to the disadvantage of the other, but merely to show
wherein the Brahma is the most suitable fowl] of all others
for the farmer to keep. The great size of the Brahma,
at once renders it an object of attention. In this respect
it surpasses all other breeds. Hens in their second year
with moderate care, will weigh from 8 lbs. to 10 lbs.,
and cockerels from 13 lbs. to 14 Ibs. each. The quality
of the meat is also good; when tolerably fed it will be
found almost, and very often quite equal to the Dork-
ing. There is probably a little less meat on the breast ;
but this is compensated by the extra quantity of that on
the thighs; indeed, many people think the leg of a
Brahma cockerel one of the best parts of the bird. If
the object of the farmer is simply to produce chickens
for the table or market, then a cross between the Brah-
ma and a Dorking cock will produce truly magnificent
fowls ; the largest, perhaps, that have ever been reared.
Chickens thus bred, have at the age of six months, at-
tained the weight of 18 lbs. the couple, and over — no
mean matter for the farmer’s consideration.
‘* Asa laying fowl, the Brahma is, in our opinion,
equal to any other breed. There is no doubt that the
propensity to sit interferes considerably with the pro-
duction of eggs. Notwithstanding this, the fecundity of
the hens and pullets is very great. Brahma pullets will
lay with great regularity at six to seven months old, and
usually sit within two months after. They may thus be
made exceedingly useful, where a regular supply of early
birds for the market is desired. Indeed, no breed so
eminently possesses the regularity and certainty in the
166 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
time of incubation, without carrying it to a troublesome
excess. It is also remarked that the hen in her second
year lays much longer than the pullets, and in this re-
spect makes the fowl as a layer, far superior to nearly
any other.
-“ After the second year the tendency to incubate be-
comes greater, and increases with age. We would,
therefore, recommend that hens, after the third year
should be got rid of; nor indeed is there any necessity
to keep them any longer, as pullets can always be had
to supply their places. In connection with the produc-
tion of eggs, we may mention another cross with the
Brahma well worthy the attention of the farmer, that is,
between a Brahma hen and a Spanish cock. This cross
produces a fowl which for average fecundity surpasses
any and every fowl we know.
‘¢ Altogether, then, we consider that the Brahma pos-
sesses a greater amount of usefulness and value than
any other pure breed, and is also capable in an eminent
degree, of communicating its good qualities to other
fowls by crossing; and for this reason we strongly
recommend it to the farmer as a stock fowl.”
The Light Brahmas are so widely known, at this
time, and good stock has become so generally distribu-
ted over this country, that we need only refer those who
desire to purchase, to almost any dealer, for these
fowls. But, in the west, Mr. E. C. Newton breeds them
finely, and G. W. Felter,in Ohio. Wade and Henry,
Phil’a., and I. M. Harvey, Chicago, Ill., C. N. Palmer,
Gallipolis, Ohio. In New York State, J. Y. Bicknell,
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 167
& Co., E. J. Taylor, Waterloo, D. L. Stage & Co.,
Schenectady, C. A. Mayers, Auburn, D. C. Noxon,
Beekman, A. Nelson and others at Buffalo, Isaac Van
Winkle, Greenville, N. J. In Connecticut, all the
breeders have choice light Brahmas, as well asin Massa-
chusetts and Rhode Island. I. K. Felch, Natick, E. C.
Comey, Quincy, Philander Williams of Taunton have
LIGHT BRAHMA HEN. WADE AND HENRY’S STOCK.
very choice stock of this breed. Mr. Saunders, on
Staten Island has a superior strain, also. Ezra B.
Dibble, of New Haven, is among the foremost Connecti-
cut breeders of light Brahmas, and his prize stock,
with which he took first premium at the last State
Show, there, were pronounced as fine samples of this
168 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK.
favorite race as ever were seen in that region; where.
this fowl is bred —as a rule —to great perfection. Mr.
D. is a very careful breeder, and is satisfied only with
being at the head of the list, in the line of specialties
to which he now devotes himself— the finest Chinese
varieties, principally.
G. P. Burnham of Melrose, and C. H. Edmonds of
same place, think they have as good samples of this
breed ascan be found. Also, G. H. Champney, Taunton,
C. Carroll Loring, Boston, and J. C. Ives,Salem. They
keep and breed only from the best samples — uniformly.
Portraits of this strain—of the same blood as that
sent by Mr. Burnham to her Majesty Queen Victoria,
may be found in this volume, see illustrations.
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MODERN ‘* COCHIN.’’ QUEEN’S **COCHIN.”’
CHAPTER XIII.
THE ORIGINAL *‘ COCHIN CHINA.’’
We place the above two drawings in juxtaposition,
for convenient comparison by our readers, and we pre-
sent a description of this much talked-of variety with
pleasant recollections, since it fell to our lot to intro-
duce the famous Queen’s Stock of ‘ Cochin Chinas’ into
the United States, as is very well known. In view of
the fact that the name of the author of this “ New
Poultry Book” is inseparably connected with the
original of this variety also, which came. through his
importation into America, we feel competent to describe
them, accurately. This name has been variously used
among us, for twenty-two years past, but within a few
169
170 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
years it has come to be generally accepted simply as
*¢ Cochin.”
In Tegetmeier’s celebrated modern “ Poultry Book,”
in reply to the oft-repeated query “‘ Are Cochin China
and Shanghe Fowls the same?” he answers “ we have
always entertained the opinion that they are; as we
have invariably found that fowls imported from China,”
(of any colored plumage, dark or light,) ‘‘ came from
Shanghe, or its vicinity.” And thus this able authority
upon the subject of poultry concludes that “ Cochin
China is a name altogether misapplied ” to the Shanghz
fowl.
This accomplished author is unquestionably reason-
able in his opinion, and he adds, forcibly, that “ this
conclusion amounts to conviction; since Mr. Robert
Fortune, who has passed so many years in various parts
of China, says ‘‘ the man who first gave these fowls”
(the Shanghes) “ the name of Cochin China, has much
to answer for! J firmly believe that these two are one
and the same. What grounds,” asks Mr. Fortune,
pertinently, “‘has any one for supposing these fowl
ever saw Cochin China? Itisa breed very little known
in the southerly parts of China, and the Southern
Chinese were as much struck with the size of this
breed, as we were.” Mr. Fortune adds that the Shanghe
breed are more common around that port and vicinity
than elsewhere, though he has seen them all over that
part of the country ; “* while the Southern breeds have
long been known, but there is nothing marked in thee
character.” And we may here appropriately add to ~
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 171
this, briefly, our own experience with the Simon-pure,
renowned, much lauded, original Queen Victoria Cochin
Chinas, which as everybody knows we first imported
into the United States.
In the previous chapter, appears the Queen’s letter in
reference to my Brahma fowls. In addition to this flat-
tering compliment from Royalty, I give place to the fol-
lowing pleasant communications I received previously,
from distinguished* Americans to whom I forwarded
samples of my early ‘“ Cochin” China fowls. These
gentlemen were supposed to be good judges of live stock,
and the author deems their opinions sufficiently disin-
terested as well as valuable, to reproduce them in this
volume—even at this late day. And I publish the let-
ters which follow, simply because I desire to show that
twenty years ago samples of my original imported
Cochins went into the hands of such well known gentle-
men ; who, in addition to their other vast store of knowl-
edge, knew what good poultry was, and who appreciated
these fine birds, which were bred from the Queen’s stock.
From Gov. George N. Briggs.
My DEAR Sir:— The cage of Cochin-China chickens you were
kind enough to send, reached me in safety; and Iam much obliged
to you for this favor.
They are, beyond comparison, the finest domestic fowls I have
seen, and I shall breed them with such care that I hope to be able to
give you a good account of them in the future.
They are very much liked by all who have seen them, and you will
please accept my thanks for your attention.
I am, respectfully, yours,
Gro. N. BRIGGS.
PITTSFIELD, MAss., 1851.
172 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
From Hon. Henry Clay.
GEO. P. BURNHAM. Esq.
My DEAR Sir. —I duly received your obliging letter, informing me
that you had sent by the Express of Messrs. Adams & Co., a cage
containing four fowls for me, and I postponed acknowledging it until
the fate of the fowls should be ascertained. I have now the satisfac-
tion to advise you that they all reached here safely.
They have been greatly admired, not only for their enormous size,
but for their fine proportions and beautiful plumage. I thank you,
my dear sir, most cordially, for this very acceptable present. It has
been my aim for many years, to collect at this place the best improv-
ed breeds of the horse, the cow, the sheep, swine and the ass—
though the last, not the least valuable, in this mule raising State.
To my stock on hand your splendid Cochin-China fowls will be a
congenial and valuable addition; and, if we succeed with them, I
will take care not to monopolize the benefit of them. I am greatly
obliged to you, and,
With high respect, I am
Your ob’t servant,
ASHLAND, 1851. H. CLAY.
From Hon. Daniel Webster.
Gro. P. BuRNHAM, Esq.
DEAR Sir.— The coop of chickens arrived safely, and are noble
specimens of the Chinese fowl. You will rarely meet with samples
apparently so well bred, and they will do any one credit. I thank
you for the consignment, and consider them a most valuable addition
to my stock of poultry. Accept my best wishes, and believe me, dear
sir, Yours, very truly,
DANIEL WEBSTER.
MARSHFIELD, 1851.
Late in 1848, I sent out an order to England for half
a dozen of these fowls ; for 7 was unfortunately then one
of “* the men frantic after Cochin Chinas,”’ and was the
first American who imported any of the Queen’s noted
Cochins into this country, by a year or two, at the least.
In 1849, I learned the following facts, namely :
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 1738
Three of the Queen’s famous Cochin China stock,
which had so stirred up the people in England, had been
exhibited, and had taken the gold medal prize at the
Royal Dublin Show, and were then presented by Her
Majesty to Lord Heytesbury, the Lord Lieutenant of Ire-
land. His Lordship had placed these fine birds in the
hands of J. Joseph Nolan, Esq., of Bachelor’s Walk,
Dublin, to breed. I sent to Mr. Nolan, who exhibited
the first pure bred Cochins in England, and from him
direct I obtained two cocks and four pullets. One cock
and two pullets were very good birds, the other three
were indifferent. They were dark partridge-colored fe-
males, and red and brown males. I bred these first
(and a second lot, which I procured some time after-
wards, direct from Canton) and their progeny, for years
subsequently, adopted the name of ‘ Royal Cochins”’
for them, and realized very handsomely upon them.
They turned out finely (the progeny, I mean,) they were
extraordinary layers, quite uniform in dark partridge-
colored plumage, and took prizes again and again at the
fairs, both of my own raising, and those raised from
my stock by others; but they always came full black-
eyed, always showed the darkish colored limb, and al-
ways (never failing!) came with entirely smooth legs!
This was the ‘“* Queen’s Cochin China,” which I procured
direct from Mr. Nolan, who bred her Majesty’s stock,
which I subsequently bred in Roxbury and Melrose for
years and years; and which is illustrated in this late
‘‘ Domestic Poultry Book,” with a pair of short, hand-
some, heavily feathered-legeed Shanghe birds, and de-
nominated ‘* Cochin-China.”’
174 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
see tepiy
Now we hear of the “ Buff” Cochins, the “ Partridge”
Cochins, the ** White’? Cochins, etc., and the poultry-
show Committees award premiums for birds thus named.
This is all right enough, since everybody agrees to it.
This Cochin is a good name, too. Letit pass. I do
not object to this change, or the improvement. But I
state facts. 1 have imported and bred these Chinese-
Shanghz-Brahma-Cochins for over a score of years ;
and I may be permitted to claim that I know something
about ‘* originals,” I think.
‘Having stated thus much in a general though some-
what personal way, we will now take up the character
of this extraordinary race of Chinese fowls as we find
them to-day; and, adopting the name given one strain
by Dr. Bennett, snd the other as improved by the fiat
of the Poultry Societies in England and America, point
out their many excellences and intrinsic merits — con-
tent with the fact that the Eastern fowl is the best in
the world, all things considered, and that
‘The ROSE by any other name, will smell as sweet.”’
In order, however, that the readers of my “ NEw
Pouttry Book” may judge for themselves how nearly
like to either the “ Brahmas,” or the present so-called
“ Cochins,’ were the original Cochins, of Queen
Victoria’s famous stock, I have caused to be taken
from a copy of the London Illustrated News, the picture
of those fowls, drawn from life by the celebrated Harri-
son Weir, in 1844, when Her Majesty’s Cochin fowls
were first presented to admiring poultry fanciers. By
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 175
reference to the illustration of the Queen’s Fowls, (see
cut No. 2,) and a comparison of this altogether
reliable engraving with any other illustrations in this
work, or any late authority upon this subject, it will at
once be seen that there is no similarity whatever be-
tween these two plainly distinct varieties —to wit,
the original ‘‘ Cochins,” and the present so named
“* Cochins.”
Yet our picture No. 2, is a good and veritable like-
ness of the Queen’s Cochin stock, and is a faithful
representation of my Cochins, already described in this
chapter, which came from Her Majesty’s fowls through
Mr. J. J. Nolan, to me, in 1849. Let the reader com-
pare the two; and then say for himself if the Queen’s
tall, long-bodied, smooth-legged, large-tailed China
fowls of 1844 were Cochins, how appropriately the fowls
of 1860 and 1870 are named “ Cochins!”’ So much for
this misnomer.
Of this much lauded fowl Mr. Dixon, says : “¢ Whether
the breed now under consideration did really come from
Cochin China or not, is probably known only to the
party who imported them, if to him. But they have
been cultivated in this country previously to their intro-
duction to general notice as the most conspicuous orna-
ments of the Royal poultry-yard. A gentleman living
in Monmouthshire, informs me that, nearly thirty years
aco, a friend sent him a cock and hen of the true ‘ Java
breed.’ The cock was so fine, large and handsome,
that he was immediately made ‘Cock of the walk.’
The present stock on the farm, which I have seen, are
176 _ BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
entirely descendants, and are true Cochin fowl; so that
in this case, Java and Cochin, are synonymous. The
first parents of this lot came direct from India. The
legs vary from a flesh-color to an orange-color, and are
not so long as in the Malay; the eggs are buff-colored,
of large size, and blunt at both ends; the chickens
progress rapidly in size, but feather slowly.”
Another writer describes the Cochin cock as having
a large, upright, single, deeply indented comb, very much
resembling that of the black Spanish, and when in high
condition, of quite as brilliant a scarlet; like him also,
he has a very large ear-lobe or ear-cheek. This is not
an indispensable, if even a required qualification ; it is,
however, to be preferred, for beauty at least, if not as a
mark of pure breed. The wattles are large, wide, and
pendant. The legs are of a flesh-color; some speci-
mens have them yellow, which is objectionable. The
feathers on the breast and sides are of a light chestnut-
brown, large and well defined, giving a scaly or im-
bricated appearance to those parts. The hackle of the
neck is of a bright yellowish-brown; the lower feathers
being tipped with dark brown, so as to give a spotted
appearance to the neck. The tail feathers are black,
and darkly iridescent; back, scarlet orange; back
hackle, yellow orange. It is, in short, altogether a
flame-colored bird.” |
©. N. Bement, in his “ American Poulterers’ Com-
panion,” published by Messrs. Harper, states that Mr.
G. P. Burnham, of Boston, communicates the following
in reference to two importations of Cochin fowl by him.
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 177
He says, “I obtained two lots of these fowls — one
batch of six, from J. J. Nolan, of Dublin, and the other
direct from Canton. The prevailing color of my birds
is yellow, or yellowish-brown pullets, and yellow and
red, or yellow, red and brown cocks. They have not
deviated from this range of color except in two or three
broods out of the dark Canton cock. The chicks come
even in size and plumage; and down to the third gen-
eration they have bred exactly the same; this is a very
satisfactory result, in my estimation. Ihave never yet
seen a black, a gray, a white, or a speckled chick from
this stock.
‘For all purposes of a really good domestic fowl,
whether I speak of productiveness, easy keeping, laying
qualities, size, disposition, beauty of form and plumage,
or hardiness (in this climate), after a careful compara-
tive trial, 1 deem the Cochin the best. And to my fancy
they have no equals among the varieties now known in
America.”’*
There is not the slightest objection, at this time, to
the acceptance of the title accorded to these fowls we
are now receiving from England and Ireland, and
which are being so splendidly bred by Messrs. Hicks,
of Roslyn, L. 1. Mr. VanWinkle of Greenville, N. J., D.
L. Stage, Schenectady, N. Y., E. J. Taylor, Waterloo,
Philander Williams of Taunton, Col. Meachem, of
Somerville, J. Graves of Reading, Mass., Mr. Herstine
of Philadelphia, E. C. Morton of Batavia, Hl., J. M.
Wade of Philadelphia, G. W. Felter, Batavia, Ohio, and
*This quoted opinion of mine was given before I had so thoroughly tested
the Brahmas, as 1 subsequently had the opportunity to do.—c. P. B.
178 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
scores of other importers and breeders—and now
called ‘Cochin,’ under the sanction of the poultry
societies.
But we have given an exact history of the original
Queen’s Cochins, in this chapter, (so far as it is known)
and we also give an illustration of those birds, drawn
from life by the best fowl-artist in Europe, Harrison
Wier. These were smooth-legged birds, and bore no
more similitude to those that are called Cochins, to-day,
than they did to any other large fowl that can be named.
Still, they came from the East, and were undoubtedly
really Oriental birds. Possibly they first started “ from
Luckipoor, up the Brama-pootra; a river that dis-
charges its waters into the Bay of Bengal; ”’ for their
origin is certainly very obscure, yet. Of two things,
however, we feel well assured: first, that they are mag-
nificent birds—and secondly, that the Cochin came
originally from ‘up the Brama-pootra river,” as cer-
tainly as ever the Brahma fowl did!
CHAPTER XIV.
OLD AND NEW PARTRIDGE COCHINS.
The first strictly Partridge-colored Chinese fowls I
ever saw, to wit, in the year 1849, were in the pos-
session of the Rev. Mr. Marsh, of West Roxbury, Mass.
This gentleman was a retired clergyman, and had
passed the best part of his middle age, 1 think, as a
Missionary, in China, and returned home well worn in
the service. He cither brought this superb clutch of
Oriental birds with him, or they were sent to him by a
brother Missionary, direct from Shanghe. And_ they
were really unexceptionable in beauty, great size,
uniformity of plumage, and all the characteristics of a
good, and at that period, very desirable fowl.
179
180 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
The descendants of this clutch of genuine ‘‘ Shang-
hes,” imported direct from one of the celestial ports,
and known to be pure, (if such a thing existed,) from
Mr. Marsh’s breeding in 1850, down to a brood of this
stock which 1 met with in Norfolk County last season,
(1870) were strikingly uniform, throughout ; and the
hundreds of fanciers who have in the past two decades
had and bred this noble strain of blood, would readily
recognize these birds, wherever they should see them.
I bred hundreds upon hundreds of this particular
strain of stock, and I sent out to England in 1852, 3,
and 74, a great number of what was then known specifi-
cally as the * Marsh Shanghes,” as did other gentle-
men here, who then bred both the Brahmas and the
Shanghes, largely.
Within the last two or three years, this old Marsh
stock — in no wise changed, in no wise improved, in no
wise different in any one particular of form, size, color,
or characteristics, is coming back tous! The beautiful
“* Partridge Cochins,” as they are now called, which
have been imported from England into the United
States, are identical with the Marsh stock. But they
are a noble fowl. There are none better, standing
above ground to-day, as representatives of this favorite
race.
It may be that English breeders have, in the past ten
years, got out from China, direct, fresh blood of this
variety, to intermix with those sent them so generously
from America, more than a dozen years ago. But
these we get here now are so strikingly similar, in
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 181
every point of excellence, that those who have made
themselves acquainted with the Marsh stock of
Shanghes, at once recognize these birds as akin to that
long-time noted strain of real Chinese poultry.
The Partridge Cochins, owned and bred by E. C.
Newton, of Batavia, Ill., portraits of a pair of which,
appear at the head of this chapter, are very superior
specimens (though the cut is not so large as some
others sent us) and there are perhaps few that equal
these birds, (none excel them) for size, accuracy in
points, and perfection in plumage, on this side the At-
lantic.
Cut No. 1, frontispiece, represents one of the splendid
Partridge Cochins which have carried away first prizes
at our late Poultry shows, deservedly. They are bred
fully up to the mark, and these samples, of which the
likeness furnished is very perfect, certainly are not only
elegant birds, but are at once recognizable by breeders
in New England especially.
This variety of the now Cochin race will average in
weight, as heavy as the best; and if cleanly bred, will
exhibit the partridge feathering as uniformly in a
hundred chickens, as will the Light Brahmas show
their peculiar caste of plumage. And very beautiful
feathering it is, too—clear-cut red, black and gold.
Their form is all that can be desired, in this class of
fowl — compact, well-rounded, full-breasted, short-leg-
ged and not over heavily-limbed, well-feathered to the
toes, small gamey head, upright single comb, medium
sized wattles, short tails and fluffy flanks and sterns —
182 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
on the pullets — altogether as handsome a Chinese fowl
as is bred in the world.
They are good layers, the chickens are hardy, and
easily reared, they come to maturity early, and are de-
scribed by Mr. Newton, as being in habit and size very
much like the Buff Cochins, except being more compact.
The color of the cock is as follows: neck hackle, and
saddle feathers are of a rich bright red, with a black
stripe down the centre of each feather ; back and wing-
bow dark rich red, with a greenish black bar across the
wing; the breast, under part of body and thighs, black ;
tail glossy black. Color of hen is light brown, with
each feather penciled with dark brown; neck same as
in cock; legs of both —dusky yellow. The Partridge
Cochin will ever be one of the most popular breeds of
fowls we have, or can have, if taken all in all upon their
genuine merits, alone, and we speak of this fowl thus at
length because we know it well, and have always deem-
ed it one of the choicest breeds of China blood that ever
came into America. Messrs. Van Winkle and E. J. Tay-
lor, Waterloo, N. Y., Wm. Simpson, Jr., West Farms,
N. Y., C. Brinton, Jr., Chadsford, Pa., and others,
have had a constant demand for chickens and eggs, from
the imported stock of this variety, which at present com-
mand the highest prices generally of any of the fancy
breeds of Chinese fowls in this country. The reader is
referred to the fine portraits given of these Partridge
Cochins, see our frontispiece, and page 184.
I have casually alluded to this variety as one of the
“fancy” breeds. But I fully agree with Mr. Anster
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 183
Bonn, a name well known in poultry annals, that “ in
spite of their high price, etc., 1 do believe these Cochins
to be the best fowls for the poor man, or the farmer,
considering them not as fancy, but as productive stock.
I have eaten a great number of Cochins, and find them
without exception, by far the finest-flavored, best birds
for the table, which we have ever bought, bred, or eaten.”
As this authoritative opinion coincides so accurately
with my own experience, I cheerfully add that Mr. Bonn
does not thus overstate the real value of the Cochins,
for general utility.
Mr. Van Winkle, of Greenville, N. J., whose Part-
ridge Cochins are noted, and whose beautiful illustra-
tions published in the “‘ Hearth and Home ”’ last season
faithfully depict to the life his specimens of this choice
bird, has perhaps expended more money for selected
fowl, (which he has imported from England in late
years) than any fancier in America; and he has been
ambitious to obtain prize birds for breeding from abroad
—without regard to their cost —that should be the
very choicest in the world. And in reproducing this
stock here, he has evinced the highly commendable and
persistent aim to breed only the best of its kind for dis-
semination over the United States; “hoping,” as he
expresses himself, “to see as much interest taken in
this country in the breeding of fine fowlsas in England,
and a better class of table fowls sold in our markets.
It can be done. The demand for first-class fowls in-
creases every year. It costs no more to keep coop than
it does to keep poor fowls.”
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 185
And Mr. Van Winkle is right in this. “It can be
done.” Itis now being done. In this blessed year of
our Lord 1871, the demand for good poultry, in every
direction, was never so great in the United States ; and
American breeders have never before shown, either in
their yards or at the State Exhibitions of New York,
Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Massachusetts and else-
where, so fine a display, in enormous numbers, of
magnificently bred poultry, as has been raised in the
twelvemonth preceding this year of grace.
It is noticeable that the Partridge Cochins imported
by Mr. Van Winkle, and some other gentlemen, from
England and Ireland —of late years—are bred “ to
the feather” more accurately than those of any parti-
colored bird we have ever had in this country, except
the light Brahmas. The pencilling upon the body-
plumage of the hens, particularly, is exquisitely perfect
and precise in the best samples, when sent even from
different yards in England. This shows how skillfully
the thing is managed abroad. The requirements of the
standard of the Societies there are such that, to com-
pete successfully, these strains must be brought to the
show-rooms bred to a very nice point.
But, as we have said, the blood of this variety is very
strong, and we have seen so many hundreds of the old
Marsh stock that have been bred from the original,
purely, down to the tenth generation, all of which come
so true to their illustrious parentage, in form, color,
markings, size, and characteristics, that we have no
doubt these we are now getting, in America, similarly
186 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
bred, in the hands of the experienced parties who have
secured this favorite stock, will continue to produce
their like, continually. And none of the large Chinese
fowls can be found to excel them.
D. L. Stage & Co. of Schenectady, N. Y. have not
created so much stir in the chicken-breeding world as
some of their competitors, but they breed good fowls,
and sell a great many of them. The Dark Brahmas
bred by this firm are from Boyle’s Irish stock,
the Cameron, and the Fry importations. (See cut
page 215.) Their Partridge Cochins are magnificent
birds from C. O. Pool’s importation — well marked, and
of mammoth proportions. Their Buff Cochins are of the
celebrated Cooper strain, a trio of the original of which
sold in N. Y. in 1870, at the round figure of $315.
They have also the Leavitt Stock, very fine. Their
Dominique are superior, from the establishment of
Hon. John Wentworth, of Chicago. And their other
varieties are of the first class. We do not hesitate to
commend this unostentatious concern to the attention
of those who want good poultry, as we believe them
both competent breeders, and reliable in answering
orders —uniformly. Messrs. Stage & Co. inform us
that their orders this season are largely in excess of
those of previous years, and they are breeding very
extensively this year, to supply this increasing demand
for their excellent stock. |
Messrs. Wade & Henry, of Philadelphia, contribute
a few illustrations to our present volume, which depict
their fowls — of which they have an extensive and fine
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 187
collection. They inform us that their Dark Brahmas
are from imported and prize stock, and we have seen a
few samples from their establishment, that are very
large and well plumed. Their Light Brahmas are out
of the best to be had in America, and are equal to the
average of this well known breed. They keep for sale,
and feed it to great advantage (they assure us) to their
own poultry, “ broken fresh bone,” crushed into the
size of whole wheat, of which fowls are very fond; and
of the beneficial results of which, in the feeding of
domestic birds, there can be no question. They have
a fine strain of the Hamburg Fowls, both Gold and
Silver Spangled, which are highly prized for their
beauty of form and plumage. They furnish both fowls
and eges of all the popular varieties, and do a very
large business, in this line. Their admirable “ stone
drinking fountain”? for the hen-house, is illustrated
and referred to in another place. They deal in all the
ordinary requirements and fixtures for the fowl-house
and poultry-yard, and among their stock it is said they
possess the largest and finest variety of pigeons in
Pennsylvania. Of the Partridge Cochins, Messrs. Wade
and Henry have secured some fine specimens of prize
stock, and of them and the Buff, they make a specialty,
the present season, they inform us.
SJ
SS
S
CHAPTER XV.
MODERN BUFF COCHINS.
I have placed at the head of the list of China Fowls,
the ever beautiful Light Brahmas, because after a long
trial with them, under all kinds of treatment — good
and indifferent — this right royal variety of Shanghees
have proved thoroughly unexceptionable; and for
size, weight, comeliness, plumage, and truthfulness
to their originals —they cannot be rivalled, in my judg-
ment.
But the Buff Cochin of the present day, as it is pro-
188
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 189
duced by Isaac Van Winkle, 8S. A. Bassett, Thos. Gould,
Jacob Graves, M. Pitman, J. Y. Bicknell & Co., Wm.
Simpson, Jr., E. C. Newton, Benj. Hicks, D. W. Hers-
tine, G. W. Felter, D. L. Stage, E. M. Wade, and others
in this country — and Messrs. Sturgeon, Potts, Cooper,
Baily, Punchard, Belden and others in England —
ranks among the very highest in estimation, with many
breeders, and perhaps most deservedly, for its peculiarly
rich beauty of plume; while it possesses all the other
desirable qualities of size, form, etc., in an eminent de-
gree, as a ehief and noble representative of the much
lauded and often greatly abused Shanghe, or China fowl.
The superb specimens seen among us of late years, are
certainly very attractive birds. And the portraits given
of these fowls in this work are very fine.
The two next illustrations in our book, are portraits
of a pair of the superb trio of Buffs which took premium
at the late New York Society’s show, and are the prop-
erty of Mr. D. W. Herstine, of Philadelphia. These
fowls are very large and are superior specimens of im-
ported stock. We are informed by Mr. H. that they
have also taken first prizes at several other exhibitions
in Pennsylvania. The proportions of this pair are col-
ossal.
One of the most remarkable single specimens of the
Buff Cochin ever produced, probably, was that of Mr.
Sturgeon, in England—as portrayed in Tegetmeier’s
work. The owner called this splendid fowl “the
Queen ;” and she was quite up to the highest standard
of excellence, in every desirable point. From her and
190 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
others of a similarly first-class character, great numbers
have descended since her time, and the first premium
birds of this variety at the N. Y. State Society’s Show, in
1870, were well up to the mark, in comparison; as all
who saw those extraordinary samples will at once
admit.
The American Agriculturist, whose proprietors of-
fered an extra premium for thzs variety also at that ex-
hibition, says, “ the Buff Cochins are a very attractive
breed, from their immense size, their beautiful and very
uniform buff plumage, their profusion of feathers and
fluff ; and they are useful as winter layers, as good
mothers and nurses, and for their quick growth. The
egos are of fair medium size; the flesh not of the best
quality when old, but very good when eaten as young
chickens, and especially good as broilers of six or eight
weeks old, if they have grown with sufficient rapidity.
The winning group of nine specimens were exhibited by
Isaac Van Winkle, Esq., of Greenville, N. J.”
KH. C. Newton of Batavia, Ill., whose modest cut of
the Buffs is at the end of this chapter, writes that they
‘“‘ are one of the largest and most popular breed of Poul-
try in the country at the present time. They are of a
beautiful golden buff color. Their legs area yellowish
orange and well feathered ; single comb and black tail.
They are hardy birds, and being well feathered, stand
our northern winters without extra care; good market
and table fowls—always in good order and easily fatted ;
great winter layers, good sitters and mothers. They
bear confinement well, and a four feet fence will amply
limit them.”
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 191
The color of the Buff Cochin is more of a golden hue,
than simply duff. The under shade upon the downy or
fluffy portions of their plumage, is paler, but to look at
when in their best feather, they are of a rich luminous
yellow shade—sometimes aptly called “lemon colored.”
This hue is usually even, all over the bodies of the hens,
and none of the China fowls exhibit the soft, downy
fluff so remarkably as do these. Upon the flanks and
stern this peculiarity is very fully developed, and gives
the female a rich, contented, comfortable appearance,
that is seen in none others of the race. In the cock of
this variety, portions of his plumage are red, or darker,
as the wings, neck-hackles, etc., but the yellow color
prevails in both.
In England, for years, the Buff Cochin has been a
favorite, and except when the Brahmas have been put
into the exhibitions in competition for the prizes
(simply “for the best Shanghes,” without regard to
color) it has been with the Buffs that the leading
premiums have been, for the most part, carried off.
‘‘ The extreme neatness of their appearance,” says
Tegetmeier, “more particularly of the hens, the uni-
formity in all the groups, and the quality of the
specimens shown, have combined to justify the awards
of judges, and to secure for the Buffs the preference of
amateurs, generally. And in addition to this, the
breeding birds shown have been brought to equal in
weight those of any other variety.”
A very desirable recommendation to the Buff Cochin,
is, that the fowl be strictly uniform in color, to answer
192 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
the requirements of the present aimed-for standard ; and
the nine fowls exhibited by Mr. Van Winkle were quite
up, in this particular. As to size, those I have scen for
the past two years, here, as well as hundreds I saw in
England, are fully equal, on the average, to the largest
and heaviest Brahmas I ever met with, anywhere.
This is another strong recommendation in their favor.
Americans will never get over their fancy —as a rule—
to possess the biggest fowls to be had. The great szze
of the Shanghees has always been the leading character-
istic which the Yankee breeder most admires ; and no
matter how perfect the Brahma, the Buff, the White, or —
the Partridge Cochin may be, in other respects, if he or
she do not stand well up in the world, and bring down
the steel-yard by his or her generous weight, as well,
nobody wants such a Chinese fowl!
The Buff Cochins will do this. They are very large,
weighty, elegant birds, and the portraits we give of
Mr. E. C. Newton’s, and those on pages 194, 195, give
the reader a very fair idea of this magnificent variety,
which is much sought after this year: than which no
domestic fowls that move (and I do not now forget
my fine light Brahmas) ever yet made a more satis-
factorily beautiful appearance, on sward, in yard, or
walk.
A clutch of well-bred Yellow or Buff Cochins, upon a
bright green lawn, for instance, in the sunshine of a
clear June day, is a goodly sight to see, if we are a
judge of golden beauty, or have an eye for color. In
England I saw hundreds of these magnificent groups,
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A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 193
and the favorite color for Cochins, there, is now the
Buff, as a general thing. All the breeders have turned
their attention, more or less, in this direction, within a
few years, and some superb samples of this variety have
been produced, first and last.
Among the importations that have been made to this
country, the gentlemen whose names I have mentioned
in the early part of this chapter have succeeded in
getting out (at round figures) many superior breeding
birds of this class; and it is very clear, from the active
demand that is current for them and their eggs this
year, that the Buffs will become a favorite color with us,
ere long. You can scarcely do better, than with this
fowl. They are not yet plentiful, latterly, among us,
and good samples are held at high prices, yet. But
they breed rapidly, and the matter of price will quickly
regulate itself.
The following drawing is taken to represent the mag-
nificent Buff Cochin prize-cock of D. W. Herstine, of
Philadelphia — and the hen upon the next page is a
portrait of another of the trio of first premium birds
of this variety, at the last New York Exhibition (1870.)
But these pictures, though they give the general con-
tour of these splendid fowls, do net do Mr. Herstine’s
stock justice, in our opinion. We give place to the
illustrations, however, and with the assurance to those
who want really choice fowls, of this strain, that if pro-
cured of Mr. H. out of thzs blood, they will get finer
birds than these cuts represent; though the pictures
are very fair, in their way.
194 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK 3;
BUFF COCHIN COCK.
195
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS.
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196 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
A breeder in Norfolk County informed me, in March,
that he had sold all the Buff Cochin eggs he dared to
contract to deliver this spring, at ten dollars a dozen,
from a superior clutch of near twenty Buff fowls he
shewed me. And very fine ones they were, too. He
has no Buff fowls to sell, and good ones can only be
had at higher prices than those at which almost any
variety of ‘ fancy’ fowls are selling, this year. But
they may now be had of the New York, Connecticut,
Pennsylvania and western breeders, in this country, as
is indicated in connection with the superior illustrations
contributed to this volume; and, generally speaking,
these gentlemen may be relied on, in their representa-
tions.
Every mother is prone to think her favorite bantling
the prettiest and best in the world ; and chicken-dealers
who become attached to any specialty in their way,
incline similarly to the belief that their Fowls are the
most economical, the most beautiful, the most desirable
to buy, or to breed. If this commendable difference
of opinion did not exist, to stimulate competition, and
keep up a laudable regard for the various fine breeds of
Poultry we have to choose from, there would be little
interest felt in the fowl-trade, to be sure!
And so we speak of this magnificent Buff Cochin
with some earnestness, because we deem it, in every
particular, a rare variety, in its beautiful perfection.
For the present, in consequence of its noted superior
qualities, this fowl will be taken up by fanciers, mostly.
But there is no good reason why it should not be
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 197
bought and bred and multiplied, by every farmer and
poor cotter in the country, as one of his varieties of
poultry stock, since — whether he desires to reproduce
YEAR OLD BUFF OR YELLOW SHANGHAES.
it for sale to amateurs and small breeders, or for the
better and higher and more useful purpose of con-
198 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK.
tributing to the general improvement of the feathered
stock of the country, or even for market uses only —
this fowl possesses all the qualities needed, to fulfil his
highest expectations.
For a cross upon the ordinary native fowl of the
interior, the Buff Cochin may be considered as good as
the best of the Chinese race. The blood is strong, the
size ample, the laying qualities excellent, and no fowl
is more hardy than are these. To mix with the barn-
yard Poultry (where pure breeding is not sought for)
the farmer who has not tried the experiment we now
hint at, will surely find it in his account at the year’s
end, if he introduces a few of these noble birds among
his common poultry. |
=e
—S
= ——
CHAPTER XVI.
THE HOUDAN, CREVECEHUR, AND LA’FLECHE.
These are the notable FRENCH FOWLS, which have been
imported into England largely, in the last half dozen
years, and since the close of the American war into
the United States, by fanciers, in considerable numbers.
The high-sounding names of these birds—to wit,
Creveceur, Houdan, and La Fleche, gave them a sudden
popularity in England, and they came as quickly into
favor in this country, when their merits had been briefly
made known, after their introduction among us.
199
200 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
When the author was in France (1867) he met with
myriads of these fowls, scattered over the country, and
the novelty of their facial appearance, with the horned
comb, the white cheek, the towering crest, together with
the superb metalic color, and the famous strut of some
of them, arrested his attention, while he was looking
about among the poultry in that country ; and he thought
these lively birds, as seen “upon their native heath,”
were altogether ‘ French-y,’ when he first met with
them.
But although the writer went largely through the
country villages where poultry-raising is carried on, he
found no enthusiasm among the French people, over
their French fowls. None whatever! I met with no
Frenchman who knew (or cared) anything about
‘“‘ pure” Houdans, La Fleche, or Crevecceur—though -
they dwelt in these three poultry-districts, and had bred
these fowls all their lives. And very few natives can
be found there who take any extraordinary interest
in fowl-breeding, except for marketing, or in raising
egos for the albumen they can extract therefrom, and
always find a ready profit upon, for the print-manufactur-
ers’ use.
I saw large numbers of these “* French ”’ fowls, about
which so much has been written and said in late years
in England and America, in the north and western
Departments of France, as well as around Mulhouse,
in the east. At Rouen, (where one.sees ducks that are
ducks, by the way,) about Rheims, at Villelaie, near
Paris, at Houdan, in La’fleche and Crevecceur districts,
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 201
Dreux, Nogent, etc., I met with large numbers of
these horned, shining black or flecked, active, pretty
birds — which the owners would gladly sell at four to
five francs each, in gold—for the best of them. But
they have gone over to England, been well bred, and
have sold at almost fabulous prices, in the past five
years, there, as in this country as well.
They are claimed to be first-class layers, generally,
disinclined to sit, their flesh is white and tempting for
table use, and they are not an expensive fowl to keep.
They are a showy, handsome bird, not a large breed —
averaging (in France) less than the Black Spanish,
which they strongly resemble, save in the peculiar
formation of comb, muff, and head-tufts—and have
found many admirers in England and America both —
though I really could see nothing in them, abroad, that
would tempt me ‘to bring a cage of them home, at a
cost of less than a dollar apiece ; as | might have done,
and had my choice of specimens among thousands.
Still, there be many who fancy them; and, as I have
already remarked, they are being nicely bred, both here
and in Great Britian; where I looked for, but found
only a few isolated trios, and these for the most part
at the poultry bazaars about London and Liverpool.
Probably there are more fine French fowls of the three
varieties named herein, now in the United States, than
there are in England; and I am informed by several
gentlemen who breed them, that the demand for both
chickens and eggs of this present popular modern breed
increases, largely, season after season, among us.
202 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
Prominent among the fine specimens of French birds
in America, are those of Messrs. G. H. Warner, of
New York Mills, Isaac Van Winkle, of Greenville, N.
J., J. P. Buzzell, Clinton, Mass., Geo. Smith, Holliston,
Mass., G. W. Bradley, Hamden, Conn., Hamilton and
Kirkham, New York, Geo. A. Deitz, Chambersburg,
Pa., E. C. Newton, Batavia, Ill., D. L. Stage and Co.,
Schenectady, N. Y., Henry Howland, Chicago, IIl., G.
W. Felter, Batavia, Ohio—and others, with whom I
am unacquainted. But there are many who are breed-
ing this stock carefully, and who think very highly of
it, thus far.
In reference to these French Fowls, of which this gen-
tleman breeds the three varieties — Houdans, Creve-
ceeurs, and La Fleche — Mr. Van Winkle of Greenville,
N. J., expresses a very favorable opinion. He has a su-
perb stock of these fowls, and avers that “ the Houdans
are one of the mostvaluable breeds of poultry introduced
into this country for many years — exhibiting unusual
fertility, maturing early, very hardy, both as adults and
chicks, their bodies being large and compact, flesh
white, etc.,” and this fancier speaks from experience,
after faithful trial with them.
Of the Creveceurs, Mr. Van W. remarks that “ in
giving my opinion from experience on the merits of this
variety of French fowl, since I have kept them, (and I
have closely studied their points), I find them to be
large birds, good layers of unusual numbers of large
eges in autumn, when most other birds are in moult
—of a greenish metallic black, in color, having heavy
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 203
crests that give them a remarkably handsome and
original appearance, while they are very tender to eat,
and most excellent to cross with other fowls.” The
beautiful engraving on page 199 will give the reader a
good idea of Mr. Warner’s and Van Winkle’s Houdans.
In reference to the third variety, Za Feche, this breed-
er declares it to be “ the finest domestic fowl known in
France — where it has long been deservedly the favorite
among both breeders and epicures; very large, hand-
some birds, of upright stately carriage, jet black in
plumage. The comb is unlike that of any other fowl,
growing from the head like two horns, with pleasant
symmetry of form, but peculiarly characteristic of this
elegant showy bird. These, too, are very prolific layers
(as are all the French fowls,) the La Fleche producing
tremendous sized eggs, usually — while, for the table, 1
consider them altogether unexceptionable.”’
Mr. G. H. Warner, of New York Mills, Oneida Co.,
who was the winner of the New York State Poultry So-
ciety’s large gold medal prize, in 1869 for Houdans,
says of the French fowls, that ‘“ were I to keep but two
varieties of Domestic Poultry, I would select one of the
Asiatic breeds, which we find to be good winter layers,
good mothers, and a good table fowl; and my other
choice would be the Houdan — in which we find a most
excellent layer. They mature early, and, as in each of
the other best known varieties, we have an abundance
of delicate white meat, in this fowl — which is, also, a
non-sitter.”’> To Mr. Warner’s fine French stock, of all
three varieties, have been awarded the N. Y. Poultry
204 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
Society’s Gold Medal, and other leading premiums, for
their comparatively superior merits.
Mr. Taylor, of Watcrloo, N. Y., writes that ‘ this va-
riety are becoming very popular, both as layers and ta-
ble-fowls. They are of large size, weighing, when fully
grown, cock six to seven pounds; hen, five to six
pounds. They have proved, with us, the hardiest and
therefore the most useful of any of the French fowl, and
in our opinion, the farmer cannot select a variety that
will pay him better, both in eggs and flesh. ‘They have
short legs, a round, well proportioned body, and top-
knot falling backward. They are bearded and have five
toes on each foot, the same as the Dorking, and are
fully equal to that variety as table fowls.”
Many fanciers deem these among the choicest varie-
ties yet imported into the country, for their size aud in
view of their laying qualities. The editor of the Amer-
ican Agriculturist, at New York — whose opinions upon
poultry is excellent, and whose judgment, too, is more
sound than the average of agricultural editors, in this
direction — has given all three of the popular French
varieties a, fair trial, and commends them, very highly.
They are certainly an ornamental fowl, and in a late
number of the journal referred to, the editors who of-
fered handsome prizes (upon their own account,) at the
N. Y. State Poultry Fair in 1870, thus speak of the
Houdans. ‘* They are a French breed, a little less in
size than the other famous French fowls, but not less
valuable, being decidedly the hardiest and most prolific.
The Houdans combine two valuable qualities — the pro-
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 205
duction of flesh and eggs — each in a high degree of ex-
cellence. . . . They have been thoroughly tried in
this country, and prove excellent in every respect. A
good cock weighs 7 pounds, a good hen 5 1-2 pounds.
The quality of the flesh is fully equal to that of the
Dorking.” This is strong praise, from one who has
tried them.
Another good authority describes the La Fleche as
bearing “ a strong firm body, well on its legs —appear-
ing less than it is, because the feathers are close ; black
plumage, having many points of resemblance with the
Spanish fowl, from which I believe it to be descended,
by crossing with the Creveceeur. It has short-grained,
juicy, delicate flesh, and puts on fat easily. As layers,
they are superior to any breed except the Spanish ; but
for the table, they are not so good as the Dorking.”
They have a peculiar upright double comb, protruding
from the head like two fleshy horns with a slight top-
knot at the back of the crown; and are a stylish fowl,
good layers, and the chickens are easy to rear.
Of the three French varieties, the Creveceur is the
largest, and the best, says another authority, ‘* while it
is better known than the others. It lays a large num-
ber of eggs, of good size— like the Black Spanish — and
resembles that fine fowl, but for its unique head, crest,
and short legs. This variety has the horny style of
comb, too. Its legs are black or dark-skinned, its meat
excellent, and it is a stately, sober-looking fowl, with a
good carriage and fine plumage.”
Thus much in favor of these French breeds, the Creve-
206 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
ceeurs, La Fleche, and Houdan fowls, which I have
fancied will hardly stand the test of time with us. A
friend in Salem, Mass., who paid the sum of eighty dol-
lars for a trio, two years ago, in New York, (of the
Crevecceurs,) wrote me not long since, “I have sold
them all, and cleaned them out; I have had enough of
them. No more French birds for me.” Another fancier
who has tried them two years, writes me — “‘ I am dis-
appointed with the French fowls, and am tired of them.
I very much prefer the Brahmas.”’ And so do J, indeed!
I know but little of them personally, but I do not fancy
them. The coy maiden frankly declared to the distaste-
ful Dr. Fell:
“T do not like you, Doctor Fell,
The reason why, I cannot tell:
But this alone I know full well,
I do not like you, Doctor Fell!”’
With due deference to other fanciers’ opinions, I say —
I do not like the French Fowls well,
The reason why, I cannot tell;
But this alone I know full well,
I do not like the French Fowls well.
Other breeders who have tried them thoroughly, are
of the exactly opposite opinion, and so, chacun a son
gout ; every one to his taste, as the venerable dame re-
marked, when she kindly kissed the cheek of her favor-
ite cow.
DARK BRAHMA HEN. WADE’S STOCK, PHIL'A,.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE DARK BRAHMAS.
This very popular variety of the race of Brahmas,
has within the last few years come to be widely dissemi-
nated over England and the United States; and, on
several occasions, specimens of these dark Brahmas
have carried off the prizes, over all competitors, among
the Shanghe tribe, at our Poultry Fairs.
On this branch of the subject matter of our New
Poultry Book, namely, Dark Brahmas, we submitted
to the Editor of the New York Poultry Bulletin, some
time since, the following article; which appeared in
that excellent journal, in the month of December, 1870.
207
208 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
ED’S. BULLETIN.
Gentlemen: The wide spread interest at present evinced, in this
country and in Europe, in favor of the Asiatic breed of fowls, in-
duces me to offer you afew lines on the subject of the so-called
“Brahmas” of the present day. I know something of this fowl, (or
ought to !) and find myself justly accredited by Mr. Tegetmeier, in
his exhaustive and superb ‘‘ Poultry Book,’’ with having introduced
into England, from this country, the jirst dark Brahmas ever seen
there; which Mr. T. describes, in said ‘* Poultry Book” as the enter-
ing of ‘‘a new variety upon the scene.’’
‘““M. Tegetmeier is relied on as authority upon the subject of
modern poultry history, I believe, and I think very deservedly so.
In this matter, at all events, he is correct. Until the famous trio of
“dark Brahmas,’’ which I sent to Mr. Baily of London, in 1853,
reached him, there had been no Dark Brahmas (or dark ‘“‘ Grey
Shanghees,”’ as I then called them,) ever seen in England. Previous-
ly, (in 1852), I had sent to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, a flock of
mature Light Brahmas, which were hatched early in 1851, of course,
for they weighed over 20 Ibs. the pair, when shipped from the United
States by me. The parent birds these one-year-old fowls came from,
were over two years old; and I had bred the stock two seasons before
I sent out the splendid specimens which I selected to present to the
Queen. This would carry us back to 1849—which was the year I
came into possession of my first grey Chinese fowls; from which, I
solemnly believe all the earlier stock was bred, both in America and
England, in connection with the fowls of Mr. Virgil Cornish, and Mr.
Hatch ; which latter turned up to public view in the years 1850 and
1851.
‘But neither of these gentlemen claim, (or ever claimed,) that so
early as 1851, they had any but the light colored Brahmas; though I
observe that Mr. Cornish hints in a late letter that he noticed in his
stock a tendency to throw darker chickens after a while. And now
will you permit me to state what is my firm belief, as to the present
color and apparent character of the so-called ‘‘ Dark Brahmas,” of
to-day ? :
‘Tn all the samplesI have seen, imported of late years from Eng-
land, and I think no one here claims to have imported the “ Dark”
variety from anywhere else, I detect all the characteristics of the
dark birds I sent out there, originally — with the single exception of
the mottled black breast and lower body-feathers in some strains we
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 209
have received here, from English breeders,— since 1866, for example.
“‘They are very fine fowls. So were the first ones Isent over to
England. I don’t know that the English breeders have latterly im-
ported from China (or elsewhere) fresh stock, to breed with what
they received from me, first; and of which, subsequently to 1852 and
53, I sent hundreds there, of fine samples. But, if they have done so,
I have never heard of the fact. And, least of all, has there ever oc-
curred a second importation of Brahmas (or any other named fowl)
from the port whence is said to have sailed the ship with the first
fowls on board, to wit: ‘‘ Luckipoor, from up the mouth of the Brama
Pootra river;”’ the name of which ship, or captain, or the sailor who
furnished the fowls, cannot be told by anybody.
‘But all this is of small consequence, now. Those fowls were
good ones. They have shown it in the twenty years since they were
first bred here. But they were Chinese birds—they came from
Shanghe, or Hong Kong asmine did; and they were, and are
nothing else. I know full well, when and where this ‘‘ Brahma’”’
name originated. JI was one of that very ‘‘ committee ”’ alluded to by
Mr. Cornish, who, in consultation, adopted this cognomen — though
against my own personal protest, at the time. I knew, then, that
the ‘*‘ Luckipoor, up the Brahma Pootra river’’ theory was nonsense.
And I claimed that the fowls should be called what they were—
“Grey Shanghees;”’ for they came from Shanghe, China, and were
simply grey, in color. Iwas over-ruled. Itis just as well. But
these are facts.
**T am firmly of the opinion that this recently marked dark-breasted
Brahma strain of fowls, which is so greatly admired among some
fanciers, and of which several trios have of late come out from Eng-
land, are skilfully bred in Ireland and England from the dark China
hens they have had there since 1853 and 1854, with the dark-plumed
Grey Dorking cock; producing this variety (so closely resembling the
latter in many points,) and upon some of the first of which, raised in
England, there not unfrequently appeared the notable fifth toe of the
Dorking, now bred off again, by cautious selections. The Light
Brahmas hold their own wondrously ; the newly-fledged dark varieties
may continue to do as well, for years, for the blood of both is strong.
But I shall not change my opinion in this matter, until I can learn
or un-learn more than I now know of the ‘‘ dark Brahma”’ strain of
the present time.”’ Yours respectfully, G. P. BURNHAM.
Melrose, Sept., 1870.
210 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY BOOK ;
The comments upon my communication, published by
the Bulletin editor, were both fair and good-natured ;
but do not change the facts embodied in my letter. I
merely proposed to say that the first Dark Brahma fowls
ever seen in England (and I sent several cages of fine
ones out there, subsequently) were from my yards, in
Melrose. That they were good ones, that this variety
became immensely popular, that 1 was authoritatively
civen due credit for these shipments in the proper quar-
ter, that the enterprise paid me well, and that that very
stock was bred and distributed all over England, and
finally sent back to the United States, from the very breed-
ers I sold mine to—are simply matters of history.
Having said thus much as to my Dark Brahmas, I have
done with discussion upon this point.
Cuts No. 4 and 5 are engraved from the original
picture by Harrison Weir (in the London Field) of a
pair of the noted trio of Dark Brahmas first sent to Eng-
land by me, to Mr. John Bailey, Mount Street, London.
This pair were exhibited at the Birmingham Poultry
Show, took the first prize, and were sold at the close of
the exhibition to Mr. E. Taylor, of Shepard’s Bush, for
one hundred guineas — over $500! Mr. Bailey paid me
$100 for this trio, a few months previous to the Bir-
mingham Fair. The Brahmas I now breed are of the
same stock, precisely, as well as those of the Light vari-
ety, (see cut No. 8,) which I sent the same season from
Melrose to Her British Masesty, QUEEN VICTORIA.
They have taken many first prizes at the fairs both in
England and America, where they have been shown in
”
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 211
competition, and have proved first class, uniformly,
when bred in their purity.
This stock is pronounced, on both sides of the Atlan-
tic, to be the largest and finest poultry in the known
world, and hundreds of breeders and fanciers attest to
the fact that, when properly cared for, they are the best,
either as layers, for the table, or as breeders. I now
keep but few fowls, and make a specialty only of raising
the great Asiatic fowls—the Brahmas, the Partridge
and the Buff Cochins— of which I can supply selected
specimens, to order. These fowls are good enough for
me —and I have tried all kinds.
The “ Dark Brahma” we have in this country at the
present time, and which is a very fine fowl—some
strains being superior to others, however — has been
brought into especial notice only since 1865-6. The.
editor of the New York American Agriculturist as well
as of the Bulletin, have been largely instrumental in
bringing the merits of these noble birds to the attention
of the lovers of good poultry, and the different importa-
tions that have come out from England, from Messrs.
Bailey, Tebay, Cooper, Beldon, Boyle, Baker, Taylor,
Bates and others, have proved generally very good and
satisfactory birds; which have received through the
medium of the excellent and widely circulated journals
mentioned, deserved encomiums, from time to time, to
the great benefit of the importers, and to the poultry-
loving community throughout the United States and
the Canadas.
But as I hinted in my communication last quoted —
212 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
there are unmistakable evidences, in some of these sam-
ples’ of “ Dark Brahmas,” of what I met with while in
England in 1867, and there first noticed — to wit, the
palpable presence of the Gray Dorking blood. The black
mottled breast, square form, dominique feather, is de-
cidedly Dorking-ish. I saw several specimens of these
“ Dark Brahmas,’ so called, upon which I detected the
fifth toe, which belongs inevitably to that race, as is well
known. (See “ Gray Dorking,” page 220,) I have not
seen this peculiarity here, yet. That all these dark
Brahmas are bred with Dorkings, in England, I do not
mean to suggest, by any means, and possibly few or
none of those that have been imported into this country
latterly from Great Britain, have been thus contamin-
ated. But my original “ Dark Brahmas” were not
black-breasted. They were dark mottled gray, and the
neck and outer wing feathering was silvery white. In
other respects they were like the light Brahmas, in
form, ete.
Now all these Dark Brahmas, mark, come from Eng-
land and Ireland —latterly. Has any one in America
imported from Shanghex, or from the Brahma-poutra
River, that discharges itself into the Bay of Bengal” (!)
or from Cochin China (!!) or from any where on earth,
else, except Great Britain, during the past five years,
any Dark Brahma fowls? Not one! If they have, I
have never heard of the fact, and shall gladly stand
corrected, upon learning such importer’s name. We do
not get then, in all of these “ dark Brahmas,” the gen-
uine thing, I apprehend.
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 213
We give in cut No. 12,a very fair illustration of
these black-breasted Dark Brahmas— the color of which
is too dark to suit our own taste; but which strain
of blood is certainly very popular among American
fanciers.
C. C. Loring of South Boston imported some very
good specimens of this variety, which have become
well known, and Philander Williams of Taunton, Isaac
Van Winkle of Greenville N. J., J. M. Wade of Phil-
adelphia, and other enterprising poulterers and fanciers
have imported other samples, of similar stock ; the pre-
vailing color of the cocks (as is delineated in illustra-
tion No. 12,) being of the very darkly flecked, or quite
black breast, thighs, and under feathering — while the
neck-hackles, saddles, and upper wing-coverts are sil-
very white, splashed with pale straw-color.
These male birds all partake in form of the hunchy
Dorking fowl, manifestly. The color of the hens, how-
ever, is even, and good. But, as we have bred the
Dark Brahmas, for years past, and as they were first
introduced by us, into England, we contend that none of
these birds which have latterly come under our obser-
vation, are as fine in form, carriage, or color, as were
the originals, from which we have for so long a period
successfully and satisfactorily bred this variety. And
this more strongly confirms us in the opinion that the
Dorking has been mixed with these recently imported
‘‘ Dark Brahmas ;” for we can plainly see that the sim-
ilarity of form, as well as deepened color of the Dork-
ing, is strikingly developed in these samples.
LA
ery
214 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
It is notoriously known in England that my Brahma
stock and that of others sent there from the United
States, has been bred to the black-breasted Gray Dork-
ing cock, to produce the coveted “ dark mottled body ”
some of these best specimens show. When, by and bye,
the ‘ fifth toe’ shows itself, here; on our dark Brahmas,
then — nous verrons !
Meantime, ‘ blood will tell.” The strong Chinese char-
- acteristics largely predominate in the “ dark Brahmas ”
that I have seen here thus far, and I sincerely hope they
will continue to produce their like; for our American
fanciers have now expended a deal of money on this
variety; and they ought (as I trust they have) to
have secured pure-bred birds. This mottled-breasted
Gray Dorking is a spendid fowl, and a great favorite,
justly, amongst English fanciers. But J don’t care to
breed for a Brahma fowl one that has a taint of even the
excellent sable-bosomed gray Dorking in it. When I
want the latter, I will breed the Dorking, pure, if I can
procure the stock. But I have yet to be convinced that
the crossing of these two breeds improves the heathen
Chinee-Brahma, though you may thus get the black
breast, for a time. Iam looking for it constantly—and
I hope yet to see (if my suspicions prove correct) some
account of the progeny of this new dark Brahma stock,
down into the fourth or fifth generation, if possible, di-
rect ; whereby we may learn whether or not the fifth toe,
the long tail, or the smooth leg of the Dorking crops out .
at last among these chickens!
The Dark Brahmas that have been exhibited within
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 215
the past two or three years*at our American Poultry
Fairs, have certainly been very fine —except for the
reasons | have suggested — that they are a little too
————_———_— =
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PEA-COMB DARK BRAHMAS, AND GAME BANTAMS, AS BRED BY
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dark for my taste. But they have given great satisfac-
tion, and, as far as heard from, have bred truly, it
216 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
is said. Cut No. 5 is a portrait of one of the Dark
Brahma hens I sent to Mr. Baily, of London, the pre-
mium bird; and the picture is an admirable one —
delineating the best contour of this noted fowl.
I was not surprised, a few days since, to receive a let-
ter from a leading breeder of this variety, who has im-
ported several trios of Dark Brahmas, who is a _ thor-
ough stickler for purity of blood, and who has paid
roundly for his specimens imported from England ;
from which letter I quote the following expressive
words —in support of these last suggestions of mine.
He says “I have seen enough of Cooper’s, Boyle’s, and
Beldon’s fowls, not to purchase any more of them. I
can beat any of the English Dark Brahmas, infinitely,
with my own —and I have now six different English
strains of dark Brahmas!’ Has my worthy friend
begun to discover in the English strains the ‘ cloven
foot,’ alias the fifth toe, of the black-breasted Grey
Dorking, possibly ? :
On page 215 may be seen the likeness of another
superior male specimen of this noted breed, from im-
ported stock. This represents the stock of Mr. New-
ton, and those also from the well know establishment
of Mr. Wm. H. Pond, Milford, Conn., C. H. Edmonds,
Melrose, Mass., and others. These Dark Brahmas are
believed to be of perfectly pure China blood, and chick-
ens bred from them come up admirably, thus far. This
fowl stock has taken leading premiums at the Fairs in
1869, and 1870, and the progeny promises finely, thus
far.
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is led by an old gander, who, every now and then, pipes
his well known honk, as if to ask how they come on,
and the honk of “ All’s well” is generally returned by
some of the party. When bewildered in foggy weather,
they appear sometimes to be in great distress, flying
about in an irregular manner, over the same quarter,
making a great clamor, during which the inhabitants
deal death and destruction amongst them. The wound-
ed birds are easily domesticated, and readily pair with
the tame gray goose, and their offspring are found to be
larger than either; but the markings of the wild goose
predominate.”
The Bremen, or Embden, Goose (Cut No. 16,) was
304 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
originally introduced into America in 1821, I think, by
Colonel Samuel Jaques, of Tenhill’s Farm, Medford,
Mass., and was bred by him for many years, with great
success, on his fine estate near the mouth of the Mystic
River. Thename Embden is that of a town in Holland,
where they first came from — but Col. Jaques was never
inclined to multiply names, unnecessarily ; and as he got
his original stock of these monster white birds from
Bremen direct, he called them Bremen Geese.
They are in all particulars like the common geese,
except that they are very large — year-old ganders fre-
quently weighing 28 to 35 pounds each, alive. The
quality of the flesh is superior, and they are so ponder-
ous and heavy that they move about but sluggishly, and
thus put on fat very readily. Mr. Sisson, of Warren,
R. I., five years after Col. Jaques imported his Bre-
mens, had three direct from the same port. He says,
in the N. EH. Farmer, “their properties are peculiar.
They lay in February, sit and hatch with more certain-
ty than the common goose, will weigh nearly, and in
some instances quite twice their weight, have double the
quantity of feathers, never fly, and are all of a beautiful
snowy whiteness.” Dr. John C. Bennett furnished the
author with half a dozen of these monstrous geese in
1851, that averaged 51 1-2 lbs. per pair. And in 1852,
I received through a German friend a pair direct from
Bremen, that weighed on shipboard 55 3-4 pounds, alive.
I sent these two geese to Felix Ducayet, Esq., of New
Orleans, with four others, for which he paid me fifty dol-
lars the pair. They are a beautiful fowl, and resemble
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 3805
the white swan upon the water, at a short distance.
The Bremens are now bred in their purity, I believe, by
C. N. Palmer & Sons, Gallipolis, Ohio, D. W. Herstine,
Philadelphia, T. B. Smith, Plantsville, Conn., and a few
other gentlemen, but they are not now so commonly bred
in Massachusetts, as formerly.
The Toulouse Goose, (see cut No. 16,) as its name
implies, is from France, and is known from the ordinary
dark gray goose of this country by being much larger,
and its color darker, as well as uniform, in the different
samples imported and bred here. Its abdominal part is
very large, and hangs down prominently behind, some-
times almost touching the ground, as they clumsily
waddle about.
Dixon, in his Poultry Book, says ‘ this variety of
goose, which has been so much extolled and sold at
such high prices, is only the common domestic, en-
larged by early hatching, very liberal feeding during
youth, fine climate, and perhaps by age. Iam in pos-
session of geese, hatched at a season when it was diffi-
cult to supply them with abundance of nourishing green
food, that are as much undersized as the Toulouse
goose is oversized; they are all domestic geese, never-
theless.” But, although I have seen hundreds of good
samples of the Toulouse Goose, and thousands upon
thousands of our natives, J never saw one of the latter
that approached the enormous size of the French goose
—and I doubt very much if there be not an error in
this statement.
I have seen specimens of the Toulouse Geese that
306 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY BOOK ;
would draw 42 pounds to the pair; and, in the yard of
Col. Jaques, a few years ago, that gentleman showed
me pairs that were heavier than this, even, by a pound
or two, I was informed. It is of some importance to
the farmer, who has the facilities for keeping water-
fowl, that he have the best breed of geese attainable —
even if he cross them (in the first instance) upon the
common goose ; for the increased weight and size — at
an early age — produced through this process, ¢el/s, in
the fall, when he comes to Christmas-ize his ‘ yearlings,’
or the goslings of the same year’s raising. We have no
doubt that the Toulouse is a distinct variety, and we are
certain it is a very fine one. The breeders of the
Bremen, whom we have named in this chapter, furnish
the Toulouse, also, we learn; and we can safely com-
mend this splendid bird to all who go for size, easy
keeping, hardiness, and truthfulness to their like, if
bred together, in the raising of first-class geese.
The great African Goose, (Cut No. 16,) is another
of the large birds of the genus anser —said by some
authors to be the largest of all we have had in this
country, from abroad. It has been called the “ Knobbed
Goose,” from the peculiarity of possessing a hard knob
on its head —a sort of brown fleshy substance, formed
from the base of the bill, backward. It has a large
dew-lap, also, under the throat, down the neck. It is
called the “‘ Swan Goose,” from its size —the “ Hong
Kong,” the “ Brown China,” etc. Its color is not un-
‘like that of the Toulouse, but darker brownish. The
ganders of this variety are enormous fellows. Thirty
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 3807
pounds’ weight is not unusual, for a three-year old.
We have seen none of this once famous and popular
bird for some years. They were formerly bred in
Weymouth, Braintree, and Randolph, Mass., finely,
but the race has disappeared from among us, in this
neighborhood.
“‘It is somewhat larger,”’ says Brisson, “than the
tame goose; the head and the top of the neck are
brown, deeper on the upper side than on the under;....
on the origin of the bill there rises a round and fleshy
tubercle ;.... under the throat also there hangs a sort
of fleshy membrane.” Klien regards this goose asa
variety of the Siberian, which is the same with the
Guinea goose. “I saw,” says he, “a variety of the
Siberian goose, its throat larger, its bill and legs black,
with a black depressed tubercle.”
By whatever name it should be known, itis a remark-
able bird, and we have been surprised that it has been
suffered to “‘ run out”? around us, when we are informed
by the breeders of this variety to whom we have alluded
Cin Massachusetts) that it was “no more trouble to
raise this, than the common goose; while its weight at
same age was double, and its meat really better than
the mongrel.”
The other varieties of Geese — such as the “ White
Chinese,” “the Barnacle,” the Egyptian,’ etc.,. are
little known, and less used among Poulterers, and
we make no farther reference to them. These three
varieties we have described can be chosen from for
breeders to advantage, and we will conclude this chap-
9
308 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
ter with a description of the habits and needs of the
Common well known native Goose of the country — the
‘ Mongrel —’ that is bred everywhere so largely in the
northern states of America.
A noted old English breeder of Geese, suggests the
following directions, the result of long experience, which
we deem both practical and applicable to the raising of
these favorite water-fowl in our own country; where so
many thousand of these birds are reared for disposal in
the city markets of America, annually. He says of the
Toulouse Goose, that the abdominal pouch peculiar to
this variety (of which we have spoken) “ which, in
other geese, is an indication of old age, exist, in those
from the shell. Their flesh is tender and well-flavored.
It is quite certain that their cross on our domestic goose,
would be found a most valuable acquisition.”” He then
adds that “ there are two prevailing colors amongst our
Domestic (or Mongrel) Geese — white and gray.” This
applies with us also, uniformly. He says, farther, “ we
have a large, white variety, usually termed Embden (or
Bremen) geese, which are very superior, from their
extra size, and additional value of the feathers. If you
wish a gray goose, by all means cross with the Toulouse,
than which nothing can be finer. One gander is suffi-
cient for five or six geese; the goose lays from ten to
twenty eggs at one laying; but by removing the eggs as
fast as they are laid, and feeding her well, you may in-
crease her laying to fifty eggs. If well cared for, you
may have three clutches in the year. The care neces-
sary, 7s good housing and feeding. ‘* You will readily
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 3809
perceive when a goose is about to lay ; she carries straw
to make a nest; when that is observed, she should be
confined, lest she lay out. If you induce her, by con-
finement, to lay her first egg in any particular place,
she will be sure to deposit the remainder of her clutch
in the same nest. Her inclination to hatch is indicated
by her remaining in the nest longer than usual after
laying. The nest may be of straw, with a finer lining,
dry hay, or moss; and be sure it is sufficiently deep to
prevent the eggs rolling out. About fifteen eggs is
thought a sufficient clutch. The less the goose and her
eggs are tampered with, the better ; she sits from twenty-
seven to thirty days. The gander never molests her on
the nest, but acts as a sentinel to repel intruders.”
It will be necessary to see that the goose be fed
while hatching, as, if she find a difficulty in providing
food, she may be kept too long off her nest, and perhaps
at length desert it. The goslings will not require food
for. twelve hours after leaving the shell; their food may
be bread, soaked in milk, porridge, curds, boiled greens,
or bran, mixed with boiled potatoes, given warm, but
not hot. Do not allow them to be subject to rain, or
eold wind; keep them for at least forty-eight hours
after hatching, from the water, which would be likely
to bring on cramps. Although so fond of water, if you
wish to keep your geese well, you will have to house
and bed them at night, dry and comfortably. Grass is
essential to the well-keeping of geese, their favorite
being the long, coarse, rank grass, rejected by cattle,
and therefore, through the goose, is turned to profit.
310 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
The goose is easily kept, but if intended for market,
they require, in addition to green food, some boiled
potatoes, mixed with bran, given warm, but not hot.
To fatten goslings for market, give potatoes or turnips,
bruised with barley or oatmeal, at least twice a day.
Mr. Cobbet says, the refuse of a market garden,
would maintain a great many geese, at a very small
cost ; but, in addition to the green food, they would re-
quire boiled or steamed potatoes, given warm; or. oat-
meal, peas, or maize, beat up with boiled potatoes, car-
rots, or turnips. An objection has been made to allow-
ing geese to run over a pasture, their excrement being
acrid and unwholesome. But common geese in this
country are raised upon premises usually of no great
value, otherwise; and the traveller upon the railways
going into New York city, for example, for the last ten
leagues, will remember the myriads of geese that dot
the cheap places upon either side of the track, which
are annually raised there by the poorer classes, for the
neighboring market ; to which fact, as a single instance,
the reader is pointed in proof of the ease with which
this bird is multiplied among us, if one has the fancy.
It is not a difficult thing — with almost any kind of ac-
commodations — to raise geese.
—
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE AYLESBURY, ROUEN, AND COMMON DUCK.
The Aylesbury (see next page) is the largest and
most beautiful variety of pure white Duck we have in
this country, and the most valuable, at this time. It
was imported from Europe many years ago, in limited
numbers, and has been very considerably bred, in differ-
ent parts of this country. It isa great favorite with
fanciers of ornamental water-fowl, and justly so, and
may now be had of most of the leading dealers, in the
Kastern and Middle States.
Those who have bred this splendid variety say, that
no Duck is more easily raised that this, and from its
large size, it is useful as well as ornamental. They are
productive of beautiful white soft feathers, the meat is
white, delicate, and savory, and the Aylesburys always
command a ready sale, in market, for their acknowl-
edged superiority of size and quality.
311
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A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 313
When judiciously fed, they will weigh at maturity
seven to eight pounds each —and will average (male
and female) about twelve pounds the pair. They are
very profitable layers, while they are easy keepers, not
being usually so voracious as the common Duck. They
are not so noisy either, and come up to their weight
rapidly, at a less age than the others. It is quite a dis-
tinct variety. Mr. John Giles, formerly of Rhode Is-
land, bred the Aylesbury among the earliest in this
country. He describes those he brought out with him
from England, as being ** pure white; with white bills;
their flesh is of a beautiful white; their weight eight to
ten pounds per pair, when fully grown.” Mr. Mowbray
wrote many years since, that “the great white Ayles-
bury ducks are a beautiful and ornamental stock. They
are early layers and breeders, and are in great demand.
Many families derive a comfortable living from breed-
ing and rearing ducks ; the greater part of which — the
early ones at all events—are actually reared by hand by
cottagers.”’
All authorities agree that this bird is the finest duck
we ever had in America. A New York agricultural
journal pronounces them “the only variety which real-
ly rivals the Rouen as a useful and economical bird.
These are a pure English variety, good feeders, and by
some decidedly perferred to the Rouen.”
The Rowen Duck (see cut opposite) takes its name
from the city of Rouen, in France, where it is bred
largely. Epicures pronounce its meat first class, and
like the Aylesbury, it is a prolific layer of large eggs.
BURNHAM’S
NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
GROUP OF ROUEN DUCKS.
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 3815
Its color is much like the wild duck, and the drake’s,
especially, is very showy and beautiful. The female is
of a splashed dark brown and black, even and regular in
form of the feathering. The drake’s head and neck isa
beautiful green, with a white ring around it at the base.
The breast is a rich brown, and the rest of the body
plumage similar to the plumage of the wild mallard.
It is a heavy, waddling, sleepy kind of fowl, and puts
on flesh and fat quickly. They are very hardy, how-
ever, and the Common Duck of the country everywhere
shows the markings of this fowl, with which it has been
extensively crossed, for years,among us. They lay
steadily from the beginning, sometimes dropping fifty to
seventy eggs without missing a single day — then laying
every other day, perhaps, for months longer. They are
oood sitters, but hens are better to set their eges under,
they are so heavy and clumsy.
The “ Cayuga Black” Duck is another large variety
which breeders in New York State reproduce, most
largely. The late Dr. Eben Wight of Dedham, Mass.,
formerly raised upon his place good specimens of all
three of these varieties—though, (as he fancied the white
Dorkings) he preferred the white Aylesbury to all other
varieties of duck. The Cayuga was first known, we be-
lieve, upon the shores of Cayuga Lake, in Central New
York — whence its name — and it is now bred there in
considerable numbers, very successfully. Its size will
average fully that of the Rouen, and it is a clear black
duck, for the most part, in its purity.
The Summer, or Wood duck, is the most beautiful in
316 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
plumage of all the race we have here. It is much
smaller than the others,and is a wild bird. I have
never known it to be domesticated, though Col. Jaques
of Medford, some years since showed me a flock he had,
(whose wings he had jointed to keep them from flying
away,) which he attempted to tame and breed; with
what success I never learned.
Wilson describes this as the most beautiful of all our
Ducks, which has no superior for its richness and variety
of color. It is called the wood duck, from the circum-
stance of its breeding in hollow trees; and the summer
duck, from remaining with us chiefly during the sum-
mer. It rarely visits the sea shore, or salt marshes, its
favorite haunts being the solitary, muddy creeks, ponds,
and mill-dams of the interior.
The summer duck flies in flocks of not more than
three or four together, and most commonly in pairs, or
singly. Their flesh is inferior to that of the blue-
winged teal. They are frequent in the markets of
Philadelphia. Among other gaudy feathers with which
the Indians ornament the calumet or pipe of peace, the
skin of the head and neck of this duck is frequently
seen covering the stem.
We have also the Canvas-back, Red-head, the Blue-
winged Teal, the Muscovy, ete., but the mass of ducks
furnished for our markets are the native Domestic Duck ;
which is too well known to need a description, and too
varied in color to be described in detail. They run
from white to black — speckled, spotted, gray, and
Rouen colored. These can readily be traced to the
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 317
wild originals, and are easily multiplied. The Domestic
Duck will find its own food, for the greater part of the
year, if it have sufficient scope of water to furnish it
with aquatic plants; or, if permitted to ramble, the
beechmast and acorns furnish it with nutrition, meadows
and pasture grounds afford it insectiverous matter, and
if an occasional feed of boiled potatoes, with a little
grain be given, it will flourish. One drake is sufficient
for five or six ducks. They begin to lay in February,
when they require additional food. They usually lay
either at night, or early in the morning —a circum-
stance that should be attended to, as, if permitted to
ramble away, when about to lay, they frequently drop
their eggs in the water; but, if confined a few times,
they incline to lay in the same place. The time of in-
cubation is thirty days; after which the young follow
the parent, and should be kept from the water for a
couple of days. Soft food agrees with them; barley-
meal and water, mixed thin, or chopped egg and oat-
meal, is a favorite food.
The illustrations we give of the Ducks are from
Messrs. D. L. Stage & Co. of Schenectady, who breed
the finer varieties, purely, and whose birds have taken
prizes at the American Poultry shows, frequently, we
learn. Both the Aylesbury and Rouen Duck are largely
bred by others—Mr. Warner, of New York Mills,
Messrs. Murdock of Meriden, Conn., T. B. Smith & Co.
of Plantsville, Conn., Isaac Van Winkle, Greenville,
N. J., D. W. Herstine, and J. M. Wade, of Philadel-
phia, etc., being among the principal poulterers who
give attention to these fine water-fowl.
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
WHAT I KNOW ABOUT POULTRY, AND FOWL-SHOWS.
In the final chapters of my “‘ New Poultry Book,” I
have thought it pertinent —at the risk of its being
deemed somewhat egotistical, perhaps — to state some-
thing of what I know about Poultry, in a general way,
and what I have learned, in my long experience, as
“amateur, importer, and breeder of Domestic Fowls.
I learned, at an early date in that experience, that it
is not profitable to place too much reliance upon the
unsettled opinions, or loose statements — often made in
entire good faith, nevertheless, of a great many people
who deal in poultry, and particularly of some who
make this occupation a specific business.
I have since learred that the ideas and notions of
318
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 319
certain persons of this class are inclined to be bigoted,
and that their judgment is warped, through selfishness
frequently ; but oftener through positive ignorance of
the business in which they engage — for their own per-
sonal aggrandizement, alone — heedless of what may
be the interests of others, in the same line of trade,
who may be abundantly able to compete with them.
I have ascertained that few men engaged in the fowl-
trade are disposed to enlarge their usefulness by dis-
seminating their choice stock, at reasonably moderate
prices, so that the farmer, the poor man, and the multi-
tude can avail themselves of the benefits of the ‘ im-
provement” they nominally propose to undertake in the
character of the poultry-stock of this or other countries,
through the introduction of new varieties, and fresh
blood, from abroad.
I have found that the breeder or fancier in Europe or
America, is yet to be discovered, who will take three
pounds sterling for his birds, so long as he can obtain
five; or accept ten dollars, while he can get fifteen, or
twenty! AndI do not hesitate to admit that like the
others, I was long troubled with this same affection ; for
the reason, I suppose, that this predilection is inherent
in the chicken-raiser, in all nations, alike. ¥
I have become satisfied that it does not pay to give
one’s time to breeding specimen fowls for the exhibition
room, alone ; more especially, if the breeder happens to
be a moderately modest, honest ‘ outsider;’ who—
though he may be able to contribute a cage or two of
the best samples shown, does not luckily chance to be-
320 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY BOOK ;
long to “our set,’ or “our ring.’ And there be
many earnest striving amateurs who have had the op-
portunity to share with me in acquiring this item of
information, to their cost, during the ee score of years,
in this country.
I have found out that Poultry Societies are most ex-
cellent institutions, in their way, when well managed,
and fairly conducted towards all their members, indis-
criminately —and that Fowl Exhibitions have proved
both beneficial and profitable, where they have been
regulated justly and generously, in the interests of the
whole, rather than for the aggrandizement of a few of
their more fortunate, and so influential] members.
I have made it certain, in my own mind, that the
“judges” at Poultry exhibitions in the United States—
though usually honest and fair meaning men — are not
selected so much for their experience in these matters,
and their competency to pronounce upon the genuine
merits of the fowls placed in competition “for their de-
cisions, as they might be; and that we have in Ameri-
ca, to-day, but few men who will undertake this duty,
and decide a case for themselves, individually, upon any
nice point, without being affected by “‘ outside pressure,”
or the opinions of co-laborers on the Committees.
I have proved the fact, to my entire satisfaction, that
the poulterer who permits fowls of different varieties to
run promiscuously together in the fall and winter, and
only separates them in the spring, a month before breed-
ing them, can never afterwards restore his pullets to
pure breeders, again. Hens thus jeopardized, are con-
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 821
taminated, for life; and no known natural law will ef-
fect a recovery from the injury, communicated through
this careless process, altogether too common among
fanciers and amateurs who subscribe to the doctrine that
the presence of any desired male with the female, for a
few days, or weeks, only, (prior to setting her eggs) is
sufficient to insure pure-bred chickens from such fowls!
I have observed that the dealers generally have found
from experience that eggs sent from their establish-
ments for hatching, to any great distance, cannot safely
be warranted, however cautiously they may contrive to
pack them ; and honorable men admit now-a-days, that
there is a risk in such transportation, owing to the
rough treatment they must almost invariably encounter
en route. This being the exact truth, buyers must‘ take
their chances,’ and be satisfied, as a rule, that though
eges so forwarded may be in perfect condition, when
shipped, the receivers cannot count confidently upon
getting the same number of chickens from them as there
are eggs in the boxes.
I have become convinced that poultry dealers, as a
class, are prone to deem the particular variety or strain
of blood they possess to be better than that owned by
others ; and I have not been obliged to travel out of my
way to meet with more than one gentleman who really
believed in this theory, and was honest in his declara-
tions; yet who did not think there were any pure
Cochins in America, until he imported a few, recently,
from England !
I have learned that in the details of this business, as
322 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK.
in many other affairs of life,it is a very easy thing to
be mistaken,in our estimation both of a rival breeder’s
stock and his real intentions. And that the more we
cry down the character of a competitor’s poultry, be it
good or indifferent—the more business we make for
him, and the less for ourselves, as we go. The harder
you rub a rusty copper, the brighter the old coin will
shine.
I have become convinced that this goodly world of
ours is large enough for us all, and that there is suffi-
cient room in it for us to get on, comfortably, with-
out elbowing or jostling our neighbors ; and, at the same
time, I have found from experience, that while a deal of
money may be made by attending courteously to our
own affairs —a deal more can be made by decorously
leaving the concerns of other people alone — even in the
chicken trade.
Well tried experiments have taught me that “ prize
birds,” either from the English or American show-
rooms, are not generally to be relied on as the best
fowls to breed from. JEnterprising fanciers, who con-
trive to put into the exhibition-hall their superior pair
or trio of imported or high-bred specimens, are obliged
to cram these birds, ordinarily, to bring them to perfec-
tion in size, plumage, and condition, for competition.
Oftentimes these fowls are aged, fat, and dropsical, and
the eggs of such forced samples don’t throw chickens
that come up to their parents in fine quality, by any
means; and, oftener than otherwise, these immense,
showy hens will be found to lay no eggs at all, after
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 3238
being thus forced and stuffed, on two or three occa-
sions.
It is within my own experience that show-birds thus
purchased — at enormous figures —have in the last
named particular disappointed the buyer, altogether,
having never given him an egg, after he placed them
triumphantly in his fine fowl-house! And so lately as
in the year 1870, at one of our leading shows, the
owner of the first premium fowls, in a certain class, was
offered twenty-five dollars for a dozen eges from the
two prize-hens ; but, up to May 1871, neither of them
had laid one. Yet this same trio, placed again in com-
petition in any show-room in the United States, would
again bear away the highest honors; for, to look at,
they were, in all respects, certainly extraordinary fine
fowls. ,
In this connection, experience has exemplified, to my
thorough satisfaction, that the Brahma or the Cochin
fowl need not always be the largest, the highest upon
its legs, or the weightiest, to be the most desirable to
breed from. Points tell. Fine chickens may be, and
are raised, from medium-sized cocks and hens, if they
are judiciously fed, and wisely cared for. But an ob-
servant writer in a late number of the Rural New
Yorker, says that he discovered in a recent coop of
prize-birds there, that “ the adipose tissue of these fowls
was alarmingly in excess, and he thought that apoplexy
would soon follow,’ in their case, from the stuffing
process to which they had evidently been subjected, be-
fore they left England, where they had been forced up
324 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY BOOK ;
to great weight, and from whence they had recently
been imported, for this very occasion.
I have seen the plan so many times and oft-repeated
at exhibitions, where the successful fancier has borne
away the palm by showing such fowls, and I have my-
self so frequently been the victim of misplaced confi-
dence, in this respect, at heavy cost, that I fecl lam
doing but a simple act of justice to others, when I state
that ZI have learned not to pay the high prices such
birds readily command, with a view ever to be able to
breed from them such progeny as will give either me
or my patrons satisfaction. And I am certain that
other zealous breeders have, within a few years,
through their experience, arrived at this self-same con-
clusion.
T am no longer in doubt as to the fact that there are
now in this country plenty of men who can, and do,
breed first-class poultry, as well as you or I can do it —
reader; and if you chance to be one of those who do
not agree with me, in this opinion, I trust you may
quickly and hopefully be brought to see the error of
your way —-as I was — several years since.
I have not yet learned the address of the sailor who
“brought into New York the first Brahma fowls, in
a ship that came direct from up the Brama-poutra
River —” ‘which, I wish to remark, and my language
is plain’ — “is a stream that discharges its waters into
the Bay of Bengal.’ And, as an inquirer after truth,
{ shall take it kindly in any brother-poulterer who will
give me this information — if he ever learns it — though
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 325
I really don’t think he will. ‘ Which is why I remark
that this statement is dark; which the same I am free
to maintain.’
I have concluded, from what I have had to do with
poultry —of all descriptions— imported, home-bred,
and crossed —that the most valuable fowl for all the
purposes of the fancier or the farmer, in America, is the
Chinese strain, whether it be adopted from among the
Brahmas, the Cochins, or the Shanghes. And notwith-
standing the decisions and Reports of Poultry-Show
Judges that “there are more profitable breeds than
this,” I still think that time will show this assumption
of Committees to be erroneous.
I have learned that this matter of the ‘decision of
judges’ is a very important one, and that it ought to be
so contrived that disinterested, competent, willing, un-
prejudiced, intelligent mem only should be placed upon
such Committees; and that unfortunately we find
precious few such persons in the poultry societies of
this country, while in England, even, they are quite as
rarely to be met with, so far as I can gather.
I have informed myself that the “ Cochin China”
and the Shanghe fowl are not precisely the same bird,
and I have long since been of the opinion that calling a
breed of fowls by any outlandish or new-fangled name,
simply, does not change the character and merits or de-
merits of the bird so afflicted —while it answers no
useful purpose, either to the breeder, or the fowl, first
or last ; and only serves to aid in bringing the business
of poultry-raising into disrepute, and ridicule, both at
home and abroad.
326 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
I have ascertained that with the right sort of man-
agement of good stock, the finest fowls in this world
can be raised in these goodly United States of ours;
and that repeated experiments have proved that birds
of the choicest kinds to be had in England, sent over
to this country and bred here as fowls ought to be bred,
have been returned to that country so improved (in all
essential particulars) not by crossing —but by legiti-
mate breeding — that the same stock has scarcely been
recognisable there. This is one thing the Yankee can
accomplish, swre.
Ihave determined that in my judgment we can—
and so we ought to—breed poultry in America that
will beat the world, in all the desirable qualities that go
to make up a first-class fowl, for the spit, the pit, or
the gentleman’s lawn ; and it is in no spirit of boasting
that I make this statement, since the fact is well known,
and acknowledged, on both sides of the Atlantic, by
those who are the best able to judge of the truthfulness
of this assertion —one candid English writer in the
London “Field” using the frank expression that
“since Brother Jonathan made the Brahmas, I wish
he would make us something more.”
I have found out many other things of kindred
character, in relation to the handling, exhibiting and
breeding of poultry, which I will not trouble the reader
with, for the present — for chicken-raisers will sooner
or later learn all these matters from their own indi-
vidual experience and observation, as I have acquired
the information here submitted.
CHAPTER XXIX.
TWENTY-FIVE GOOD RULES FOR FOWL-BREEDERS.
In conclusion, I set down the following five and twen-
ty rules and hints, in brief, for the benefit of those who
may not be familiar with all these matters; which I
deem highly important, however, to be observed by those
who would breed fowls well and successfully.
I. — WHO TO PURCHASE FROM.
In selecting poultry or eggs for incubation, apply for
for what you seek only to a known reliable breeder, who
will faithfully send what you order, and pay him for.
There are plenty of such dealers to be found now-a-days,
in this country.
Il. — ABOUT TRANSPORTING EGGS.
Never send to a distance for eggs for hatching, when
you can procure them near home; as the danger of in-
juring by transportation is imminent, in conveying this
delicately formed article over our railways and rough
roads.
Ill.— HOW BEST TO SET A HEN.
When you get your eggs, set them at once, and don’t
handle them more than is absolutely necessary, until
you can place them under your hens. Then let them
alone for three weeks, and “ take your chances.”
327
328 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-LOOK ;
IV. —LET THE YOUNG ONES ALONE!
When your young ones are hatched, don’t meddle
with them, for four and twenty hours, in your impatience
to see them eat. Asa rule, they will eat enough to sat-
isfy your most ardent desires in this direction, after-
wards.
V.—TO CURE EGG-EATING FOWLS.
To prevent fowls eating their eggs, blow half a dozen,
and fill the shells with a mixture of yolks and cayenne
pepper, or kerosene. Close them up, and place these
egos where the offenders can try this decoction. A.
single taste will content them!
VI. — GIVE FOWLS AMPLE RANGE.
Release your old fowls early in the day, if you have a
range or yard, for them; and the larger the better, if
you keep them in quantity. Ample runs, or walks, for
poultry, seven or eight months in the year, are almost
indispensable.
Vil. — ADOPT A REGULAR SYSTEM.
However you feed, do it in a cleanly manner, upon
system, and whatever else you do, be sure they have
clean fresh water, and plenty of it, at all times. This
is a pre-requisite to assure their health and prosperity.
VI. — WHAT TO DO TO HAVE EGGS.
Supply them with plenty of gravel, ground bones,
pounded oyster-shells, ashes and powdered sulphur to
roll in, and both green and animal food — when con-
fined —if you expect them to lay eggs, or keep in or-
dinary health, meantime.
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 829
IX.-— DON’T WET A SITTING HEN’S EGGS.
Never adopt the stupid whim of the ignorant, about
wetting your eggs, in the hen’s nest for ten days after
she sits. Who “ wets eggs” for the hen that steals her
nest? or that sits and hatches in the wild state ?
X. —SET THE FRESHEST EGGS, ALWAYS.
Procure your eggs for setting from the freshest you
can find; and never buy, until your hen is ready to
cover them. By following this rule, you will get more
chicks, and meet with less disappointment, always.
: XI. — YOU MUST CARE FOR YOUR FOWLS.
Adopt a regular system in breeding poultry, and re-
member that any kind of live stock, to be made to pay,
must have its due share of care and attention. In pro-
portion to the cost, no stock pays so well as this.
XII. — HOW TO AVOID VERMIN.
To prevent the presence of vermin, give fowls raw
onions, chopped fine, occasionally ; and dampen your
roosts and nest-bottoms weekly, with kerosene, or spirits
of turpentine. Your fowls will thus never be troubled
with lice. 3
XII. — HOW TO CURE A SICK FOWL.
If a bird gets sick, remove it directly from the rest.
If it doesn’t recover quickly, knock it on the head, and
bury it. This is the easiest, surest, and cheapest way
it can be ‘ cured,’ and save the others, perhaps.
XIV. — LIGHT, WARMTH, AND AIR.
Give your poultry light, in the fowl-house, warmth
and protection in winter. In summer let them have all
330 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
the out-door enjoyment they can get. They do not love
heat, but crave protection from cold winds and storms.
XV. —SAVE AND SELL THE MANURE.
Place a board flooring directly under your roosts, to
catch the droppings of the fowls during the night. Re-
move this excrement, daily, and save it. The leather-
dressers will pay you six dollars a barrel for it.
XVI. —TO BREED POULTRY PURELY.
If you aim to breed fowls purely, never permit a male
of another variety to reach your pullets, from the start.
Thus, only, can you prevent the female from being
contaminated, for all time, toa greater or less degree.
XVII. — HOW TO BREAK UP A BROODY HEN.
Never adopt the brutal mode of putting a broody hen
into cold water,‘ to break her up.’ Place her in an
open slatted coop, with nothing but a roost inside — |
feed her from the outside — and she will quickly forget
her < fever.’
XVIII. — LOOK OUT FOR SNOW-WATER!
Avoid giving snow-water to poultry; it is poison to
them. A lump of oil-cake scraps, (to be had at the
pork-houses,) is excellent, placed in the fowl-houses,
where they can peck it at their pleasure.
XIX.— CHICKENS ALWAYS READY TO KILL.
Keep your fowls in good condition, from the shell, by
judicious feeding. They will eat no more than they
want ; and thus you will be able, with a few day’s extra |
fare, at any time, to put those to be slaughtered in the
best shape for marketing.
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 331
XX.— THE BEST SITTING HEN’S NEST.
In setting your hens, make it a rule to place at the
bottom of the nest-box, a thick fresh sod; upon which
place the straw or hay for the eggs. The moisture from
the earthy sod will be found a valuable aid to the more
successful hatching.
XXI.— DON’T THINK YOUR FOWLS “ THE BEST.”
If you raise fowls for exhibitions, don’t imagine that
yours “are the best ones” shewn, until the Judges
decide this little matter (perhaps agaist you!) The
adage is true—though musty — that “you can’t tell
who is Governor, till after election.”
XXII. — PROPER AGE TO BREED FROM.
Breed from two-year old fowls, for increased size, of
any variety, as well as to insure chicks that will earliest
mature. Year-old pullets are very well, but the others
are best; and a two-year-old cock is always preferable,
if you have one. a
Xx. — THE FOWLS, NoT THE CAGES, WIN!
Never expend money foolishly on ornamental coops,
for the show-room, but remember that the contents,
(not the expensive cage) will give you the award, if
deserving — provided the Judges are competent, honest,
and fair men, in their decisions.
XXIV.— * FIRST CLASS WHITEWASH.
Whitewash your hen-house three or four times ina
season. For the znszde, mix half a pail full of lime and
water, make a starch of half a pound of flour, and pour
this in, while hot; or, a little glue, will answer.
For outside work, add a handful of salt and boiled rice
to the above, and when dry, see if you can rub tt off.
232 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
XXV.— HOW TO PRESERVE EGGS IN WINTER.
To preserve your family supply of eggs, for winter
use, lay them down in the fall, or summer, in a liquid
composed as follows: one pint of lime, and one pint of
common salt, dissolved in four gallons of boiling water.
When cold, put your eggs into this liquid, ina stone
jar —and they will keep for months. I have tried
this, for years, without failure.
These rules are a part of what I have learned in my
experience ; and I have succeeded in raising pretty good
fowls, and a great many of them, in my time. If my
reader will follow out these hints, he can not go far out
of the right way; and I can venture to assure him that
he will be able, thus, to succeed to his satisfaction, in
“ Selecting, Housing, and Breeding Domestic Fowls— ”
as I have done.
CHAPTER XXX.
RAISING FOWLS IN QUANTITIES, TO PROFIT.
Whatever business pursuit is worth undertaking to
do at all,is worth doing well. The stock-raiser who
attempts to breed good cattle, horses, sheep or swine,
is obliged to devote capital, time, study and care to his
enterprise, to assure success, even in a comparative
view. And there be many who have distinguished
themselves, thus, who have found that their animals
should be the best to be precured of their class, and
that unless the breeder continually devotes himself to
their necessities and well-being, competitors in the
same line will excel him in production, and win the
palm, as a natural sequence to their more faithful or
superior management.
In the multiplying of poultry, both breeders and
farmers in the United States have notably been remiss
in carrying out the principle that this pursuit, like any
other, should be skillfully and attentively conducted, if
success is aimed at; and it is too frequently the case
that the farmer’s poultry is deemed of such minor con-
sequence, that it is left to take care of itself. But
333
334 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
when the fact is presented that in this present year
(1871) the market value of the domestic poultry and
eggs in the United States approximates the colossal sum
of nearly twenty millions of dollars, it will be admitted
that this is no mean item to be considered, as a single
branch of the live stock interest in this country ; and it
ought assuredly to be looked at as one of the leading
sources that contribute to the grand aggregate of our
national rural wealth.
If the farmer who raises his dozen or score or two of
chickens, annually, which he indifferently obliges to
roost in the barn-cellar or among his trees, at night,
and to forage about the farm by day, for sustenance —
who never cares to house his fowls in winter, and gives
them no heed in summer, except to gather what eggs he
can pick up about the hay-mow, or in the cattle-
mangers — would give a tithe of the attention to his
poultry that he bestows upon his pigs or sheep, he
would realize the difference in the returns that would be
forthcoming from his too often neglected fowls.
A good deal has been effected through the persistent
efforts of societies and a few poulterers in the Kastern
and Middle States, of late years, towards influencing the
farmers in the right direetion, in this business ; and, in
many quarters, we hear of the waking up of the country
people to their own interests in this matter. With a
little extra care in selecting, breeding, and properly
providing accommodations for fowls, every husband-
man in our land —in addition to a generous supply of
_eggs for his own family use —could have upon his
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 335
table, at a nominal cost, a brace of good chickens twice
or thrice a week, if he desired; or these same six or
eight chickens weekly, could be slaughtered and sent to
the nearest market, to find a ready cash sale, at a
figure that would pay the raiser doubly the sum that he
can, at similar cost and with greater labor, obtain for
the same number of pounds of pork, mutton, or beef.
This being the fact, it is surprising that poultry is not
better cared for on the farm, than it has thus far been
in America.
There is always a call for good chickens in any city
market, at remunerative prices; and eggs will always
command cash, at similar figures at any season. There
never yet has been a surfeit of either. The demand is
unceasing, too, and year by year the statistics show that
this demand increases. There is no danger of overdo-
ing this thing. Good clean, bright, fat poultry will al-
ways find ready purchasers, in our cities and large
towns in any quantity ; and thus it behooves the farmers
of the country to look at this subject of fowl-raising with -
an eye to their own pecuniary benefit; since it can be
accomplished with such small effort.
Numerous experiments have been tried among the
class of men of whom we are writing, the results of
which, when the accounts have been accurately kept,
have shown that an ordinary clutch of fowls upon the
farm has’ paid a profit of fifty to seventy per cent. on
the cost, feed and care. What kind of live stock or
gardening, or farming, will return any thing like such
percentage as this ?
336 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
And this is not theoretical, remember. In a town in
California, contiguous to market, there now lives a
poulterer and farmer who has kept several thousand
fowls, for some years past, and who is making a reason-
able fortune in that country, through this means. The
climate is in his favor, of course ; but he makes a busi-
ness of it upon system, for marketing purposes, and can
raise more pounds of poultry and eggs, he avers, at the
same cost, than he can of pork or beef; and his chickens
and egos bring him twice or thrice the price, per pound,
that he can realize from the best sheep, swine or cattle
he can raise even in that favored country.
Mr. Lewis, in his lately issued ‘ Practical Poultry
Book,’ gives an account of a South American poultry
farm, carried on by Don San Fuentes, who now keeps
some six thousand fowls upon his large estate, and who
proposes to double or quadruple this number the coming
season. He commenced operations with only two hun-
dred birds, a few years ago. But he colonizes his im-
mense stock, and they have unlimited range over a
ranche of thousands of acres. He keeps some fifty
hens and a few cocks, only, in the same colony, how-
ever, and scatters these families of fifty or sixty each
over the broad extent of his generous sized farm, so
that they are kept precisely as we recommend — to wit,
in separate small collections. Thus only can numbers
be kept, at all. His houses are of the cheapest kind,
for the accommodation of this vast congregation of the
feathered tribe, and five or six hands are employed to
look after the stock, constantly, as Mr. Leland and
iia tere “a see aera
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eu. dase pels
. vial al it tag i ia
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‘his alta ‘eae oe ¥ Rs tds, tai od ne i? am *
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Miria: ed ees: ates eS A
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et } se
Nags ys Mr wnt wie ri Bp Per ah ra bi
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aa
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 3837
other extensive poulterers find it necessary to do.
This South American breeder collects two hundred
dozen eggs a day, and states that his profits upon this
product, and the sale of killed poultry, last year, reached
eleven thousand dollars.
If poultry-keeping on a large scale can be carried on
in one place to a profit, there is no good reason why it
» cannot be accomplished in another section. The farmer
who has hitherto raised only his score or two of fowls,
may raise a hundred or two, in the course of a season,
about as easily. Instead of having twenty or thirty
dozens of eggs in a twelvemonth, he may have as many
hundreds — with but trifling additional labor, and but
slightly increased attention to his poultry.
Since then it can be done, why not do it? Every
agriculturist, every fancier, every amateur fowl-breeder
can contribute his mite to this desirable project, if he
has the inclination. And since no other kind of live
stock pays so well, it really seems to our view that it is
but a duty the farmer owes to the community, that he
gives more and better attention to the multiplying of
good poultry and eggs, for general consumption.
If the nominal intention of breeders and poultry soci-
eties to “ improve ”’ the condition of this branch of rural
trade means anything, we hope to see thei efforts direct-
ed to the advancement of the chief means whence this
market supply properly originates — to wit, towards the
interests of the farmers of the country.
Quoting once more from the N. Y. Poultry Bulletin,
we observe that its talented editor lately insists that the
398 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY BOOK;
majority of farmers have always considered their poul-
try of little or no consequence, and they have allowed
them to run wild and take care of themselves, and de-
generate from year to year. They generally let them
roost in their pig-pen, on their wagons, or wherever they
can find a place. They seldom, if ever feed them, ex-
cept it be a little in winter, and allow them to make
their nests on the hay, under the barns, and ali over the
premises. But they very rarely coop them and keep
them out of the wet grass, or feed them regularly ; in
consequence of which, full seventy per cent. die. This
has resulted in reducing the size of poultry and eggs to
an alarming degree, so that the farmers’ chickens and
ducks average from 2 to 4 lbs., turkeys and geese from
6 to 8 lbs. and eggs 10 to the pound, etc. And these
plainly stated facts account, in a great measure, for the
almost universal opinion current among American far-
mers that “ poultry keeping don’t pay.” It never will
pay, conducted in this reckless way, and it ought not to
pay, so managed ; since if itis not worth the little trouble
requisite to keep it in good condition, it is not worth
keeping at all.
Mr. Leland’s poultry establishments, previously al-
luded to, are the most extensive, if not the largest in the
Northern States. He has over four thousand Brahma
fowls in stock, three hundred ducks of different kinds ;
four to five hundred turkies, and one hundred and fifty
breeding geese. He kills from one to two hundred head
weekly, for his great hotel in New York ; and the busi-
ness pays him handsomely, since he has a quick market
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 339
through this channel for his poultry, all of which has
hitherto been raised for the ‘ Metropolitan ;”’ from the
refuse dry offal of which immense establishment, Mr. L.
has the advantage of being able to furnish his fowls
with a great variety of acceptable food, at small cost, of
course. He states that he turns out about three thous-
sand chickens every spring.
Thus it has been demonstrated, in late years, that
poultry can be kept to profit, in quantities, if the right
management, care and location is accorded the fowls.
Formerly it,was found that the attempt to keep and
breed this kind of farm stock to any great extent, upon
one estate, failed of success; and it is only a few years
since, that Hon. Lewis F. Allen, in response to a cor-
respondent who asked his advice as to ** how a chicken-
house should be constructed, to accommodate about a
thousand fowls,” replied as follows: ‘ If my poor opin-
ion is worth anything, you will not build it at all.
Fowls, in any large numbers together, will not thrive.
I have seen it tried, but I never knew a large collection
of several hundred fowls succeed in a confined place. I
have known sundry of these enterprises tried; but I
never knew one permanently successful. They were all
in turn abandoned.”
Thirty years ago, to wit, in 1839 to 1841, I planned
an extensive range of fowl-houses in Roxbury, Mass.,
having leased “ Williams’ Garden,” at the foot of Mt.
Pleasant, for the pu: pose of trying to raise poultry on a
large scale. I had a fine establishment, good location,
what I supposed was ample space, and | erected twenty
fowl-houses, in a circle — connected together under one
340 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
general shed roof, with small yards attached to each
house. I had glass houses, too, a pond on the premises,
and every apparent convenience was at hand that seem-
ed to be needed. But the enterprise did not succeed.
Five hundred fowls were massed upon one spot; and
they soon failed, retrograded, sickened and died. In
winter time they could not be kept in good health, with-
in the limits of the house-confinement ; and after three
years’ trial, I gave it up. But the error committed
in that instance was in huddling too many fowls together
under one roof. Only by colonizing them, few ina
place, scattered about over your farm or estate, in num-
bers of not over forty to fifty together, can you breed
poultry to advantage, or keep them in health.
And to effect this— time, labor, and attention must
be given to the object. The thriving merchant rises
early, goes to his store, and remains there attending
to his business till evening, and thus obtains a good
living, or makes money. The mechanic who succeeds
in life, begins his work with the sun’s rising, and labors
assiduously to its setting — to get on comfortably in the
world, and lay up something for a rainy day. The
artisan devotes ten or twelve hours, daily, to his labors
and studies, or he runs behind his more enterprising
rivals. The lawyer and the doctor are necessarily
obliged to: give their days (and nights often,) to their
duties, constantly ; and very few in these professions get
rich, through either! The farmer toils from dawn to
evening, over his live stock, his crops, or his fields —
and obtains comfort and subsistence only by attending
to his work industriously and steadily.
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 341
And so every business pursuit in life must needs be
followed with zeal, care, skill, and determination — to
prove more or less successful. If any one desires to
raise poultry to profit, in an ordinary way, he must
attend to it, precisely as he would to any other business,
or profession ; or there is nothing in it, for him. Do-
mestic Fowls will not take care of themselves, advan-
taveously. They must have shelter, in bad weather ;
they must be kept from crowding each other, in limited
quarters ; they must be fed and cared for, wpon system;
and they need constant looking after, during the day,
precisely as any other live stock does. And this under-
taking should be attempted (on a scale to any great
extent,) only as any business, pursuit, calling, or profes-
sion is followed if the party interested expects to
make the occupation remunerative.
The same number of hours daily, regularly, and
faithfully, that the shop-keeper, the mechanic, the
artisan, the lawyer, the laborer, the farmer, or other
stock-raiser gives to his duties, profession, or business,
devoted to the care of two or three thousand fowls, upon
a suitable location, within reach of market, will yield
very much better returns, in proportion to the out-
lay of capital, cost of keeping, etc., than will the multi-
plying of any live stock grown. There is little of mys-
tery, little of difficulty to be encountered, in this em-
ployment, and no hard labor. But to succeed in pro-
ducing good fowls, or in multiplying this kind of stock,
in numbers — your poultry must be systematically at-
tended to, and never be left to shift for themselves.
And, in this respect, the business of raising fowls is, in
342 BURNHAM’S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ;
no particular, different from any other calling. Itisa
good business, a paying enterprize, a healthful occupa-
tion, a pleasant employment, and will be attended with
satisfactory results— 7f well followed. Attempted other-
wise — it will only be coupled with failure; precisely
as any business pursuit is certain to fail, if inefficiently,
or recklessly left to manage itself.
Thus, in plain phrase, 1 have endeavored to set forth
in this New Poultry Book such general rules and advice
as I deem useful, pertinent, and practically feasible, for
ihe successful keeping and rearing of chickens and
fowls, and the production of eggs; either in fancy
breeding, or the more useful and desirable pursuit of
poultry-raising for household and marketing purposes.
By reference to our previous pages, the reader may
find the names of many of the principal good breed-
ers and dealers in this country who raise the finest
stock, and who are prepared to supply orders, honorably
and promptly, 1 believe. And we are happy in being able
to conclude our present pleasant task with the knowl-
edge that a new impulse has of late been given to the
subject, among us, which I make no doubt will be fol-
lowed with largely beneficial results to the poultry in-
terest in the United States, in the future.
Very likely I leave many things yet to be learned,
concerning the matters treated of herein. But, if the
recommendations I have submitted are followed, poul-
try-keepers will not be disappointed in the results at-
tainable through an observance of the suggestions
contained in this work, which has now reached
THE END.
POPULAR POULTRY STOCK.
Av the suggestion of several gentlemen who breed fine poultry,
the publishers add. at the close of this volume, a few pages of AD-
VERTISEMENTS — thus enabling the reader to inform himself where
different good strains of fowls may be had. By referring to the fol-
lowing pages, those interested will find the address of some of our
best breeders of popular Poultry stock, and we commend the ecards of
these gentlemen to notice, confident that the advertisers enjoy facil-
ities for producing first-class fowls; and that purchasers may rely
upon obtaining, either in the way of eggs or fowls for breeding, pre-
cisely what they order, from these well known and reputable estab.
lishinents.
W. H. CHANDLER & CO.
STHAM
fob Peimiing
No. 21 CORNHILL, - - - BOSTON, MASS.
—>» —
Messrs. W. H. CHANDLER & Co., Printers of BuRNHAM’s “NEW
POULTRY BOOK,” would inform Dealers in Poultry, that the
numerous splendid illustrations of Fowls which appear in this volume
are copyrighted, were mostly got up by Bricher & Conant, of this
city, expressly for the present work, and are drawn from life.
BREEDERS and FANCIERS who desire to procure
CIRCULARS RELATING TO THEIR STOCK,
can select one or more of the illustrations which appear in this Book,
of any variety or varieties of Fowls, Geese, Turkics, Ducks, or Games,
with which they may desire to show their stock (of which Cuts we
have reserved duplicates) which Circulars we are now prepared, at
brief notice, through these facilities, to print in the most acceptable
style, at moderate charges.
isF~ Dealers desirous of availing themselves of this proposal can
send the matter for such Circulars, by mail, (with directions as to
their choice of Illustrations) and the Circulars (large or small) when
printed, can readily be forwarded to their address, by Express, to
any part of the United States ;—thus saving fanciers the heavy cost
of getting up original wood cuts and electrotypes of their stock.
Address W.H. CHANDLER & CO.,
Job Printers, 21 Cornhill, Boston, Mass.
BRAHMAS,
White-Faced Black Spanish,
AND
DUCK-WING GAME FOWLS.
—<»<> —
I have bred my Fowls very carefully, for some years past, always
from the finest and purest stock that could be obtained; and I feel
confident that I have in my yards (from which I am now breeding,)
as choice specimens as can be found anywhere.
I shall have a few Eggs to spare during the season, also a few prime
chickens to dispose of, in the fall.
«> Address C. H. EDMONDS,
MELROSE, MASS.,
Or, care of Box 3,639, P. O. Boston, Mass.
GEO. A. MEACHAM,
D0
IMPORTER AND EEE OF
bURS BRED LOWSZS,
has for sale, from his LATE IMPORTATIONS OF STOCK, which was
carefully selected from the yards of the
Best Breeders in England,
REGARDLESS OF COST,
BUFF COCHIN CHINA FOWLS.
PARTRIDGE do. ‘“ ie
WHITE dose? es
DARK BRAHMA, PEA COMB.
LIGHT BRAHMA, do.
BLACK RED GAME.
BROWN do. do.
RED PILE do.
AND OTHER VARIETIES.
(te A PouLttTry CIRCULAR will be issued by me early in the fall.
GEO. A. MEACHAM,
NORTH CAMBRIDGE, MASS
YARDS AT SOMERVILLE.)
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BREEDERS AND SHIPPERS OF
830 Varieties
@f Fancy and Selected, Heme Bred
FOWLS,
HEGGS, PIGEONS, S&e.
Light and Dark
BRAHMAS,
Buff, White and Partridge
COCHINS,
BLACK BREASTED RED GAME BANTAMS,
DUCK-WING GAME BANTAMS,
BRONZE TURKEYS,
AYLESBURY AND ROUEN DUCKS.
For Price List, Circular, &c., Address Box 701,
SCHENECTADY, N. Y.
HE. ©. NEWTON,
‘
United States.
‘Sparg aad Myfuof
4920 Umolf SUmpIAG mou uv T
My Stock 1s equal to any in the
Breeder of and Dealer in all of the most useful and popular kinds
of Thoroughbred
laney
Fan ))
I am making a specialty of
ts
Dark Brahmas, Partridge Cochins, Black Spanish,
Light Brahmas, Buff Cochins, Houdans.
Send stamp for fully illustrated catalogue and price list.
Live Stock, Agriculttral and Horticultural Agency.
IMPORTER, BREEDER AND SHIPPER OF ALL VARIETIES OF
estie Fow!ls.
Agent for the Purchase and Sale of Live Stock generally,
é PNY
WS
IN
INCLUDING
Jersey, Short Horn, Ayrshire and Devon Cattle,
CHESTER WHITE AND BERKSHIRE SWINE,
SOUTHDOWN AND COTSWOLD SHEEP, &c., &c.
Orders solicited for AGRICULTURAL and HORTICULTURAL IMPLE-
MENTS, FERTILIZERS, SEEDS, PLANTS, NURSERY STOCK, &c.
——_+oo———_—_
I make the ASIATIC class of Fowls a Sprectatty. My Stock of
Cocuins and BRAHMAS were ALL IMPORTED BY MYSELF, and
HAVE WON PRIZES at the leading Exhibitions, for the last three
years. I am adding to them every year, by fresh importations and
careful selections, having peculiar reference to the most desirable
qualities in the different varieties; and with a view to avoid close
breeding ; I can therefore confidently offer my Stock as being FULLY
EQUAL, if not superior to any in America.
Dew; TLE RS EINE,
No. 5 South 10th Street, - - - - PHILADELPHIA, PA.
AN IN (at! i RE NI
The Peaizie Parmer,
IS THE GREAT LEADING POPULAR
JOURNAL OF THE NORTHWEST.
—<—»~»« > —
FOR; COUNTRY AND TOWN!
FOR OLD AND YOUNG!!
ALL POULTRY BREEDERS NEED IT.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
AN ANNUAL PRESENT TO ALL!
Published Weekly, at $2.00 per Year; or, at same price as most
Monthilies.
("> THREE MONTHS ON TRIAL FOR FIFTY CENTS. £1
Specimen Numbers Free.
MOST LIBERAL PREMIUMS OFFERED.
New List Now Ready. Send for it and get up a Club. Address
THE PRAIRIE FARMER COMPANY, Chicago.
Remit at Our Risk, by Registered Letter or P. O. Money Order.
E. J, TAYLOR,
WATERLOO, SENECA COUNTY, N. Y.,
BREEDER OF SUPERIOR
Dark and Light Brahmas,
Buff and Partridge Cochins,
AND
DUCK-WING GAMES.
—<~S>
E. J. TAYLOR’S PRICE LIST OF EGGS.
PARTRIDGE COCHINS, - - - - $6.00 per dozen.
DARK BRAHMAS, : - - - ~ 5.00)“
BUFF COCHINS, - - aut tora ass = A009 = 88
LIGHT BRAHMAS, - ~ Se i ee 30022)"
DUCK-WING GAME, - - - SO0ln 2
WHITE CALCUTTA SWAN FANTAIL PIGEONS, $5.00 per pair.
<>
I never send any but fresh Eggs, and pack them carefully in dry
saw-dust, unless otherwise ordered. I pack every egg myself, and
warrant them to reach their destination sound, but will not warrant
them to hatch ; not knowing what treatment they will receive after I
have shipped them. They ought, however, to hatch a very good per-
centage of chicks, and will, if cared for prcperly.
Orders filled in rotation as received, and in every case where the
order cannot be filled, the money will be immediately refunded.
t@- NO FOWLS OR EGGS SENT C. 0. D.—£2
P. O. Orders on Seneca Falls, Drafts on New York, or Registered
Letters sent at my risk.
Be particular to write name and direction plainly.
IF YOU WANT AGENTS,
HAVE STOCK TO SEMEL,
OR
ANYTHING TO MAKE KNOWN
TO THE
PEOPLE OF THE WEST,
YOU HAVE ONLY TO
PUT AN ADVERTISEMENT
INTO
KELLOGGS “INSIDE TRACK LIST”
u= 270 COUNTRY NEWSPAPERS.
This List comprises a Large Proportion of the Best Western County
Papers, Superior in Character, Circulation, and Influence,
to those of any other list.
RATES FOR THE WHOLE LIST, - - $2.50 PER LINE.
Each Insertion.
If you use a cut, one electrotype will be sufficient.
The limited amount of advertisements in the pages controlled by
us in these papers, makes every advertisement in them more conspic-
uous, and consequently more valuable to the advertiser.
Advertisers can reach the readers of these only through this List,
except at rates at least three times those we charge.
Parties ordering through this List not only save great labor and ex-
pense in correspondence, and in cuts, but also secure for their adver-
tisements a gratifying neatness and clearness of printing, and for
their orders great promptness and positive certainty of execution.
ALL ORDERS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO
Ae Ne KELLOGG,
Auxiliary Publisher,
(10 & {12 Madison Street, Chicago, Ill.
&. W. PELTER,
BATAW LAS OFTEO,
Breeder of the famous
Whes
pet WOM << S WW
(The only Flock of this valuable Game known in America. )
Such has been their success as Warriors, that Sportsmen of Cincinnati
have refused ‘‘to pit’? any other cock against one of these DERBY WHITE
GAMES.
ALSO,
HOUDANS, BUFF COCHIN, DARK AND LIGHT BRAHMAS,
WHITE LEGHORN, GOLDEN SEBRIGHT BANTAMS,
SILVER SPANGLED HAMBURG, WHITE FACED
BLACK SPANISH,
MAMMOTH BRONZE TURKEYS,
WELLE
A great variety of FANCY PIGEONS, of the finest excellence.
Black, and also YeHow Barbs, Jacobines, Turbits,
Tumblers, Trumpeters, Nuns, ete.
Ya All the above FOWLS and PIGEONS are from the leading yards
of Europe and America.
ESS EB X eWwtrnN VY Ee
My stock is BRED, and KEPT in the highest purity, by Stock from the
pens of Joseph Harris, Esq., Moreton Farms, Rochester, N. Y., and from
Importations by Col. W. P. Anderson, Cincinnati, Ohio. LEverything sent
out by me guaranteed as represented.
Address, with stamp,
Ga. W. FEL,
BATAVIA, OHIO.
THE TURF, FIELD AND FARM,
The Sportsman’s Oracle and Country Gentleman’s Newspaper.
PUBLISHED WEEKLY,
At. No. 37 Park Row, ... . New Yoru
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION:
Kine Vedra NE VANCO: < -jo.n)5'aron.ciaie aide miebaje ers (oie o'piadiak’s/avn.n Seer eee nanee $5 00
Canada) and Dimro pes 2s scisie ak v6 Sakae eee cen) oneie eM ape on alah stehaliee eee 6 00
Mane tas< bMCOplOss 1.1. Laicielaye «Slaw fel bre ate Boletos wes Sais sata} ableiele cee 20 00
Its UO PIES cas 4s a c1oW nu’ s Peidla|«ealthalemine cowie a o5 aut eae apne eee 36 00
RATES OF ADVERTISING:
Single Insertion, One Line. .........sceccc cece cs sees nceanerscescnes 30
One minath, One Line... ici j0'e ose, ne hieneing « cess Saree Seve wie ely menial 90
Three Months, One Line.......... + dela -ofece fowte te. 0°a:Siaie ig een Rae $2 25
Sia WE HES CPTIG SEAITG. 55 cine cae Ses we bale ete aitals a Contes oe 25S eee ~3 50
=
The increasing popularity and demand for the TuRF, FIELD AND FARM
have induced numerous additions at increased expense, and now we present
the CHEAPEST, BEST and ACKNOWLEDGED LEADING TURF JOUR-
NAL OF AMERICA. A great variety of subjects are discussed, especially
those that have any bearing upon SPORT. The Turr columns are presided
over by gentlemen who are recognized as authority both throughout the
United States and Europe. Our reports of RACE MEETINGS are full, and
furnished by special Commissioners. HORSE GOSSIP AND STOCK
ITEMS are carefully presented. BASE BALL, CRICKET and kindred
games are recorded with care. YACHTING is made an interesting feature,
and our BOATING DEPARTMENT is in charge of an expert oarsman, and
withal a graphic writer. Our CHESS CHRONICLE is edited by Capt.
MacKenzie, the strongest and the leading player of the Western Hemisphere;
and our DRAUGHT EDITOR is everywhere accepted as an authority. Our
AGRICULTURAL, BILLIARD, FISHING, VETERINARY, SHOOTING
and DRAMATIC DEPARTMENTS are ably conducted, and each is in
charge of a different writer. Our LITERARY REVIEWS are bold, critical
and independent, and our STAFF OF SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS large
and strong.
Our friends in every City, Township and County should send Clubs.. Ad-
dress, TURF, FIELD AND FARM ASSOCIATION,
P. O. Box 6,842. No. 37 Park Row, New York.
C. N. PALMER & SONS,
GALLIPOLIS, OHIO.
We shall offer for sale during the fall of 1871, and Spring of 1872,
the following list of Fowls, bred from imported Stock, viz:
LIGHT BRAHMAS, per pair, - - - - - $6 00
DARK BRAHMAS, per pair, - - - - - 1000
HOUDANS, per pair, - - > aN - - 7 00
BUFF COCHINS, per pair, etn ote me a ee OE
BLACK JAVAS, per pair, ~ > ~ - 7 00
WHITE LEGHORNS, per pair, - - ~ - - 6 00
WHITE DORKINGS, per pair, - - - - ~ 6 00
SILVER SPANGLED POLANDS, per pair, -_ - 7 00
BLACK SPANISH, per pair, - - - - - 7 00
GOLDEN HAMBURGS, per pair, ” - - - 6 00
BRONZE TURKIES, per pair, - - - - - 1000.
TOPKNOT, or CUBAN DUCKS, per pair, - > 6 00
WHITE BREMEN GEESE, per pair, ~- - - 1000 -
—roo—
t@-Our patrons may rely upon obtaining from us first class birds.
Address,
C. N. PALMER & SONS,-
GALLIPOLIS, OHIO.
Pure
WK NS INN WwW
I breed but four varieties, and those are from the best stock in Europe.
My CREVE CCEURS and HOUDANS are my own importations
from the ‘JARDIN DE ACCLIMATATION,” Paris, France. I
have made six different importations since February, 1867, and my
stock contains no trace of any other Blood. I can therefore give a
** pedigree ”’ of every fowl and egg of these varieties from my yard.
It is a noted fact among fanciers that there is scarcely a heatihy
yard of Creve Coeurs in the British Isles. The climate there does not
agree with this variety. In importing from such a source, does it
not follow that the result must be unhealthy fowls, and progeny ?
To my persistent avoidance of all strains of English bred Creve
Coeurs, I attribute my uniform good success and healthiness of my
stock. I have never lost a Creve Coeur by roup, and don’t think I
ever had acase of it among my flock. They are uniformly healthy,
and with me, as hardy and easy to raise as the Brahmas.
&@S— My Dark Brahmas are also my own importation from the yard
of the Hon. J. K. Fowler, England.
My Black Spanish are the two first and the third premium pens
at the last show of the N. Y.S. Poultry Society; all imported, and
from THREE of the most noted hat, viz.: Henry Bel-
don, Esq., J. H. Cryer, Esq., and Lady Holmsdale, making I believe,
the BEST yard of Spanish in America.
PRICE. LisT.
- - - $15 perpair. - - - - $23 per trio.
- - = i15perpair. - - - - 28 per irio.
Dark Brahmas, - - - 16perpair. - - - 25 per trio.
Black Spanish, - 10to 20 per pair. - - 15 to 30 per trio.
“PURITY AND EXCELLENCE GUARANTEED.”
Eggs for Sale in Season.
ta@-Above Prices include Boxing and Delivery at Express Office
at Rye, N. Y.
TERMS CASH—accompanying the Order. No Fowls
Shipped “C. O. D.” All orders filled in rotation
as received.
Creve Coeurs, -
Houdans, - -
Remittances by Express to Rye, or by P. O. Money Order on New
York City.
A. M. HALSTED, Rye, N. Y.
Aurora, Cayuga Lake, N. Y.,
IMPORTER AND BREEDER OF
i, Ae oe eS Te
if
{iit ans ji LLY)
aN t/t Wy J yy WY if
rr CW aire Mp,
Ssh Z <<
y i\
—— =
%
dp ) INN age D) BQ) OQ) &
MOP wUsalet
POULTRY OF THE FOLLOWING VARIETIES:
Dark and Light Brahmas, Buff Cochins, White and Silver
Grey Dorkings,
GOLDEN SPANGLED HAMBURGS.
and Sumatra Games, Rouen Ducks, White Holland Turkies.
BERKSHIRE SWINE,
AND
ALDERNEY CATTLE,
Price List and Descriptive Catalogues furnished upon receipt of Postage Stamp.
Nothing sold C. O. D.
eee April, 1871. THOS: GOULD:
eS Cee
LIVE STOCK JOURNAL,
AN ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY.
Devoted to the Breeding, Feeding, Management of Live Stock Poultry, and
Bees: to the Dairy and the Turf.
Among its regular corps of contributors are
HON. LEWIS F. ALLEN, of Buffalo.
E. W. STEWART, of Lake View, N. Y.
CYRUS O. POOLE, of New York City,
L. B. ARNOLD, of Ithaca, N. Y.
MISS MIDY MORGAN, of the New York Times.
DAVID Z. EVANS, JR., of Maryland.
WILLIAM SOMERVILLE, V. S.
BURR H. NICHOLS, of Lockport, N. Y.
Besides numerous Special Contributors from the ranks of Breeders, Feed-
ers, Poultry Fanciers, Apiarians and Dairymen.
Every effort is made to ensure its being in all its departments, a
FIRST-CLASS JOURNAL,
Which meets the Wants of all who are interested in the care of Domestic
Animals, Fowls or Bees.
Special Attention is paid to the Poultry Department.
During the short time that the Live Stock JouRNAL has been before the
public, it has attained a reputation and influence which gives it a position in
the front rank of agricultural publications. It was started with a view to
supply the manifest want of a first-class magazine, devoted exclusively to
the great and growing live-stock interest of the country. Every effort which
could be made by the employment of the best talent in the country, and a
heavy expenditure of capital, has been put forth to make Jit a fitting exponent
of the vast interest to which it is devoted. An entire few outfit of elegant
type and materials was purchased expressly for it; writers of the highest
reputations and acknowledged authority in all matters relating to the manage-
ment of live stock, the dairy, poultry and bees, are permanently engaged as
contributors to its columns at liberal rates of compensation; fine and expen-
sive engravings are used to illustrate its pages, and it is printed on an extra
heavy quality of fine book paper.
These efforts to make the Live Stock JouRNAL worthy of popularity, have
met with a gratifying success. It has already attained a wide-spread circula-
tion in every State in the Union, in the Dominion of Canada, and recently
names from England and France have been added to its subscription list. Its
original articles have not only gone the rounds of the American press, but
have been translated into foreign language, and copied by foreign papers.
TERMS.—Single Copy One Year, $1.50; Four Copies, $5.00; Eight
Copies, $9.50; Ten Copies, $12.00; Fifteen Copies, $15.00.
G. ni MARTIN, Epiror AND PURLISHER.
6 R HENRY C. SPRINGER & CO., Proprietors,
Office, No. 4 Coit Block, 16 West Swan St., Buffalo, N. Y.
GH All funds should be remitted either by Post Office orders, or draft on
New York. In all cases the expense of forwarding may be deducted from
the amount. Where there is no money order Post Office or bank, the amount
may be remitted in currency at our risk, if less than forty dollars —if forty
dollars, or more, by express at our expense.
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