REPORT OF THE POULTRY MANAGER. 



275 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



In the thoroughbreds the following points are called for : Bright red face, comb, 

 wattles, and earlobes ; yellow shanks and toes, and beak yellow with dark stripe down 

 the upper mandible. 



Dark Brahmas are not so nvmierous or well-known as the light variety. Their 

 characteristics are much the same. The standard weights are slightly different, viz. : — 



Lb3. 



Cocks 11 



Cockerels 9 



Lba. 



Hens 8i 



Pullets 7 



Buff, White, Black and Partridge Cochins. — All are well-known, the Buffs being 

 the most numerous and best liked. They are hardy and vigorous. Hens are average 

 layers of dark brown eggs of rich colour. Chicks are hardy and fairly rapid growers. 

 The male of the black variety is lOJ pounds weight, half a pound lighter than the 

 other males of that family. The standard weights are : — 



Lbs. 



Cocks 11 



Cockerels 9 



Lbs. 



Hens 8i 



Pullets 7 



Black Langshans. 



Black and White Langshans. — Of the two vari- 

 eties the former are much the best known. The 

 Black is an old and well established variety in 

 England, where it has many friends. The females 

 are good layers of an egg of medium size and rich 

 brown colour. • The fowls attain large size when 

 properly handled. The chicks are hardy and grow 

 well, but do not make as early market chicks as do 

 the Plymouth Rocks and Wyandottes. Standard 

 weights are : — 



Lbs. 



Cocks 10 



Cockerels 8 



Hens 7 



Pullets 6 



MEDITERRANEAN CLASS. 



The Mediterranean class embraces the Leghorns, Andalusians and Minorcas, all 

 non-sitters. The different points of the several varieties are given below : — 



White Leghorns. — One of the best known and 

 most popular breeds. They are veritable egg 

 machines, as indeed are all varieties of the Leghorn 

 family. The females of this variety are hardy and 

 make good winter layers, when fairly well housed. 

 Chickens are hardy and grow rapidly, the yotmg 

 cockerels crowing at eight weeks' of age. There 

 are no standard weights for the varieties of this 

 class. Eggs are white in colour. Some strains lay 

 large white eggs. Of late the size of the White 

 Leghorns has been increased by skilful mating. 

 They are good fowls for farmers, when kept with a 

 breed of sitters. 



16— 18^ 



White Leghorns. 



