CARE OF THE BEST BIRDS. 



with liglitcr and narrower, and sometimes black 

 and light fawn, alternating stripes on either 

 side, the general body colour being of a light 

 brown shade or fawn. A fact that should not 

 be overlooked by the novice poultry-keeper is 

 that the young of all black fowls, and of those 

 in whose plumage black largely enters, always 

 show white in wings. 



As regards the leg colour of chickens, it 

 may be remarked that in yellow-shanked varie- 

 ties, more especially in black Leghorns, if 

 that colour appears at birth it may be reckoned 

 with a large degree of certainty that the adult 

 birds will have too pale-coloured legs ; it is far 

 better, provided that the under part of the 

 foot is yellow, that the leg be willow or marked 

 with that colour, or even show traces of green 

 or black. In the case of willow-legged birds, 

 on the contrary, it is usually considered a good 

 sign if the chickens come with yellow shanks. 

 As has been indicated, white-legged fowls are 

 born with yellow-coloured legs. Some strains, 

 however, appear to enter the world with white 

 legs ; but closer examination will show that 

 there is a distinct light slate-blue tinge ; it is 

 one that never clears, and will always be re- 

 tained. The legs of black Orpington chickens 

 are what may be termed " patchy," and are far 

 from solid black ; they generally come black 

 near the junction of the leg and body, and 

 then take on a yellowish flesh-coloured cast, 

 and change gradually with the plumage. The 

 above illustrations could be augmented, but 

 enough has been said to indicate that there is 

 much dissimilarity between the colour of a 

 newly-hatched chicken and the same bird in 

 an adult state. 



The larger breeds are better not allowed to 

 perch till at least four months old. Cochins and 

 Brahmas even till six. It is to be remembered 



that many generations of forcing 

 Roosting. diet and more or less confmement 



have produced a weight of body 

 much greater than Nature would have attained, 

 with a softness of texture also greater than hers. 

 Hence the result of rash perching is often the 

 deformity of a crooked breast. A fowl on un- 

 limited range, sleeping out of doors or in trees, 

 would take no harm from perching ; but for 

 most large stock it is not safe, and the better 

 plan is soft bedding down, either an a dry floor, 

 or a shelf arranged as a roost. Dry ashes are 

 as good as anything for very young birds, or 

 peat moss litter ; later on plenty of straw keeps 

 the plumage cleaner, but is unnecessary till the 

 adult or exhibition plumage begins to grow. All 

 through, however, care should be taken to give 

 enouoh soft material for the claws to enter 



easily, as crooked toes may be caused by a 

 hard flat surface as easily at this period as 

 during fledgling days. 



The first appearance of the permanent 

 feathers, which do not replace the nestling 

 feathers by a definite moult as in adult birds, 

 but slowly and gradually as new 

 Care of leaves replace old on an evergreen 



Adult tree, brings the breeder a new and 



Plumage. different set of cares as he studies 

 to avoid or prevent anything that 

 may impair colour, or condition, or develop- 

 ment when full grown. Shade now becomes 

 more* important than ever, almost all-important. 

 Exposure to the sun turns white plumage 

 yellow, while buff and other colours are faded 

 or bleached, and even black loses its lustre for 

 a shabby dull colour, sometimes distinctly 

 brown. White lobes will suffer also from either 

 free sunshine or strong winds, the latter caus- 

 ing roughness as well as tinges of red. A 

 piece of coppice divided into runs is the best 

 shade of all for this period, but few can com- 

 mand it. Some shade is always possible, but 

 it needs to be remembered that while maturing 

 for exhibition it must not only be provided, 

 but the birds kept out of the summer sun ex- 

 cept for a very limited time. In many varieties 

 a good yellow in the shanks is also 

 Colour '^^ importance, and is best pre- 



of served by habitual running over 



Shanks. fresh grass, especially if on ferru- 



ginous soil. Almost any shanks will 

 be bleached by running on chalky soil or loose 

 lime rubbish, which otherwise is conducive to 

 dryness and health in a shed ; hence such must 

 be avoided for yellow-legged breeds. Some 

 have advised making a run damp, or compel- 

 ling the birds to walk through a water-pan in 

 entering or leaving the houses ; but treatment 

 of this kind is dangerous to health in several 

 obvious ways, and (although moisture has 

 some undoubted effect in preserving a rich 

 yellow) is not so successful as supposed. 

 Shady grass is usually sufficient, but if it is 

 thought that more is required, about all that 

 can really be done will be secured by carefully 

 sponging the shanks each night with a sponge 

 nearly wrung out of tepid water containing a 

 teaspoonful of glycerine to the pint ; or 

 slightly with petroleum oil, sponging off so 

 as to leave as little as possible. If more be 

 used, dirt collects underneath the scales, but 

 by applying at night and sponging almost off 

 this is avoided, and perceptible improvement 

 effected in many instances, while the smell of 

 the oil will greatly repel insects. 



Colour leads us to another very important 



