THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



they are grown enough to hold a ligature, when 

 one or both wings, as required, should be care- 

 fully bound up with each feather in proper 

 position. The manner in which this is done is 

 shown in' Fig. So, the wing being bound round 

 rather tightly near the middle, after which the 

 cord is carried from the knot at A, round the 

 shoulder at B, to the inside part of the ligature 

 at C ; this is, of course, simply to prevent the 

 ligature from slipping off, which the bird will 

 use all his endeavours to effect. Soft string 

 about the thickness of stout whip-cord should 

 be employed, and the operation be performed at 

 night for the sake of quietness. A little judg- 

 ment in tying is necessary, as if the retaining 

 cord A B C be too slack the bird slips the 



Fig. So. — Tying a Wing. 



bandage off, while if too tight it may cut and 

 become embedded in the web at the shoulder, 

 causing irritation and distress. Patience and 

 tact are also required, and we have had birds 

 we were obliged to tie up afresh for five or six 

 nights before the feathers were retained in place 

 to our satisfaction. The greatest care is to be 

 taken that evoy feather is in position, on which 

 all depends, and the bird is then to be left with 

 his wing or wings tied till it is supposed the 

 feathers are properly set. The ligature may 

 then be cut, when if the result is satisfactory all 

 is of course over ; if not, the wings are to be 

 again confined. There are few but may be 

 thus cured if taken in due time. The ligature 

 has a tendency to cut the feathers, but this may 

 be avoided by folding a piece of stiff paper 

 under the wing at D, and tying the ligature 

 over that, which will preserve the wing from 

 injury. There is some slight danger of Asiatic 

 cocks acquiring the same fault during the moult 

 If the wings are seen properly tucked up every 



night at roost nothing further will commonly be 

 needed ; but if the blemish should appear to be 

 becoming habitual, it must be treated in the 

 manner just described. 



As winter approaches it is often of great 

 benefit to return to special 7iight feeding ; but 

 on this point judgment must be used. 

 Night Feeding If '^he chickens have made their 

 for Older growth, and are of good weight and 



Chickens. substance, and fairly set, there is no 



reason for it, and it may even do 

 harm by making them too fat. But if cockerels, 

 especially of the large breeds, are still immature 

 and lanky, though promising, very much may be 

 gained, when the days are short, in putting on 

 body and weight by getting in an extra feed. 

 We recollect once getting some Brahma pullets 

 hatched late in May up to another lot hatched 

 in April, so that one of each went as a pair to 

 ham. Suppose the three ordinary meals 

 :n at 8 a.m., noon, and 4 p.m. Then if 

 the chickens are lanky, much is 

 gained by another feed at 10 p.m.; 

 and, even if an extra full feed is 

 not thought needful, much may, 

 be gained in appetite and profit- 

 able assimilation of the food, by 

 giving the breakfast as before, a 

 mere sprinkle at noon, another 

 feed at 3 p.m., and the final feed 

 at 9 or 10 p.m. In immature birds 

 such night feeding does indubitably make size. 

 Our own plan at last was to pour boiling water 

 upon hea\'y uats in a bucket about 6 or 7 p.m., 

 cover with a cloth, and give the warm steeped 

 grain at ten o'clock, when it was eagerly looked 

 for. We had tried other things, but the steeped 

 oats pushed them on better than anything else, 

 were eaten with avidity, and did not swell in 

 the crops. The birds themselves were at that 

 time bedded on straw, and when the lantern 

 was put down it was curious to see them 

 march forward, and when they were satisfied 

 get back to bed again as quietly as a lot of 

 children. 



With such care and attention, if the stock 

 and mating have been fairly good, there ought 

 to be in due time some really good birds avail- 

 able for the show pen. Of course they may not 

 win ; for they are not the only chickens in the 

 country, and however good they may be, some- 

 one else may have still better. But there 

 should be some that will not disgrace the 

 yard ; and we will hope for the best, and 

 proceed to consider their actual exhibition. 



