254 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



above. The pencilling extends all the way 

 down the feather, clean, clear, and distinct, 

 and in this they are far ahead of the English 

 variety, but in the matter of colour the two form 

 a striking contrast. While our own is a light 

 and dark shade of brown, the American bird 

 is of a rich mahogany-red colour and the pen- 

 cilling rather coarse. The cocks are alike in 

 breast and feet, but the top colour is more 

 ruddy and nearly uniform in America. 



As regards the Black and White varieties, 

 it is interesting to observe that in the former, 

 whereas the English standard allows the eyes 

 to be bright red, dark red, hazel, or nearly 

 black, the American Poultry Association insists 

 on a black or dark brown eye, and that the 

 under-colour of the plumage must be black to 

 the skin. Further, while we require " lizard " 

 legs, black gradually shading into yellow is 

 preferred in the States ; but the bottoms of the 

 feet must be yellow. In the White variety, 

 practically the only difference is that while 

 we insist on pearl or bright red eyes, in 

 America reddish-bay is the correct colour. 



The bodily characteristics of Cochins require 

 some special care in rearing and management. 

 They are above all breeds prone to lay on fat, 

 both externally and internally : hence maize 

 should be carefully avoided for them., and a 

 most careful watch kept upon too great weight, 

 or signs of laziness. When kept in confinement 

 they require even more than other fowls to be 

 regularly and plentifully supplied with green 

 food : if this is not attended to they are pecu- 

 liarly apt to suffer from liver disease in some 

 form, though in other respects the breed must 

 be classed as hardy. The same ample supply 

 of green food has much to do with the successful 

 rearing of chickens, keeping the system in a 

 healthy growing state, and preventing premature 

 deposit of fat. Over-crowding is perhaps more 

 prejudicial in rearing chickens of this breed than 

 almost any other, and wasters should therefore 

 be picked out early ; there will always be suffi- 

 cient even as regards Cochin character and 

 plumage, independent of faults in colour. 



The plumage naturally requires great care to 

 preserve it in good condition, owing to its pro- 

 fuse and soft character, which makes it easily 

 injured. More than in any other breed, pullets 

 intended for show should therefore be separated 

 in good time from the cockerels. So in regard 

 to washing, while we have already said that as a 

 rule it is little matter how or in what direction 

 feathers are rubbed about, a little care not to 

 rub violently too much against the lie of the 

 feather is advisable in the case of Cochins, the 



feather being so much weaker than in other 

 breeds. To preserve foot-feather, the bird must 

 never be allowed to run in long or stubbly grass, 

 which rapidly wears down the lower plumes. A 

 grass-run for Cochins meant to be exhibited 

 should be mown and kept like a lawn, short and 

 tender. Neither should they be allowed to 

 scratch much amongst long straw, a course 

 which cleans many other fowls so admirably, 

 but which tends to injure heavy foot-feather 

 by friction. 



One of the most tiresome difficulties in 

 Cochin breeding is the propensity to " loose " 

 or "slipped " wings, a propensity more common 

 in them than in Brahmas, which also share it, 

 owing to the greater softness of the plumage. 

 The very first birds imported showed this so 

 strongly, that some of the newspapers of the 

 time described such wings as a peculiar forma- 

 tion, enabling the bird to " double-up " and fold 

 its wing in a peculiar manner. It is strongly 

 hereditary, and should, therefore, be sedulously 

 guarded against in breeding stock ; if this be 

 done, individual cases can often be cured as 

 described on p. 210. But special care should be 

 taken of any unusually promising cockerel, that 

 he be not driven about or flurried, which we are 

 quite certain has often started this blemish at a 

 critical age. 



From a utility point of view it cannot be 

 denied that Cochins have deteriorated : but they 

 still have useful qualities in their size, hardiness, 

 and capacity for winter laying, which 

 Qualities of some strains have never lost. The 

 Cochins. great size of the drumstick and de- 



ficiency in breast detracts of course 

 from their table value ; yet we have had cockerels 

 pronounced " delicious," and not without reason, 

 the large drumsticks being much more juicy 

 than in an ordinary fowl. The small space in 

 which they can be kept, and the little fencing 

 which will confine them, would make them, with 

 all their faults, very suitable for many small 

 yards, were it not for two serious drawbacks, in 

 the crow of the cocks and the constant broodi- 

 ness of the hens, which often want to sit after 

 laying a dozen to twenty eggs. This could of 

 course be bred out by selection, but is not worth 

 that trouble when so many breeds with less of 

 it already exist ; and such a quality almost dis- 

 qualifies the breed for many of the small runs 

 where it would otherwise be most suitable. It 

 does not answer to deny such a strong instinct 

 altogether, and the best plan is to " dodge " it 

 by letting one hen hatch the eggs, and by 

 removing one or two when nearly hatched, to a 

 second, get her to take to the other chicks when 

 all are out, thus letting one brood satisfy and 



