BREEDING DARK DORKINGS. 



379 



I also consider them generally more t}pical 

 Dorkings in shape. No one is probably less 

 particular than I am as regards colour of 

 plumage in Dark Dorkings, but I like to see the 

 breast and thighs in the cocks black, with little 

 or no white mottling appearing, and with a full 

 flowing black tail. The ear-lobes in the cocks 

 should certainly be red or nearly so, though 

 some of the older fanciers say that in old times 

 the ears were mostly white. 



way of grain I use canary seed at first, and 

 afterwards groats. Meat or flesh of some kind 

 I often see recommended for moultnig fowls ; 

 and in cold weather, given in moderation, I 

 dare say it is at times useful, but used too 

 freely it is often the cause of those big, flabby, 

 soft-looking combs, which are constantly fall- 

 ing over or breaking out into canker in the 

 cocks, as well as of that \-ile habit one hears 

 so often of, the hens pecking the cocks' combs." 



Wing. Wing-Covrrt. 



Fig. I iS.— Feathers of Medium Dark Durking Hen. 



" My birds are mated up about the beginning 

 of December, and are not afterwards exhibited 

 that season. To win at the early shows, you 

 must ha\'e your chickens hatched in January or 

 early in February, but for the big autumn 

 shows the ]\Iarch chickens are generally the 

 best. I never set a Dorking hen on eggs if I 

 can possibly avoid it, for though they sit well, 

 they are so heavy and clumsy that they often 

 crush the chickens when hatching. 



" My chickens never get custard or chopped 

 eggs. At first I give oatmeal and Spratt made 

 into dough, with a little milk to drink. In the 



The following remarks on the colour of 

 Dark Dorking hens or pullets are kindly added 

 by Mr. T. Coke Burnell, who was well known 

 both as an exhibitor and judge until health 

 compelled a sojourn for some years upon the 

 Continent, but who subsequently returned to 

 England, and was enabled to compare present 

 exhibits with what he was familiar with : — 



" As to colour in Dorking hens, provided 

 the w'ings are not rusty, and the breast 

 feathers have not a very faded or washed- 

 out appearance, I should not be over ready 

 to condemn an otherwise good bird. The 



