WHITE MINORCAS. 



405 



require the comb-guards described in a former 

 chapter. Pulicts, on the other hand, grow better 

 combs, and faUing more nicely over, if kept mor«' 

 under cover and in warmer quarters, but they 

 also do perfectly well on a good range. 



At about five months old it is time to look 

 after the lobes ; and during all cold winds the 

 birds should be confined in runs sheltered for 

 at least 30 inches from the ground. This will 

 often entail confinement in a shed or enclosed 

 run ; and when this is the case the shanks 

 should be rubbed twice a week or so with a rag 

 and a mixture of oil and paraffin, rubbing it well 

 off again. For some time before exhibition the 

 birds should be kept out of bright light, as well 

 as cold wind, to bleach the lobes ; but it is not 

 advisable to shut them up like Spanish in warm 

 houses, or even in darkness for more than a 

 few days. The reason is that the larger 

 combs will not stand heat ; and vivid red in the 

 comb, wattles, and face is as important as white 

 in the lobe, and suffers from much darkness. 

 But the lobe should, if necessary, be washed, 

 dried, and attended to as in the case of the 

 preceding breed. A pullet's comb can be 

 easily worked over a little if necessary, work- 

 ing it gently every day between finger and 

 thumb. 



There is no breed in which a vivid red is 

 so important about comb and face. To attain 

 this the birds must be in perfect health when 

 put up, and during the period of training they 

 should have a little shredded raw meat every 

 day, adequate green food, and a little of the 

 citrate of iron and potash in their water, not 

 forgetting grit in the pen. Some breeders 

 believe that a supply of chopped garden onions 

 (not Spanish) every day, with a special feed 

 of it the last thing, tends to brigliten both the 

 colour and the eyes. It can, at all events, do 

 no possible harm, if not pushed to the extent 

 of purging. 



The Minorca must be classed amongst our 

 most valuable poultry. The flesh is not of the 

 first class, not being very tender or juicy, but is 

 far better than that of the Spanish, 

 Economic fairly plentiful on the breast when 

 Qualities. well fed, and white. It is as a layer, 

 however, that the breed is so 

 useful, laying not only many in number, but the 

 largest egg of any breeds known, very many 

 eggs weighing three ounces each. It is not a 

 distinctively winter layer, but April pullets may 

 generally be depended upon, and the yearly 

 average, when well bred, is high. Some years 

 ago we had the curiosity to get returns from 

 a few of the older breeders, and Mr. Hopkins, 

 counting four pens, made it 226 per annum ; 



Mr. Physick (seven pens) 186 per annum ; Mr. 

 Amesbury 180 per annum, and a few of hi.s 

 birds 200. These were of the older Western 

 type, and there is no doubt that some of the 

 modern birds have fallen much below such 

 figures, and proved disappointing as a farmer's 

 fowl. But even these have rarely failed to lay 

 well in winter if kept in sheltered runs ; while 

 judicious selection will give good results on 

 free range, in all but the more severe winter 

 climates. For confined suburban runs the 

 Minorca is one of the very best fowls that 

 can be selected, being quiet and contented, 

 and having the curious property of cackling 

 much less before or after laying than any 

 breed we know. 



The Minorca is also valuable as a cross. 

 With almost any breed, even the Cochin, and 

 much more with others, it produces a good 

 layer and hardy fowl ; and a cock or two turned 

 down on any farm with even ordinary scrub 

 fowls, will in two seasons produce a race that 

 lays large numbers of eggs. Crossed with the 

 Langshan.-the produce is one of the hardiest and 

 most prolific fowls known, which has been tried 

 all over England and never found wanting. 



Within recent years the Rosecomb variety 

 of the Black Minorca, although not recognised 

 by the Poultry Club, has attracted many 



admirers, more especially among 

 Eosecomb utility poultry keepers, since it is 

 Hinorcas. recognised that it possesses many 



useful properties. Its first appear- 

 ance in the show pen in this country was in 

 1906, when Mr. R. W. Webster, of Maiden- 

 head, who "manufactured" the British type, 

 staged three specimens at the Crystal Palace ; 

 but for some years previously the variety had 

 been bred and exhibited in the United States. 

 The Rosecomb Minorca, which should be an 

 ordinary Black Minorca in every respect but 

 comb, met with much opposition on its intro- 

 duction to the poultry-keeping public, but the 

 formation, in 1910, of a club specially to 

 foster its interests has done much to give it 

 something of a vogue in Great Britain. It 

 may be added that the type of Rosecomb 

 required in e.xhibition specimens is one that 

 is full in front, with the leader following the 

 curve of the neck, while at the same time the 

 whole fits neatly and closely to the head. 



Minorca chickens have often a number of 

 white feathers, and as a rule those with the 

 most turn out the best colour ultimately. But 

 occasionally there have been all-white sports ; 

 and from such, bred together, a White variety 

 of Minorcas has been produced. These 



