510 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



and the same as soon as he returns. On his 

 return, keep him isolated for two or three days 

 as a precaution against the spread of any 

 disease he may possibly bring back, though 

 you hope not. But one never can tell what 

 disease a bird may have contracted at a show, 

 and the introduction of roup or diphtheria in 

 this way might be ruinous to a yard. 



Apart from outside infection. Bantams 

 being in-bred to a great extent, are weaker, 

 and more liable to certain diseases than their 

 bigger brethren. The most common ailments 

 from which they suffer are colds and roup, the 

 latter being nothing more in its milder form 

 than a neglected cold. When a bird is noticed 

 to have a cold, or running at the nostrils, the 

 best remedy is a dose of Roup Powder in the 

 drinking water daily for three or four days, 

 which will be quite sufficient to stop the cold. 

 This treatment will generally cure a cold in a 

 few days if the bird is kept free from 

 draughts. Keep houses well ventilated and 

 cleaned out regularly each week. Twice a 

 year the interior should be lime-washed. 

 Birds suffering from roup should be iso- 

 lated from any others to prevent the disease 

 spreading. 



The most serious trouble the Bantam fancier 

 has to contend with during the breeding season 

 is egg-bound. This generally occurs in finely- 

 bred, small, and extra neat Game Bantam 

 pullets. The sooner it is noticed the better, 

 if the pullet is noticed to go to nest frequently 

 in one day, it may be assumed that she is find- 

 ing difficulty in passing her first egg, and it is 

 by far the best to take her in hand before she 

 has exhausted her strength in her own en- 

 deavours. In ordinary cases all that is required 

 is to place the hen up to her thighs in hot water, 

 as hot as you can bear your hand in, and let 

 her remain for ten minutes ; then dry her with 

 a towel, and grease the vent well with vaseline. 

 If the <t^^ is in view, a little gentle pressure 

 from behind outside with the thumb and 

 fingers will generally eject it, but very great 

 care should be exercised not to break the &g%, 

 or the result will prove fatal in nine cases out 

 of ten. 



In concluding these general hints and in- 

 structions, let me add a few "Don'ts," which 

 Bantam fanciers will do well to note. 



Don't commence by buying several first-prize 

 winners from here, there, and everywhere, with 

 the idea that as the parents are all first-prize 

 winners the produce v.ill be tlie same. You 

 cannot make a graver mistake. Start v.'ith some 

 reliable strain, and stick to that strain alone, 

 and in-breed so long as your chicks are fairly 



health}- and vigorous. By so doing \-ou are 

 keeping the blood pure and buildmg up a 

 strain of your own at the same time. 



Don't think that you are going to rear 

 strong healthy chicks, bred from birds that 

 have been doing the rounds of shows all the 

 season. You cannot do it. Don't exhibit your 

 breeding birds at all ; then you will have 

 healthy chicks and fertile eggs. 



Don't put more than five hens to a cock, 

 especially during the first two or three months 

 of the breeding season, and don't mate up the 

 cock to the hens until January. Keep them 

 apart. 



Don't overcrowd and don't pamper \our 

 chicks ; give them plain wholesome food, and 

 feed regularly. 



Don't neglect to dust your chicks frequently 

 with insect powder during the summer months. 

 Alany thousands of Bantam chicks, even in 

 greater proportion than the large ones, are lost 

 annually through being infested with lice. 



No one will dispute the fact that of all 

 Bantams the Game varieties must take pre- 

 cedence. Of all the different kinds bred, none 



seems to secure the popular vote 

 Game like these. Fanciers may drift into 



Bantams. other varieties, but as a rule they 



begin with Game. Fearless little 

 creatures they are, with a pluck and courage 

 all their own. No wonder they stand first 

 favourites! The colours allow a liberal margin 

 for the exercise of individual taste, though 

 Black-reds, Duckwings, Brown-reds, and Piles 

 have so far made the greatest advance towards 

 perfection, followed by Birchens and Whites. 

 As a rule Black-reds and Piles give the 

 heaviest returns for the capital and labour ex- 

 pended upon them. 



In judging Game Bantams, shape and style 

 come first. In both male and female we want 

 somewhat of the laundry flat-iron type, i.e. a 

 wedge shape, with no great keel, and tapering 

 from a square prominent front sharply to the 

 tail. The shoulders should stand out squarely, 

 the wings short and rounded and tucked well 

 in to the sides, not flat-sided. If the wings are 

 carried on the back, the bird is said to be 

 goose-winged, which is a serious fault in the 

 show-pen. The back should be as short as 

 possible and flat. A round back is an eyesore, 

 and practically a disqualification. The thigiis 

 must be round as well as long. A flat-shinned 

 bird comes of delicate parentage, and will 

 breed flat-shinned ones. The thighs should be 

 set on well apart, as this affects greatly the 

 Game-like look of the movements of tlie bird. 



