530 The Rearing and Management of 



are small, but fine flavoured, and always worth the same price as 

 common hen-egg's, the price of the birds being- generally about 

 7.?. 6(f. per couple. It is the best way, in case of breeding, to 

 set the eggs under the common hen, the time of incubation being 

 one month. After hatching place the hen under a coop, around 

 which fix a guard to prevent the young straying, as they are very 

 wild ; they may have the same food as young turkeys (see p. 525). 

 The coop, which should have a boarded bottom, will require to 

 be moved to fresh ground every other day at least ; after the 

 first week the young birds should be shut up within the coop, to 

 avoid injury whilst being removed; they may have their liberty 

 when three Aveeks old, but the mother should be kept in the coop 

 a week longer. The young will by degrees become tame and 

 good foragers, and little difficulty will be experienced in rearing 

 them under this method ; but they are troublesome amongst other 

 poultry, being regular attendants, however well fed, at the 

 chickens' coops, besides being very quarrelsome, often driving 

 the most spirited cocks before them, and perhaps injuring them 

 in some way. From these remarks it may be inferred, according^ 

 to circumstances, whether it is desirable to keep them, or not, 

 upon an ordinary farm. 1 have made 8/. within a little, from 

 one pair of birds during a season. As many males as females 

 are required, as they always pair; the spotted variety is the 

 . hardest, the white are very delicate birds. 



Pigeons. 



There being so little trouble with these birds, it is desirable 

 to keep a few at most places ; they are always readily sold, and 

 are in great demand when game is out of season and spring 

 chickens are scarce. For breeding purposes they should not be 

 kept too old ; a convenient way of denoting their age is to cut 

 off a nail of the claw every year, and a good cote with separate 

 nests should be provided, and kept scrupulously clean, and a 

 plentiful supply of rock-salt afforded. For the table and profit, 

 the Blue Rocks are pi-eferable to most other breeds ; one pair 

 will produce ten hatches during the year. Feed regularly, but 

 scantily, as they will find the greatest portion of their own food. 



Eggs. 



Eggs should be gathered daily, in fact whenever they are to 

 be found, for fear of loss or accident ; those from the select 

 poultry should be placed in bran, with the narrow end down- 

 wards, marking thereon the date, as the preference is ahvays 

 given to the freshest eggs for setting, though they will keep good 



