332 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTIOULTDEE AND COTTAGE GARDEKEB. 



[ April 30, 1868. 



The Cochins, though good mothers, capital for sitting, eat too 

 much, and lay too small eggs to be very profitable, besides the 

 disadvantage of being inferior as chickens for the table. This 

 objection also applies to the Dark Brahmas, which 1 next tried. 

 Their being handsome and good exhibition birds is, in my 

 opinion, their chief excellency. 



Not being thoroughly satisfied with any of the above kinds 

 for honsehold and general purposes, I was induced, three years 

 ago, to try the Andalusian, or Blue Minorca breed. Of these I 

 cannot speak too highly; they are capital foragers, almost 

 supporting themselves, excellent layers, their eggs being 

 especially large and abundant, are very hardy, and though less 

 frequently broody than other hens, are good sitters and mothers. 

 They are first-rate birds for the table, being especially adapted 

 for early spring chickens. I have taken considerable pains in 

 selecting my stock, wliieh is from Coles's breed, who was the 

 original importer. To those, who, without being exactly 

 poultry fanciers, keep a few fowls for domestic purposes, I can 

 confidently recommend them. — Experiexce. 



THIS SEASON'S HATCHING. 



I SEXD you my experience in hatching this season. 



On the 6th of March I put thirteen Dorking eggs under a 

 Cochin hen, and on the ■26th there were ten fine strong chicks 

 hatched. One has since died, and two were unfortunately 

 killed by a cat, leaving me seven, all healthy and very forward. 

 On the 27th of Marcli I purchased eleven eggs from a friend 

 who keeps thoroughbred Partridge Cochins, and placed them 

 under a Cochin pullet on the same day, and on the 18th inst. 

 had again a brood of ten chickens, the handsomest and strongest 

 I have ever seen. I expected these as in the previous case on 

 the twentieth day of incubation, but no sign was visible of a 

 chick making its appearance. I waited until the morning of the 

 twenty-first day, but still only a chirp now and then could be 

 heard inside the shell, no outward signs of life were visible. 

 I then took away every egg and tapped them all round the 

 larger end, until the shell was broken in two, and also cut the 

 skin round the beak of the chick. I then replaced them under 

 the hen for some hours longer, but no further progress was 

 made. It was now high time I thought to get them out, which 

 I did by first removing the shell of the larger end of the egg 

 and then carefully tearing away the skin inside, and finally 

 drawing each chick out of the last half of the shell. They 

 seemed quite exhausted, but their animation was wonderful 

 after they had been under the hen a little time. 



It was now time to supply eggs to two more Cochin pullets, 

 which I had in readiness for the result of this hatch, so I again 

 visited my friend and procured all the eggs he had — viz., twenty, 

 which I have placed under my two pullets, with two Spanish 

 eggs added, to give them eleven each. But this time I have 

 adopted a different plan in the arrangement of the nest, with a 

 view to soften the shells and their inner lining. The nests are 

 in boxes, perforated with large holes at the bottom ; between 

 this and the floor of the sitting compartment I have placed a 

 turf which can be kept moist by moving the nest box oS for 

 a few minutes, and watering the turf. This will not disturb the 

 hen or eggs. 



It would be interesting to know how many eggs " Nemo's " 

 friend placed under his ten hens, as I believe early hatches are 

 often poor on account of too many eggs being placed under a 

 hen. Eleven or at the most thirteen, are in my opinion quite 

 as many as the largest hen can properly cover. When there 

 are more, some are left partially uncovered at one time, and 

 others at another, so that during twenty-one days it is very 

 probable the whole of the eggs may have had a few hours cool- 

 ing sufficient to destroy vitality. — George H.iSTiLOw, 63, 

 Albion Boad, Dalston. 



doubt that the attendance will be very numerous. Entries 

 close April 30th. 



P-VCKING EGGS-HATCHING— BUCKWHEAT. 



There is no question that our friend "Nemo " is correct in 

 saying that packing should be tight. This is the essential, 

 the next point being that the packing should be somewhat 

 elastic. Attention being paid to these particulars, then moss, 

 hay, bran, &c., will all do well. I have just received some 

 Polands' eggs from Mr. H. Beldon, they were packed in oat 

 husks ; every egg is fertile. Pea husks I have also seen used. 



Many of us, perhaps, err with early chickens in being too 

 grasping, and placing thirteen or more eggs under a hen : this 

 is often fatal to all. I am disposed to think that Cochin and 

 Brahma eggs are less fertile than those of most other breeds ; 

 there are reasons for this, I fancy. In cold weather the eggs are 

 not only more easily chilled while hatching, but are often ruined 

 before they come to the nest, if the temperature be very low. 

 It is notorious, probably in everything as well as our hobby, 

 that if a thing is worth anything, the necessary trouble to get 

 it is vastly greater than when the reverse is the ca.?e. The 

 cottager's wife sits her hen on any eggs in any place, giving 

 her any number of eggs. I have often heard of eighteen or 

 twenty as a nest. Having given her hen a nest, and seeing 

 that she has food, her clucking pet may do just as she pleases, 

 but somehow the results are good, and very few eggs fail to 

 hatch. I have known eighteen to hatch. We are, perhaps, 

 extra careful, less grasping, &c., but success wholly eludes our 

 etTorts. Of course, the successful old dame says it is all our 

 fault ; still I personally feel better satisfied when I am certain 

 that the hen is let out at stated intervals, that no egg is broken, 

 and that the eggs are occasionally damped. It is, perhaps, 

 move consolatory to fail after having done all you can to secure 

 success ; at least, I find it so. 



I will also add my testimony to the value of buckwheat. The 

 poultry like it, and as my experience goes, do very well on it. 

 I wish I could obtain it more easily than I do. — Y. B. A. Z. 



I forward you my hatching results this season, as I think 

 that I have no reason to complain. 



February 27th, 7 hatched out of IS I March 15th 10 hatched out of IS 



March 4th, <) „ „ 13 i 29th, 13 „ „ 15 



12th, lu „ „ IS ! April 12th, 12 „ „ 15 



—A. J. H. 



Hull .ind East Biding Show. — The prizes are liberal, and 

 are for Canaries, Babbits, and Pigeons, as well as for the 

 prime object — poultry. The names of the Judges, Mr. Hewitt 

 and two others, are published, and as it is the day on which 

 the testimonial to Mr. Hewitt is to be presented, we have no 



FROSTERLEY POULTRY SHOW. 



The fourth annual Show of the Frosterley Poultry Society was held 

 on April 11th, when the following prizes were awarded by the Judge, 

 Mr. J. Simnj, West Cramlington. 



Spanish (Black).— First, E. Pickering, Miln Houses. Second, E. Wall, 

 East Layton. 



Spanish (Blue— Andaluaians).— First, M.Eeid, Bishopley. Second, C. 

 Maddisou, Frosterley. 



Dorkings. — First, J. Graliam, Mac Neil. Second, Mrs. Sanderson, 

 Bradley Hall. 



CocriiN-CHiNA.— Second, E. Wall. 



Game (Black-breasted and other Reds). — First, J. Dobson, Sunnyside. 

 Second, Messrs. Emerson & Gardner, Hill End. 



Game (Duckwing Grey).— First, M. Franliling, Goose Croft. Second, 

 D. Watson, Batts. 



Game Cockerel. — First and Second, J. Fenwick, Stanhope. 



Game Cocks.— First, J. Graham, Mac Neil. Second, K. Wilkinson 

 Shitlehopeside. 



Hamburchs (Golden-spangled).— First, E. Pickering, Miln Houses. 

 Second, E. Pickering, Bishopley. 



Hamburghs ISilvir-spangled).— First and Second, J. Taylor, Middle 

 Bishopley. 



Hambcrghs (Golden-pencilled).— First and Second, M. Eidley, Peak 

 Field. 



Hambcrghs (Silver-pencilled). — First, M. Armor, Frosterley. Second, 

 J. Taylor, Middle Bishoiiley. 



Polands.— First, C. Maddison, Frosterley. Second, Miss E. Johnson, 

 Frosterley. 



Game ISantams (Blackbreasted and other Reds).— First, M. Ridley, 

 Peake Field. Second, W, Brown, Stanhope. 



Game Bantams (Any other variety).- First, S. Pennington, Low Big- 

 gins. Second, S. Maddison. 



Ducks (Aylesbury).— First, Mrs. Sanderson, Bradley Hall. Second, 

 R. Pickering. 



Ducks (.\ny other variety). — First, W. Simpson, Pry Close. Second, 

 W. i: H. Thompson, Feny Field. 



Ducks (Black Indian).— First, E. Pickering. Second, M. Eeid, High 

 Bishopley. 



Gander. — First, J. Dobson, Sunnyside. Second, M. Held. 



BIRMINGHAM SHOW. 



A SPECLAL meeting of the CouncU was held on Thursday last, at the 

 Queen's Hotel, tlie Earl of Bradford (President) in the chair, to make 

 aiTangements for the exhibition of the present year ; whieh was iised 

 to commence on Saturday, November 28th, and to terminate on the 

 Thursday following. 



The Honorary Treasurer (Mr. Shackel) read a report, in which he 

 expressed regi-et that the transactions of the last year showed a balance 

 against the society of £178 135. H((/. : but he added that a conaidei-able 

 amount (£150) had been spent in making additions to the working 



