60 The Cock. 



Ills hens, and even to his own offspring. 

 Hens above the common size of their re- 

 spective varieties, are by no means prefer- 

 able either as layers or setters. The indi- 



/ cations of old age are paleness of the comb 

 and gills, dulness of colour, and a sort of 

 downy roughness in the feathers, and length 

 and size of talons, the scales upon the legs 

 becoming large and prominent. 



Number of hens to one cock, fom* to 

 six, the latter being the extreme number, 

 with a view of making the utmost advan- 



" tage. Ten and even tw elve hens have been 

 formerly allowed to one cock, but the pro- 

 duce of eggs and chickens under such an 

 arrangement, will seldom equal that to be 

 obtained from the smaller number of hens. 

 Every one is aware that the spring is the 

 best season to commence breeding with 

 poultry, and in truth it scarcely matters how 

 early, presupposing the best food, accommo- 

 dation, and attendance, under which, hens 

 may be suffered to sit in January ; but the 

 attempt to rear winter chickens in this cli- 



