STOCK.] 



POULTRY. 



[stock. 



CHArTRK III. 



ril()(iSIN(; OK STUCK. 



Airo?ro tlic reciprocal bonofits wliieli unite tlio 

 lover of poultry and his cliar^e, porliaps a liabil 

 of early rising takes tho tirst place. At a 

 season of the year when a protracted winter 

 mav, in a small degree, have induced a dis- 

 inclination to early exertion which we arc 

 unwilling to encourage, it is a very good thing 

 if our favourite recreation is one which calls us 

 betimes in the morning into the open air. 

 One of our best judges has repeatedly advised 

 that chickens should be fed soon after sunrise. 

 There are (ew young things in whose case food 

 has to do so much as in that of young chickens. 

 Unlike those animals which come into the 

 world with their clothing of warm fur, young 

 birds depend on food for all the necessaries of 

 life, for them food must secrete the requisite 

 supplies for feathers as well as for bone and 

 muscle ; and there is never a time when good 

 and frequent feeding are of such vital impor- 

 tance as while the little ones are fledging. A 

 fast of a number of hours is a greater call upon 

 the vital powers of young poultry than they 

 can support. The careful cottagers, to whom 

 is often entrusted the charge of turkeys, are 

 ■well aware of this fact ; and, although they keep 

 the poults shut in, safe from getting wet with 

 the dew, they feed them early. 



Poor liichard says, " The eye of the master 

 does more work than both his hands." Let the 

 owner's eye, then, whether it be master or 

 mistress, see that the young broods of the 

 different kinds of poultry receive the early 

 attention indispensable for the production of 

 prize birds. Let the fancier see that the 

 poultry-houses (which will naturally be close 

 after being shut up all night) are thrown open 

 to the wholesome morning air ; that tlie twit- 

 tering, liberated little throng have the where- 

 withal to satisfy their morning appetites before 

 the twittering changes to complaint ; and we 

 believe we may prophesy, that the good which 

 the poultry cannot fail to derive from such 

 care, will reward their owners by a great ac- 

 cession of health. 



To whatever branch of scientific culture wo 

 turn, whether it be to tliat of plants or aniinaia, 

 nature seems to point out that there aro 

 certain forms and characters more pleasing 

 than others, which must be accomplished to 

 attain perfection ; as, for instance, in flowers, 

 pelargoniums, pansies, &c. Wo can all recol- 

 lect the long, loose-petalled flowers of former 

 days ; the onward progress of improvement 

 pointed out that, the nearer the approach 

 to the circle, tho more perfect the i'orni. Tho 

 gardeners of the time, as in every new theory, 

 ridiculed the idea. AVe have, nevertheless, 

 seen that, however diflicult or apparently im- 

 possible it is to change natural forms, it 

 has been done. The same applies to poultry. 

 Sir John Sebright, and other eminent breeders 

 of cattle, arrived at similar results ; and it is 

 only by settling and insisting on points, whe- 

 ther of colour, shape, or markings, form of 

 combs, &c., and discouraging shortcomings, 

 that perfection will be generally arrived at. 

 In estimating the qualities of poultry, there 

 are many conflicting opinions, which is a cause 

 of much dissatisfaction to poultry-breeders, 

 particularly beginners ; but we see no reason 

 why rules cannot be framed, binding judges — a 

 most important step — which would greatly 

 lighten their labour ; because the public, being 

 made acquainted with a given standard, would 

 breed to points. This would also prevent tho 

 caprice of judges, so much complained of. 



To specify some particulars, wo may ob- 

 serve that the eyes of fowls are distinguished as 

 pearl or grey eyes, and gravel or red eyes, of 

 various shades. Some fowls have crests of 

 feathers instead of combs. The Poland crest 

 is large and round, hanging almost over the 

 eyes. A lark crest is narrow, and falling back- 

 wards ; but although Mr. Dixon honours lark- 

 crested fowls as a variety, we think this crest 

 is nothing but an accident from some distant 

 cross with Poland-crested fowls. A muff, or 

 beard, is a bunch of feathers hanging from the 

 lower mandible. Many of the Poland sub- 



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