34 POULTRY BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



for the reason that in that country, as might be expected 

 from the character of the people, fancy characteristics have 

 been given slight consideration in the breeding of fowls. 

 The frugality and thrift of the Belgian peasants would 

 lead one to expect that they would exercise great care in the 

 selection of breeding fowls, and the chances are that these 

 very characteristics make them more skillful in selecting the 

 best for breeding. This breed is of great antiquity, and as 

 the Belgians believe strongly in the egg basket the seeking 

 after abnormalities or fancy points was not permitted to 

 deter them from their pursuit of the egg-layer. It is a non- 

 sitting breed, an excellent layer of white eggs of good size. 

 In size it is about the same as the Leghorn ; it has dark slate 

 blue legs and feet. There are two varieties, the Gold and 

 Silver. 



The Braekel. This is another breed that has been bred 

 a long time in certain districts of Belgium. Its origin is 

 probably the same as that of the Campine and any differ- 

 ences now in size and characteristics are probably due to 

 differences in environment. It is larger than the Campine, 

 females weighing from 4 to 6 pounds, and males 5 to 7 

 pounds. It is very precocious. One writer says: "The 

 chicken is no sooner out of the shell than its comb is de- 

 veloped; at three weeks the cockerels commence to crow; 

 at six weeks they begin to drive about the hens." The 

 Braekel, it is stated, is as much developed at six weeks as 

 some other breeds at about six months. 



The Houdan. In France more attention has been given 

 to developing meat qualities in fowls than laying qualities. 

 In this line the French poultry keepers are particularly 

 apt. Much may be learned from the poultry raisers of 

 France in the production of a fine quality of table meat. 

 Mr. Edward Brown in his classification of fowls places only 

 one French breed the Houdan among the egg breeds. 



