FOWLS, FOWL BOOKS, FOWL HOUSES, &c. 



Thk letters wo are constantly receiving, asking- 

 information in regard to the best and wgsl profitable 

 breeds of chickens, the best mode of constructing 

 chicken houses, &c., not only shows that the subject 

 is beginning to attract special attention at this time, 

 but makes it our duty to give the desired information, 

 as far as we can consistently with the pros.->ure of 

 other and important matters upon our columns. 



THE DORKIKO FOWL. 



The book publishers have been awake, and are 

 prepared to meet this increased demand for informa- 

 tion on Itie subject. Several works are already before 

 the pii'jiic, and others are to follow. J. P. Jewkxt 

 Si Co., of Boston, have published a small work at 

 twenty-five cents, in paper covers, which is a very 

 neat and cheap work, and can be sent by mail. We 

 have also received from the publisher, C. M. Saxton, 

 New York, throuph D. Hoyt, bookseller, of this city, 

 a copy of " The American Poultr}/ Yard," by D. J. 

 Brownk. It is certainly a beautil'ul book, and not 

 less useful than beautiful. Some of the descriptions 

 of fowls in this book accord better with our experi- 

 ence than any we have before seen published. The 

 accompanying engraving and description of the 

 Dorking fowl is from this work : 



" For those who wish to stock their poultry yards 

 with fowls of most desirable shape and size, clothed 

 in rich and variegated plumage, and, not expectinn 

 perfection, are willing to overlook one or two other 

 points, the Dorkings are the breed, above all otherS; 

 to be selected. They arc larger-bodied, and of better 

 proportions, according to their size, than any other 

 variety I have yet seen, their bodies being rather 

 long, plump, and well-fleshed ; and the breeder, as 

 well as the housewife, generally beholds with delight 

 their short legs, full, broad breasts, little waste in 

 oflal, and the large quantity of good and profitable 

 flesh, the flavor and appearance of which are inferior 

 to none. 



" The cocks are magnificent. The most gorgeous 

 hues are frequently lavished upon them, which their 

 large size and peculiarly square-built form display to 



great advantage. The original Dorkings are said to 



have been white, but such arc now seldom to be seen. 

 During all my rambles, in various parts of the coun- 

 try, only on one or two occasions did I meet with 

 pure white birds. In all, however, as far as my 

 linowledge extended, when pure-blooded, more or 

 less while prevailed ; but the cloudings and mark- 

 ings of the plumage were unlimited. Many were 

 marked with bands, or bars, of ashy-grey, running 

 into each other at their paler margins. Some had 

 the hackles of the neck white, with a 

 tinge of yellow, and the body of a darker 

 or brownish-red, intermixed irregularly 

 with white ; while others were beauti- 

 fully variegated with white, black, green, 

 and brown, or were nearly uuiform in 

 their shades from a light cream color to 

 almost black. 



" Both the cocks and the hens are 

 usually short-legged, thickly-feathered, 

 having fine, delicate heads, with single, 

 double, or large, flat, rose-like combs, 

 whicli, wlien they are in high health, 

 adds very much to their appearance, 

 particularly if seen in the bright rays of 

 the sun. Their legs are invariably 

 white, or flesh-colored, each often armed 

 with one or more toe-like claws ; and, 

 instead of four toes to each foot, a fifth 

 one protrudes from the same root as the 

 heel toe in the common varieties, which 

 is generally regarded as a distinguish- 

 -'■".- ing mark of tlie breed. 



" The weight of the Dorkings, at ma- 

 turity, varies from five to eight pounds, 

 and full-grown capons have been known 

 to weigh ten or twelve. Their eggs 

 are usually of a clear white, but sometimes of an 

 ashy-grey color, rather large in size, very much 

 rounded at both ends, and of an excellent flavor. 

 The hens are not "everlasting layers," although they 

 produce eggs in reasonable abundance, but at due or 

 convenient intervals they manifest a desire to sit, in 

 which they often most strenuously persevere. In 

 this respect, they are steady and good mothers when 

 the little ones appear. Their young, in this country, 

 have thus far proved very hardy and easy to rear. 

 The chicks are generally brownish-yellow, with a 

 broad, brown stripe down the middle of the back, and 

 a narrow one on each side." 



CHEAP FOWL H0U3E. 



Perhaps the above engraving represents as good a 

 form for a cheap chicken house as snything we could 

 give. We have constructed one somewhat similar, 

 of rough boards well battened, and we find that it 

 makes a tolerably warm and a convenient house. 

 We shall have to defer remarks on the interior 

 arrangement, mode of constructing nests, roosts, Sic, 

 for another number. 



