THE GEXESEE FARMER 



» 



THE BREEDING AXD REAKING OF 

 POULTRY. 



No subject discussed in agi-icultural journals and 

 books is more hackneyed than that of i^oultry. Fowls 

 of every size, from the tiny Bantams scarcely large 

 enough to crow, up to those mammoth birds from 

 China, which are at once monsters in growth and 

 monsters in deformity, have been described with all 

 the minuteness and professional learning of domestic 

 ornithology. ^Yith particular races and breeds, as 

 compared with others, we have nothing to do ; our 

 purpose is to deal with general principles, and sug- 

 gest certain economical views in the breeding and 

 rearing of poultry, applicable ahke to birds of every 

 feather kept either for their eggs or flesh. Ducks 

 and Guinea fowls are the best layers, when properly 

 fed and othera'ise cared for, although ^eese, turkeys, 

 and Dunghill fowls often surprise us By their extra- 

 ordinary fecundity. "What circumstances most influ- 

 ence the production of eggs in domestic birds ? 

 Newly laid eggs are valuable either for eating or 

 propagation ; and how to obtain the maximum yield 

 froju a given quaatity of food is a point worthy of 

 investigation. If one desires to obtain many eggs he 

 should keep young birds, or rather avoid feeding old 

 ones for that purpose. Stock fowls should consist 

 of puUets and hens of from one year to four, and of 

 no more cocks than one to every twenty-four or 

 thirty hens. Too many males affect injuriously the 

 egg-forming process in the system. Like every other 

 function, its physiological laws ought to be studied 

 and understood. Excessive pairing, over-age, defec- 

 tive nutrition, extremes of cold or heat, impure air 

 and water, and disquietude from frequent disturbances, 

 ai'e the more common causes of barrenness in this 

 class of animals. Many are the ingenious contrivances 

 that have been resorted to to keep hens constantly 

 laying, and to cure them of the natural desire to set 

 or incubate their eggs. During the rage for particu- 

 lar breeds, fertile eggs of favorite kinds have been 

 worth a dollar apiece, and of course the time of the 

 hen that lays such is too valuable to be wasted in 

 hatching chickens and nursing them, which a common 

 bird may do as well. When well supplied with ani- 

 mal food (butcher's offal, cracklings, and the like), 

 Poland hens are so prolific in eggs as to be denomi- 

 nated " everlasting layers." Those engaged in rearing 

 extra-fine stock fowls, boil all refuse meat for their 

 daily consumption. From such digestible food, birds 

 form either eggs or flesh with the utmost facihty. 

 Wheat and oats are more congenial aUment than 

 corn, although the latter is far from being worthless. 

 Poultry-houses and yards ought to be kept very clean ; 

 and all walls and fences should be thickly covered 

 with whitewash made of lime. For wallowing in, to 

 kill lice and other vermin, dry leached ashes, kept 

 under shelter, are excellent, and even earth is better 

 than nothing. Some gi-een food, like chopped cab- 

 bage, potatoes, or carrots, contributes much to the 

 health of all poultry in winter. A variety of food is 

 important ; and not less so are pure air and a due 

 degree of warmth. 



We give, on the opposite page, portraits of prize 

 Cochin China fowls (buffs), the property of Thomas 

 Btukgeon, Esq., Manor House, Essex, England. This 



breed is thus described by a writer in the London 

 Farmers .Magazine: 



I have kept Cochin China fowls (I cannot jet accede to 

 the change of name, and call them Shanghaes, until I see 

 a much better reason than has yet been given) for a length 

 of time, quite sufficient to enable me to speak of their 

 qualities ; and, as I have other sorts, I can bear my testi- 

 mony also to their comparative merits. For those whose 

 space is limited they are undoubtedly the birds ; they are 

 quiet and homely to a degree ; mine will feed out of my 

 hand, and frequently pick from the dog's pans. Any fence, 

 moreover, will confine them, so little do they appear desi- 

 rous of straying. 



But I agree with those who contend that the true test is 

 which breed possesses most advantages combined with 

 fewest demerits ; and here I contend that my Cochin friends 

 have it hollow. Do you want new-laid eggs in winter 

 months, when they are scarce and dear ? I know of no 

 hens so likely to supply you. Are you desirous of rearing 

 chickens ? The Cochins are the best of mothers, and their 

 progeny the easiest to rear of any breed I know. And 

 when the time comes for putting them on the table, is it 

 of no advantage that one should weigh as much as a 

 cou])le of olden times ? 



These, in a few words, are the results of my experienca 

 of the Cochins, looked at merely as a farm-yard fowl. 

 Some persons will contend that a Dorking Capon is a bet- 

 ter table fowl. It may be that he boil^ whiter, or even 

 shows a plumper breast ; still I doubt if he supplies more 

 of juicy and wholesome meat. But, supposing that for 

 this one quality the Dorking has tlie call in the London 

 markets, when you get him there — does this counterbalance 

 the eggs in winter, the extra number of chickens, and the 

 hardihood of the race ? 



We are to look at the question as one of kind against 

 kind; and "for all properties." I aver without fear of 

 contradiction, that the farmer who rears good Cochins for 

 their mere produce to sell for food, will make more profit 

 of them than of any other known variety. 



To the amateur, who rears his poultry partly for use and 

 partly for amusement and ornament, there is nothing, in 

 my opinion, to compare with them. The qualities I have 

 before alluded to will alone gain for them the favor of 

 those whose premises are confined, but who yet wish to 

 have them occupied by such stock as they can support. 

 At first sight, I readily admit that the Cochins, more es- 

 pecially the growing chickens, are not so pleasing to the 

 eye as" some other varieties; but the singularity oi their 

 appearance wears off upon acquaintance, and beajing 

 rather a recommendation than otherwise, from the contrast. 

 I do not mean those gaunt, gawky brutes, sometimes called 

 Cochins, and which were first called Shanghaes ; but the 

 neat, squat, short-legged build of true Cochin fowl, such 

 as Mr. Sturgeon has exhibited, and which have carried 

 home the prizes to Grays from every quarter of the 

 kingdom. 



I have said nothing of the relative value in the market 

 of this and other kinds at the present day ; but to farmers 

 and amateurs, those poultry-breeders who are not above 

 disposing, after supplying themselves and their friends, 

 of their "surplus stock, "with the view "to reduce the price 

 of corn," there can be no question which is the most 

 profitable of all known races of fowl. 



I may add that I myself came to the consideration of 

 this question with a strong bias in favor of the Spanish, 

 which I have kept in their purity for many years ; but I 

 have really been compelled to arrive at the conclusion that 

 the Cochins, whether for the farmer or the fancier, are, foi 

 all purposes, the " birds of the day." 



Cleveland, Ohio, is a reading city. One thonsaiid 

 families take, on an average, ten publications each, in- 

 cluding dailies, weeklies, and monthlies. One thou- 

 sand families average five publications each. One 

 thousand three each, and two thousand on« each. 



A MAN behind the times should be fed on ketch-vp 



