1086 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



7450. Breeding. The common variety is easily procurable ; but the others must either be procured 

 from those parts of the country where they are usually bred, or from the poulterers and bird fanciers in 

 large towns, and especially in London. It should be a general rule to breed from young stock ; a two- 

 year-old cock, or stag, and pullets in tiieir second year. Pullets in their first year, if early birds, will, 

 indeed, probably lay as many eggs as ever after ; but the eggs are small, and such young hens are unsteady 

 sitters. Hens are in tlieir prime at three years of age, and decline after five, whence, generally, it is not 

 advantageous to keep them beyond that periotl, with the exception of those of capital qualifications. Hens 

 with a large comb, or which crow like the cock, are generally deemed inferior; but I have had hens with 

 large rose combs, and also crowers, which were upon an equality with the rest of the stock. Yellow- 

 legged fowls are often of a tender constitution, and always inferior in the quality of their flesh, which is 

 of a loose flabby texture, and ordinary flavour. 



7451. The health of fowls is observable in the fresh and florid colour of the comb, and the brightness and 

 dryness of the eyes ; the nostrils being free from any discharge, and the healthy gloss of the plumage. 

 The most useful cock is generally a bold, active, and savage bird, sometimes cruel and destructive in his 

 fits of passion, if not well watched, to his hens, and even to his offspring. Hens above the common size 

 of their respective varieties are by no means preferable either as layers or setters. The indications of old 

 age are paleness of the comb and gills, dulness of colour, and a sort of downy stiffhess in the feathers, and 

 length and size of talons, the scales upon the legs becoming large and prominent 



7452. The number of hens to one cock should be from four to six. the latter being the extreme number, 

 with a view of making the utmost advantage. Ten and even twelve hens have been formerly allowed to 

 one cock, but the produce 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 com- 

 mence breeding with poultry, and in truth it scarcely matters how early, presupposing the best food, ac- 

 commodation, and attendance, under which hens may be suffered to sit in January. 



7453. The conduct of the cock towards his hens is generally of the kindest description, and sometimes, as 

 in the Polish bree(i, so remarkably so, as to be quite incredible to those who have not witnessed it. It is 

 not an uncommon occurrence, however, for the cock to take an antipathy to some individual hen ; when 

 it continues for any length of time it is best to remove her, and supply her place by another, taking care 

 that the stranger be not worried by the hens. Spare coops or houses will be found useful on such 

 occasions. 



7454. The change of a cock, from death or accident, is always attended with interruption and delay, as 

 it may be some considerable time before the hens will associate kindly with tiioir new partner ; and fur- 

 ther, a new cock may prove dull and inactive from the change, however good in nature. This frequently 

 happens with cocks of the superior breeds, purchased from the London dealers, in whose coops they have 

 been kept in such a high state of temperature, that they are unable to endure the open air of the country, 

 unless in the summer season. Such being removed in autumn, winter, or early in spring, if immediately 

 turned abroad with hens, are liable to become aguish, torpid, and totally useless ; perhaps, in the end, 

 turning roupy or glandered. The only method of safety in this case is to keep such a cock in the house, 

 upon the best and most nourishing food, turning the hens to him several times in the day, and permitting 

 him to be abroad an hour or so, the weather being fine, until, in a few weeks, he shall be accustomed to 

 the air. 



7455. In making the nests, short and soft straw is to be preferred ; because, the straw being long, the hen, 

 on leaving her nest, will be liable to draw it out with her claws, and with it the eggs. The hen, it is 

 ascertained, will breed and lay eggs without the company of a cock; of course, such eggs are barren. 



7456. Eggs for setting should never exceed the age of a month, the newer to be preferred, as nearly of 

 a size as possible, and of the full middle size; void of the circular flaw, which indicates the double yolk, 

 generally unproductive, nor should there be any roughness or cracks in the shells. The number of eggs, 

 according to the size of the hen, from nine to fifteen, an odd number being preferable, on the supposition 

 of their lying more close. The eggs to be marked with a pen and ink, and examined when the hen 

 leaves her nest, in order to detect any fresh ones which she may have laid, and which should be imme- 

 diately taken from her, as they, if at all, would be hatched too late for the brood. It is taken for granted 

 the box and nest have been made perfectly clean for the reception of the hen, and that a new nest has not 

 been sluggishly or sluttishly thrown upon an old one, from the filth of which vermin are propagated, to 

 the great annoyance of the hen, and prevention of her steady sitting. Eggs broken in the nest should 

 be cleared away the instant of discovery, and the remaining washed with warm water, and quickly re- 

 placed, lest they adhere to the hen, and be drawn out of the nest ; if necessary, the hen's feathers may 

 also be washed, but always with warm water. 



7457. With respect to the capriciousness of some hens, in the article of sitting, it is a risk which must be 

 left to the judgment of the attendant, who has to determine whether the hen which appears desirous of 

 sitting may be safely trusted with eggs. Leaving a number of eggs in the nest is an enticement. Very 

 frequently a hen will cluck, and appear hot for incubation, yet after sitting over her eggs a sufficient 

 number of hours to addle them, will then desert them ; and, probably, in the course of a few days will be 

 taken with another fit of incubation. Much useless cruelty is too often exercised to prevent the hen from 

 sitting, when eggs, rather than chickens, are in request. A late author recommends to thrust a feather 

 through the hen's nostrils, in order to prevent her from sitting ; and to give her half a glass of gin, then 

 swing her round until seemingly dead, and confine her in a pot during a day or two, leaving her only a 

 small breathing hole, to force her to sit ! It is full time that those and a hundred other such utterly 

 useless and barbarous follies of former days, practised upon various animals, should be dismissed with the 

 contempt they merit The pamphlet alluded to is the Epicure, by Thomas Young, a publication replete 

 with good things on the interesting subjects of eating, wmes, spirits, beer, cider, &c. It is written with 

 haut gout. {Mowbray.) 



7458. Moulting. Every succeeding year after the third, the hen continues to moult later in the season, 

 and laying fewer or no eggs during the moulting period, which is sometimes protracted to two or three 

 months. It should seem that old hens are seldom to be depended upon for eggs in the winter, such being 

 scarcely full of feather until Christmas ; and then, probably, may not begin to lay till April, producing at 

 last not more than twenty or thirty eggs. In general, it is most profitable to dispose of hens whilst tney 

 are yet eatable or saleable for that purpose, which is in the spring of the third year. Nor do delicate 

 white hens lay so many eggs in the cold season as the more hardy-coloured varieties, requiring warmth 

 and shelter, particularly by night Moulting, or the casting and renewal of feathers, lasts with its effects 

 from one to three months, according to the age and strength of the bird. Whilst under this natural course, 

 poultry are unfit for the table, as well as for breeding. It is the same with respect to young poultry, 

 whilst shedding their feathers in the spring. The regular moulting of full-grown fowls begins in the 

 autumn. 



7459. In some hens the desire of incubation is so powerful, that they will repeat it five or six times in 

 the year ; in others it is so slight, that they will probably not sit more than once or twice in the season. 

 A skilful breeder will take advantage of these qualities, and provide abundance of eggs from the one 

 variety, and of chickens by means of the other. Hens, when sitting, drink more than usual : and it is 

 an advisable practice to place water constantly before them when in this state, and food (say corn) at 

 least twice a day. The time of incubation is twenty, one days. ' 



7460. Hatching. The chicken, hitherto rolled up like a ball, with its bill under the right wing, like a 

 bird asleep, begins generally on the morning of the twenty second day to break its way through the shell ; 

 neither the hen, nor can the art of man, with safety render them aid in this very interesting and won- 

 derful operation. The parental afFection of the hen, as Mowbray and Parmentier have observed, is always 



