1.^, 



JO 



CHAPTER XII. 



^ REARING, CARE, AND EXHIBITION OF PRIZE POULTRY. 



Supposing the breeding-stock to be mated with care and judgment, as described in our last 

 chapter, we have now to consider how their produce may be turned to the best advantage ; and one 

 of the first points which will aiTect this desirable result is the obtaining of early eggs from the ad/tU 

 hens. We have already seen that the eggs of pullets, from their slower fledging, are not so suitable 

 for the hatching of early broods ; besides which, though they may be had in any quantity, the male 

 parent being an adult bird is not so likely as a young cockerel to impart fertility during the cold 

 season. Now we have found that very much can be done to secure this, independent of feeding 

 and good housing, by judicious management of the stock hens during the preceding season. Every 

 hen has a natural production of eggs, which can be to some extent, as we have seen, increased or 

 diminished by the regimen to which she is subjected; but beyond this, the breeder has considerable 

 power of controlling the period during which these eggs shall be laid : and as, to the fancier, one 

 hundred eggs during the breeding season are of more value than considerably more of which a large 

 portion are laid during summer and autumn, attention to this matter will be well repaid. It is the 

 varieties which incubate that afford the greatest scope for control of this kind. Very probably a 

 Brahma or Cochin may evince a desire to sit late in July or during August ; and as it is of little 

 use to hatch chickens so late, the fancier is tempted to turn her off, that he may obtain the eggs 

 again as speedily as possible. Were the object simply the greatest number of eggs, this would be 

 quite right ; the bird would speedily lay again, and probably continue even till she had nearly 

 finished moulting, as we have already observed at page 34. But in such a case early eggs cannot 

 be expected ; and it will pay the faitcicr far better to sacrifice even forty eggs in the autumn, for 

 the sake of obtaining so little as ten or fifteen additional in the New Year. When the stock is good, 

 these few eggs, even for selling, are worth more than ten times their number in the autumn ; while 

 for the owner's own setting their value, in a fancier's eye, may be beyond calculation. It is 

 therefore preferable to let the best hens sit, however late, either on duck eggs, the produce of which 

 may be easily reared for table, orlf that cannot be done, on nest-eggs for about six weeks. This 

 will both rest the system and hasten the moult. Even in the case of non-sitting breeds, much can 

 be done by leaving off all stimulating food and changing the pen, so as to encourage the cessation 

 of laying ; and by acting on this system, eggs from a fair proportion of adult stock may generally 

 be secured. 



Feeding the stock with a view to active vigour will be of special importance. The production 

 of the greatest possible number of eggs is not even here the chief point, but rather that such 

 as are laid shall be produced by birds in the highest state of health of which they are capable ; and 

 this is another reason, beyond that stated in our last chapter, why the brood stock should not be 

 used for exhibition at the breeding season. During very cold weather a little stimulating food, in 

 the shape of cooked meat minced small, or some spice* added to the meal, or a little good ale mixed 



• See this subject at p.^ge 141. 



