PnESERynvG Fowls in Good Coxdition. 147 



We have now reared our chickens, and a few words on the preservation in good condition of 

 either these or other fancy fowls may not be without service. The causes which tend to injure this 

 are chiefly the sun, dirt or wet, and injury or wear ; and to state these is, in a great measure, to 

 imply the means of preservation. The very best possible arrangement will be, a dry house with a 

 roomy shed at the side floored with clean yellow sand, and with a moderate grass-run in front well 

 shaded with trees. The grass should, however, be kept short by mowing, or the plumage of 

 feathered breeds especially will become draggled. The hole by which the fowls enter their house 

 must be of good size, and all doors should be fastened zuide open when open at all, to a\'oid any 

 injury to the tails. For the same reason, the perch must be fixed so far from the wall that the tail 

 of the cock can in no circumstances touch it ; and if it rest at the ends on ledges fixed to the wall 

 of the house, a bit of lath should be tacked slantwise upwards from a few inches off the end, 

 thus, "^ / in houses inhabited by light-coloured fowls. The object, of course, is to 



prevent the birds — the cocks especially — from roosting with their wings against the wall, and thus 

 getting them soiled. Examination should be made every night to see that each bird is properly 

 accommodated, and none squatting in corners on the dirty ground. The fowls, again, should never 

 be rashly driven about or frightened, which often causes the loss of tail or other feathers that can 

 ill be spared. Whenever they are wanted, for show or otherwise, let them be quietly taken from 

 their roost at night, when they will make no effort at escape or resistance. None of these things 

 give trouble — they only require thoughtful remembrance ; but they make a wonderful difference in 

 the condition of birds so cared for over that of others differently treated. 



In small yards greater pains are needed. A good dry shed will be still the chief point, floored, 

 if possible, with clean sand in which a little powdered slaked lime has been mixed ; and in this the 

 birds which it is wished to retain in good condition should be always confined in wet weather. The 

 yard is better if sanded or gravelled too ; but earth will suffice if necessary, though in this case 

 the birds vuist be confined except when it is quite dry. Some sort of shelter from the sun must 

 be contrived for all white fowls if there are no trees in the run; for nearly all such birds when 

 exposed to it turn rapidly more or less yellow. Some sort of awning can generally be devised 

 which will answer the purpose ; and the expense is well bestowed on any really valuable pen of 

 white-plumaged birds if occasional exhibitions be at all in view. A little morning sun may be 

 allowed, but it may be safely affirmed that nearly all the fowls which appear at summer shows in 

 such very beautiful white plumage have been kept either under cover or on deeply-shadc^d 

 grass-runs. Feeding and general health will, of course, be carefully attended to; but on this head 

 we need add nothing to what we have said in previous chapters of this work. We here only remark 

 that when, as frequently happens, xDnly two hens and a cock of first-rate qualit)- can be afforded for 

 one pen, it will be well to put some additional hens of any common breed (not too different in 

 colour, for reasons given in the last chapter) with the trio, in order to prevent damage to the 

 plumage. Indeed, as the summer advances, and the feathers become more brittle, if adult hens 

 are wanted for show it is better to keep them from the cock altogether, except for a very brief 

 period morning and evening, and even this should be dispensed with as soon as the breeding 

 season is over. 



Another point of some importance is that the birds be kept tame. The regular attendant— be 

 he master or servant — should take every opportunity of petting them. Without over-feeding, two 

 or three odd grains of barley thrown every time of passing will establish friendly relations ; and it 

 is also well to remain in the run close by the food while feeding. By keeping perfectly still, the 

 fowls will by degrees come to be quite devoid of fear ; and when able to visit home in the middle 

 of the day we have often had pullets which would stand to be stroked down like a cat, and come 



