250 The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



checked rupture is a frequent result. The most beneficial course in such an event is to allow the 

 bird to sit for as long as five or six weeks, feeding her very sparingly once every two days till the 

 system is reduced, by which means a cure may often be effected, unless apoplexy or rupture should 

 cut the matter short, terminating at once the life of the fowl and the perplexities of the proprietor. 



Cochins have great merits, the chief of which are their hardiness, their winter-laying qualities, 

 their large size, and the extremely small space in which they may be kept. In illustration oi the 

 last point we may refer to Mr. Tomlinson's account of his own yard. If they are sparingly fed on 

 everything except green food, this being given liberally, they are scarcely ever ill ; but these two 

 conditions are essential. Perhaps the greatest drawback to these good qualities is the unearthly 

 howl rather than crow of the cocks, which makes it in towns often impossible to keep them, where 

 but for this they would be the very best fowls for the circumstances. Their rather coarse quality 

 of meat and deficiency of breast are also faults, but for which they would have value as market 

 fowls. As it is they are disliked by poulterers, though for home use very profitable, as the legs, 

 which are very large, are in our opinion, and that of many others (and the same remark may be 

 made of the Brahma), far superior to those of other breeds, and though not equal to breast-meat, 

 really delicate and good family eating. We speak of course of young birds ; the leg of an o.J. 

 Cocliin is certainly rather an unmanageable morsel. 



Next to the peculiar crow, probably, the greatest objection to keeping Cochins is the frequent 

 propensity to sit. To some extent this may be prevented, but it rarely answers to check the 

 desire altogether. The bird should be taken from the nest at once on appearing broody, and 

 put under a common wicker coop, on hard ground, with water always by her, but little food. If 

 possible, the coop should be placed in some open and bustling locality, or in a strange run ; and if 

 two have to be confined in one coop all the better, as their quarrelling will mightily assist the 

 process of forgetfulness. The great secret is to remove the bird at the very commencement of the 

 instinct, and to prevent by all means her quietly " settling down," even on the ground. A mild 

 dose of jalap will often greatly assist, but no words are too strong to condemn the various kinds of 

 " water treatment" which are sometimes advocated. Many cases of mysterious disease are thus 

 originated, and in not a few instances direct death has resulted from such cruel proceedings. 

 Tying a red rag round the tail is a more innocent and often effectual way of "breaking up" a 

 broody hen ; but where the extent of the inconvenience is the only objection, by far the best plan 

 is to mitigate it by imposing on the maternal instincts. Cochins being very easily deceived. A few 

 days before hatching one or two of the eggs should be transferred to another hen just beginning to 

 sit, and when all are out, and have been cooped a few days, the wliole of the chickens may be 

 transferred to her, and the other hen, which really hatched them, returned to the yard. Having 

 had the care of living chickens for a day or two, she will not again resort to the nest ; and in this 

 way, by employing one hen virtually to hatch the eggs, and a second hen to rear the chickens, each 

 brood will give rest and occupation to two hens instead of one, and as each bird will lay again propor- 

 tionately sooner, the annual production of eggs will be considerably increased. Such a plan would 

 not answer with many breeds, but Cochins and Brahmas are very easily imposed upon in this way. 

 Cochins make first-rate sitters, and are good mothers up to the time when they desert their 

 broods ; but as this occurs at an early period they are not suited for delicate breeds, unless careful 

 artificial protection be devised to take their place. Pullets will often lay again within a fortnight 

 of hatching their chicks ; and sometimes, after laying a dozen or score of eggs, endeavour to sit 

 again. On an average. Cochins cannot be depended upon, therefore, to go with their chickens 

 longer than from four to six weeks. They are so predisposed, however, to the duties of maternity, 

 and so good-tempered and lazy, that very often by simply putting the discarded chickens under 



