481 



F363 



BIRD 



FANCIERS* JOURN 



AND 



POULTRY EXCHANGE. 



Vol. I. 



PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 5, 1874. 



(For Fanciers' Journal.) 



WHITE-FACED BLACK SPANISH. 



While the large or Asiatic varieties have many points 

 of excellence which recommends them to lovers of fine 

 poultry, I think some other or smaller varieties have supe- 

 rior claims to the breeder's atttention, where profit is the 

 greatest consideration in poultry raising. 



All fowls to be ■profitable must be carefully bred. 

 There are large sections, especially in the southern parts 

 of our country, from their remoteness to large cities, make 

 poultry raising for market purposes out of the question, as 

 freights eat up all the profits. But on the other hand, eggs 

 nearly always pay a good per cent, on any investment that 

 may be made for the non-sitting breeds of fowls. 



As producers of eggs, large or Asiatic fowls unquestionably 

 occupy the background, and the world famous White-Faced 

 Black Spanish stands triumphantly in the foreground, un- 

 equalled and excelled by none. 



After years of experience with almost every breed of fowls 

 that are now enumerated in the whole catalogue of varieties, 

 this has been my experience, and so continues, and if I live 

 years to come, I doubt not it will be the same. No fowl in 

 my knowledge has more to recommend them. For beauty 

 of plumage and style of carriage, they are grand and noble. 

 For laying qualities, they cannot possibly be excelled ; for 

 about eight months in the year they keep up an almost con- 

 tinual supply of the very best eggs. And as for drawbacks, 

 no fowls have fewer, being hardy, easy to raise, and quite 

 free from disease. This last I speak from long experience. 

 As for not being good winter layers it is altogether a mis- 

 take; for in a warm climate, they are ready to commence 

 business as soon as through their moult, and it takes very 

 severe weather to stop them, so great is their desire to stick 

 to their work. 



Notwithstanding what our Davenport friend says of their 

 inferiority as a table fowl, their color of flesh alone is all 

 the objection that can possibly be made against them. And 

 my candid advice to my Southern brethern, and all others 

 who will take the advice of one who is old in poultry 

 breeding at least, is to procure some of this invaluable breed 

 of poultry, as it will be a source of pleasure as well as profit, 

 as they could proudly call their friends to view their pets, 

 and put money in their pockets beside. I am hard to tire 

 when speaking of my pets, but perhaps I had better stop 

 writing, and give some one else some space in the Journal 

 to talk about theirs. 



I hope we shall be able to get the "hen fever" to fever 

 heat again before long. .ToHX Btjmbold. 



Fowling Ckeek, Md., Feb. 1874. 



POULTRY-MARKER. 



Having frequently seen inquiries made by your correspon- 

 dents as to the best mode of marking poultry, I enclose you 

 a marker of my own invention, which I have used all 



It can be 



through the past season with entire satisfaction. 

 put on or taken off with the 

 greatest ease by using two pairs 

 of ordinary round pointed wire 

 pliers. It is made by letting fall 

 one or more drops of melted 

 solder on to a piece of stoutish 

 copper wire. The solder is then 

 stamped with a number by means 

 of a die, and a corresponding number entered on the poultry 

 book. The size and number of the drops of solder, and like- 

 wise the thickness of the copper wire, can be varied at 

 pleasure to suit the size of the chicken or fowl, and every 

 ironmonger will furnish a set of number dies of the requisite 

 size at a trifling cost. 



This plan may possibly be already known, but I have never 

 seen anything at all like it, and as it has been most useful to 

 me I wish to make it known to my brother fanciers through 

 the medium of your columns. 1 may add that I prefer two 

 drops of solder in ease of the accidental defacing or loss of 

 one. 



I do not find my marker incommodes the birds in the 

 least, nor does it chafe or injure the feathering or color of 

 the legs of Brahmas or Cochins. — William Savile, in Journal 

 of Horticulture. 



(For Fanciers' Journal.) 



PIGEON KEEPING ON A LARGE SCALE. 



Many years ago, in the countries of Europe, dove-cots 

 were attached to nearly all the residences of the landed 

 gentry. These cots were of various styles of architecture, 

 and were in most cases ornaments to the grounds. Occasion- 

 ally unused outbuildings were turned over to the pigeons 

 (and then they were more useful than ornamental), or the 

 lofts of stables, or even of the house itself, became occupied 

 by the birds, but it was considered the thing to have a special 

 abode for pigeons ; therefore all who could afford it had a 

 tower in some conspicuous place devoted entirely to that 

 purpose. In these cases the birds were not kept on account 

 of any profit that might be made from breeding them; on 

 the contrary, they were looked upon as unprofitable attach- 

 ments of luxury. The squabs were occasionally eaten, and 

 the old ones afforded the youngsters many opportunities for 

 improving their skill as marksmen. The small farmers and 

 tenants disliked the pigeons on account of their eating so 

 much of their garden truck and seeds, and waged war upon 

 them with traps and guns. By these means many birds 

 that were with eggs or young perished, and no one has as 

 yet been able to determine if there be any profit in keeping 

 large numbers of common pigeons, and breeding exclusively 

 for sale. It has more than once been thought there is money 

 in it, yet it remains for Americans to try the experiment. 



Five hundred pairs would require a thousand nests, with 

 plenty of room, for commons are very aggressive; they 



