Choice of Breeds. 69 



CHAPTEE IX. 



THE KIND OF FOWLS TO KEEP. 



Choice of Breeds — Errors in Selection— Cross and pure bred Fowls — Breeds to 

 be chosen — Confinement or Liberty — Hardy Breeds — Non-Bitting Breeds — 

 Table Fowls - Sitters and Mothers — General utility Fowls. 



Before commencing to describe the many varieties of fowls, 

 it is necessary that we should show what kinds should be 

 kept by different persons. Success in poultry keeping 

 means, not only the proper feeding and management of 

 the birds, but the selection of a breed that is suitable to the 

 place where they are to be kept. In addition to this, the 

 question of what is most in demand must be taken into 

 consideration, for in poultry keeping, as in every other pur- 

 suit, opportunities must control circumstances, and circum- 

 stances adapt themselves as far as possible to opportunities. 

 It would be folly for any one to select a breed that is most 

 suitable for table purposes, in a place where eggs are wanted 

 and chickens at a discount, or, on the other hand, to keep 

 laying fowls, where chickens are sought for most of all and 

 eggs very plentiful. And it is equally foolish to rear birds of 

 no breed whatever, which, having no special characteristics, 

 are neither suitable for one purpose or the other. This 

 is a most important matter, and, as an illustration of the 

 mistakes often made in this way, we may mention that we 

 once knew a poultry farm commenced under most favourable 



