OREY DORKING. 103 



The chickens must be kept on hard clay or 

 gravel soil, never on wooden, stone, or brick 

 floors ; their coops, in winter, may be boarded, but 

 the tenants must have earth to run upon during 

 the day, or they wUl become cramped. 



Over-crowding these chickens is the most pro- 

 lific source of disease ; irregular feeding, and ex- 

 posure to damp and cold, increase the mortality; 

 there is no such thing as luck in. rearing broods ; 

 too often, want of care and knowledge occasion 

 failures. 



Dorkings are, perhaps, more liable to roup 

 than other fowls; it attacks them when three- 

 parts grown; they also sometimes sufi'er from 

 slight attacks of cold, and hoarseness. 



Their food should be mixed with ale or beer, 

 and a small quantity of cayenne pepper. 



To intending exhibitors, I may now mention 

 a few of the points essential to success in Grey 

 Dorkings. 



Cock. 



N^eck hackle — ^full light straw colour, or silvery 

 grey. 



