THE GALLINACEOUS TRIBES 



233 



their own chickens, provided they give them VIII. Principal Breeds 



the same food and turf that they have in the The Wyandotlcs, which to-day are the most 



country. It is not necessary that the poultry in vogue, and which were l^red originally in 



yards should be so large. The space, however, America, have spread rapidly over the whole 



must have sun, and must be covered first with of Europe. They are of \arious colors, the 



ashes and then with straw and grain to force most desirable being white ; then come the 



A DiviDRi) Hex Y.ard 



the birds to take exercise. When city fowls 

 do not get exercise enough they often take to 

 pecking their eggs or plucking out their own 

 feathers. It is needless to say that these 

 poultry houses and yards must be kept espe- 

 cially clean to ward off diseases, which are 

 more to be feared in the city than in the 

 country. 



sih'cry, the golden, the speckled, the black, 

 and the partridge colored. It is an excellent 

 breed, as good for its eggs as for its flesh, 

 and a particularly good layer in winter. The 

 pullets raised in the spring will la)- all winter. 

 The eggs are a brownish yellow, sometimes 

 pink, and are small but numerous. The hens 

 are the best of layers ; those which lay annually 



Digitized by IVIicrosoft® 



