188 MY POULTRY DAY BY DAY 
It is a curious fact about many first-cross breeds that the young 
are bigger birds than their parents, and they are nearly always 
hardier and easier to rear. That is partly why poultrymen who 
devote themselves mostly to the table side of the business prefer 
to cross in seeking for the best results. But there are other reasons. 
Old English and Indian game birds are particularly good for im- 
parting flesh to their progeny. The game birds are possessed of 
huge frames and chests made up of thick cushions of meat. It is 
obvious that the game bird crossed with other well-known table 
fowls will give great scope to the fatter, but it is well to remember 
that the game bird lays comparatively few eggs. 
Some of the best brecds for table purposes are Dorkings, 
Faverolles, English Game, Indian Game, and Sussex, while there 
is no better fowl for crossing than the Buff Orpington, with the 
object of producing table chickens. 
For general purpose fowls the Faverolles, Light Sussex, Wyan- 
dotte, Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons and Langshans are the best. 
Anyone breeding specially for the table should try to get them 
ready for fatting when from twelve to fourteen weeks old. This 
for reasons of economy. During the first month or more the cost 
of feeding is relatively small and the period of growth—natural 
growth—is greatest during the first three months of the bird’s 
life. Itis during the first sixteen weeks that a larger proportion of 
food will be turned into bone and flesh than at any other time in 
the career of the fowl. During the early months almost every bit 
of food goes to build up the body of the fowl and becomes absorbed 
into its system. For every pound of food at this period you will 
get a greater return in weight than can possibly be got when the 
bird has matured. 
How to Fatren 
Therefore pump the food into them liberally between the ages 
of six and sixteen weeks and without any special fatting process 
you will get big fine birds. 
To specially fatten a bird it is necessary to shut it up in a coop 
