THE SELECTION OF BROODY HENS 



three broods in a single season, but commonly two. A 

 matter that has often given rise to a considerable amount of 

 discussion in connection with broody hens for sitting purposes 

 is that respecting the different variety of fowls for sitting 

 purposes, and every man is entitled to his own opinion, some 

 keepers preferring one, others another variety, but there is 

 a consensus of opinion that the cross-bred or barn-door fowl 

 is one of the best for such 

 uses, provided that the 

 bird contains a proportion 

 of the Brahma cross. 

 Wyandottes, Orpingtons, 

 Indian Game and Ply- 

 mouth Rocks are all good 

 sitters as well as good 

 mothers, whilst Brahmas, 

 Cochins and Langshans 

 are early brooders, and sit 

 well, but they are inclined to be clumsy, consequently liable 

 to injure the young birds. 



A variety of fowl that can with every confidence be 

 recommended is the Silkie, a native of the Far East, and it 

 would be profitable for Pheasant-rearers to cultivate more of 

 these birds. A Silkie will become broody when it has laid 

 about a dozen eggs, and will sit anywhere during this time 

 in a most patient manner. 



A Silkie hen will cover about a dozen Pheasants' eggs, 

 and do the work of incubation as well as subsequently tending 

 their young better than any other variety of fowls. They 

 never trample on the chickens, and rarely damage an egg, 

 and they have more warmth in them in point of size than 

 most other fowls. Another advantage claimed for this 

 variety of fowl as brooders is that they will take to Pheasant 



151 



PORTABLE PHEASANT AND POULTRY HOUSE 



