Live Stock. 



42 



[January, 1912. 



richness of its plumage colour- As a 

 table bird it is one of the best, with 

 its white skin of fine texture and its 

 tender, white, juicy flesh and big well- 

 shaped carcase. In this State it is 

 opposed by no absurd prejudice against 

 its black legs, and readily commands 

 top market prices by reason of its size 

 and quality. 



There is a particularly good local 

 demand for the cockerels at prices 

 remunerative to breeders, and the hens, 

 even with their second season, are eager- 

 ly snapped up. Apart from its selling 

 value the Black Orpington breeder has 

 the satisfaction of never being without 

 a delicacy for his own table ; for the 

 person who is desirous of breeding 

 cro9sbreds for table purpose, there is no 

 better cross than a Black Orpington hen 

 mated with any variety of Game cock. 



Laying Capacity. 



The Black Orpington hen, moreover, 

 is unexcelled as a layer of brown-tinted 

 eggs. A strong point in its favour is 

 its ability to lay in the coldest of weather, 

 when eggs are scarce and bring high 

 prices. Even as an all the year round 

 layer it is by no means to be despised, 

 though its tendency to broodiness 

 renders it unable to cope with the best 

 of the light breeds during summer 

 months. Owing to the abnormal craze 

 for records as regards mere number 

 of eggs, the commercial value of the 

 Black Orpington as a layer stands in 

 danger of being overlooked. It mu9t 

 not be forgotten that a big percentage 

 of its eggs are laid in the dear season, 

 hence the total yearly value of its eggs 

 is much greater than appears to first 

 glance, and at the present day it stands 

 at the top of the heavy breed class as a 

 layer. The brown tine of its eggs is a 

 strong point in its favour as a back-yard 

 bird. It is certain that among house- 

 wives there exists a very stiong pre- 

 judice in favour of brown-shelled eggs 

 against white-shelled eggs. By the 

 opponents of the Black Orpington it is 

 urged that its egg is smaller than one 

 would expect from such a big bird. 

 Judicious selection on the part of every 

 breeder would, in a couple of seasons, 

 greatly increase the average size of the 

 egg. The system adopted by the egg 

 circles in this State of grading eggs 

 according to size, together with the 

 action of the Poultry Expert in raising 

 the minimium average weight of eggs at 

 the laying competitions to 24 oz. per 

 dozen, should stimulate every Black 

 Orpington breeder in default to breed 

 for a better-sized egg. 



Public competitions have proved that 

 it is possible, by careful selection, to 

 produce a Black Orpington well up to 

 the standard weight that can, in a year, 

 lay a good number of eggs of a high 

 monetary value and of more than aver- 

 age weight. 



As a Sitter and Layer. 



As a sitter and mother the Black 

 Orpington hen is hard to beat. Even 

 in these days of extensive artificial 

 hatching tfcere is, during certain months, 

 an extraordinary demand for broody 

 hens. The practical breeder with a few 

 dozen Black Orpington hens in his yard 

 is seldom short of a broody hen, even in 

 the depth cf winter, and can always 

 obtain a remunerative price for such 

 a treasure. The excessive tendency to 

 broodiness is a great weakness in some 

 strains, but, it desired, it can be gradu- 

 ally bred out. To do so necessitates a lot 

 of work in keeping complete records of 

 each bird, but it is worth the trouble. 

 Black Orpington chickens are remark- 

 ably hard and easily reared. They grow 

 quickly and fledge well, especially the 

 pullets. The best time to hatch them in 

 this State is during the winter months 

 from May to August. They flourish in 

 the open in the coldest and the wettest 

 of weather as no other breeds seem able 

 to do. They are wonderful foragers 

 and do well with a free run for the 

 first four months. They are black and 

 yellow or * white when hatched. The 

 chickens showing least black generally 

 turn out the most brilliant birds when 

 matured. 



The Culling Period. 

 At from four-and-a-half to five months 

 old it is advisable to cull out the cockerels 

 and market those not up to standard 

 type. At that age there is a handsome 

 profit in them. They should average 

 about 5 lb. in weight, and about Id, 

 per lb. live weight can be obtained 

 locally for them. They can bring even 

 better money exported oversea. The 

 early pullets come into lay when about 

 five months old, and the later hatched 

 ones at about six-and-a-half months. 

 Although a big bird, the Black Orpington 

 is not a big eater, and does well on a 

 moderate ration. If heavily overfed, 

 particularly in the second season, it is 

 liable to put on too much fat and 

 deteriorate in laying. To sum up, briefly, 

 there is no better all-purpose fowl in 

 Australia to-day than the Black 

 Orpington. It is exceptionally hardy, a 

 good sitter, a splendid table bird, an 

 excellent layer, a moderate eater, docile 

 and easily handled, while it doas well 

 either in confinement or on an open run. 



