59 
Chapter VII. 
BREEDING f^OR TABLE AND EXPORT. 
The export of dead Poultry from the Australasian Colonies, being such a question of importance, should be 
given the attention that it deserves. There is a vast and lucrative field in this product, as the demand in 
the English market is practically unlimited. We are aware that experimental shipments of dead poultry have 
taken place to the London market, and that highly satisfactory prices have been realised for the initial ship- 
ments, and this fact should lead to further and sustained efforts in this direction, as the climatic condition 
and surroundmgs of the Australasian Colonies are highly favourable for the production of table Poultry. 
To give an idea of the immense demand, and which is steadily increasing, the statistics published in 
England for the year 1893 will show that the value of dead poultry and game imported into England 
amounted to the substantial sum of ^580,000, and that eggs to the value of ^3,675.00° were also imported 
during the same year. These figures clearly indicate the importance attached to the industry. One district 
alone, that of Heathfield, in Sussex, during the season supplied the English market with over 40 tons of dead 
Poultry weekly. 
The prices range highest in England from January to May for ducks and fowls, and for turkeys and 
and geese, November to January. The dates of supplies required fit admirably into the possibility of the 
Colonies having a monopoly of this trade, being in such a unique position to cater for their market owing to 
our breeding season being at least five months ahead of the Home producers. 
The best class of fowl only is required, inferior or common sorts would not be in demand, except at 
prices which would represent serious loss. Therefore, the breeding of the birds which are best adapted to 
the demand requires consideration. Crossbred birds are the easiest to rear, and it will be found that the 
Indian Game, Old Fashioned British Game, or Old Style Australian Game with yellow or white legs, crossed 
with Dorkmg hens will produce a nearly ideal fowl for English requirements. The cocks may be used with 
Dorking hens, or cocks of the latter breed with the hens of the various breeds mentioned ; however, it will 
be found much better to use the Dorking hens as the different cocks of the Game varieties are more lively in 
their habits than the Dorking cock. An excellent system to produce birds which combine the necessary qualifica- 
tions of high-class table Poultry, will be to use an Indian or Australian Game cock with Dorking hens 
for the first cross, marketing all the half-bred cockerels thus produced, using as breeding stock the half-bred 
pullets from this cross with a Houdan cock ; again marketing the cockerels. Then the following year use 
the pullets from the Houdan-Game-Dorking cross with a pure Dorking cock. The pullets thus produced 
should be mated with a Game cock the next year, and so on, using each year in rotation a pure bred 
cock of either the Houdan, Dorking, or Game, the surplus pullets, that is those not required as breed- 
ing stock each year, will also rank amongst the highest class of poultry suitable for export. 
To catch the market yvhen prices rule at the highest point will, of course, be the aim of those who wish 
to make a success of the export trade, and to do so it will be necessary to breed the chickens early in the 
season, beginning in May and continuing till August, thus chickens hatched early in June should be well 
grown and fit to send away in December, and placed on the London market the latter end of January or 
beginning of February, keeping up a regular supply for the following three or four months. The chickens 
thus bred should be well advanced at five or six months old, and would command high and remunerative 
prices if up to standard requirements. 
It has been proved by repeated tests that the Indian Game, Houdan, Australian Game, or British Game 
crossed with the Dorking, carries less offal than any of the other various crosses, such as Game-Langshan, 
