H4 
The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
in better condition and do altogether better in the same space and with less attention. Again, a 
run containing only pretty good birds has a wonderfully more pleasing effect to the eye of a fancier 
than another consisting partly of inferior specimens, and also assists in that training of the eye 
to perceive and demand excellence which is perhaps the real secret of permanent success. We 
would of course by no means advise killing until the power of distinguishing between good and 
bad has been acquired ; but after that, the more freely the chickens are eaten the better it will 
be for the yard in every way ; and they may be killed and got out of the way very young by 
using them for such “ chicken puddings ” as described at page 86. Some of the signs by which 
waste birds may be weeded out we shall point out in the proper places, when treating of the 
different breeds. 
We believe the very best results possible in chicken-rearing are obtained by keeping a compar- 
atively small number in a moderate-sized grass-run, nicely shaded with trees, and a spacious shed 
with a flooring of dry sand or gravel kept perfectly clean. Kept in large numbers, on unlimited 
grass, the birds grow up in beautiful condition, but often mature rather too rapidly and do not become 
so large ; whilst in small gravel yards, though size is easily obtained and good condition may be 
secured, the exquisite gloss so beautiful in grass-fed fowls is very difficult to produce, and large 
cockerels frequently become heavy and ungainly in carriage for want of exercise. We speak 
comparatively, of course ; for much depends on the skill and care brought to bear, and we often 
see the very best country yards beaten by people who only possess a few square feet in town ; but 
a dozen chickens in a grass-run of about twenty by fifty feet will take care of their condition for 
themselves with less real trouble than in any other circumstances. 
For exhibition, chickens of large breeds ought not to be allowed to roost for at least four 
months. The cause of crooked breasts, which so frequently occur in all large fowls, has often been 
discussed ; and it will be noticed that Mr. J. Martin, in his notes on Dorkings, quite dissents from 
the usual view that broad perches are preferable to small. We are bound to say that our own 
and general experience goes the other way; and many people have observed that pheasants 
commonly roost on the large branches, contrary to Mr. Martin’s remark on that bird. Our own 
observation, however, has led us to the conclusion that perhaps the preservation of good breasts in 
large chickens allowed to roost depends chiefly on the tone of the system : those which have wide 
range and are not overfed, if of good constitution, rarely suffering, while those bred in confinement 
are very apt to become crooked. At four months, therefore, birds reared on a good open run may 
generally roost on a broad perch without danger; but if bred up in confinement we would far 
prefer to roost them on straw. In this case, by far the easiest and cleanliest plan for an amateur 
who attends to his own fowls is to have a broad shelf of wood planed smooth, on the warmest side 
of the house, about a foot from the ground ; to slightly sprinkle this with sand to prevent the 
droppings adhering, and then litter pretty freely with well-broken straw. Every day this is to be 
well shaken up, and it will generally last about a week, when the whole is to be removed. A little 
paraffine, kerosene, or carbolic acid occasionally sprinkled on the wood will quite keep away vermin, 
and the advantages are, perfect dryness and freedom from draught, and the easy removal of all 
the droppings, &c., from the smooth hard surface, without the inconvenience of stooping. 
Chickens also prefer thus roosting on a slight elevation to a lodging on the floor. Instead ot 
straw, dry ashes or sand make a pretty good roosting bottom, but are neither so clean nor so 
warm for growing chickens, though superior in both respects for very young ones. 
At about six months old most chickens have assumed their adult appearance; but cockerels 
of the Asiatic varieties very often are not fully feathered or “ furnished ” till eight or even nine 
months, especially when bred from young parents. The chief danger during this period is leg- 
