Breeding Black-Breasted Red Game. 
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we will call it No. 1. The partridge-marking ought on no account to run into any distinct bold 
or large pencilling , though it is sometimes described as such. It is a very small, wavy, irregular 
marking, just like that on the back of a partridge, and is shown in the engraving of feathers 
annexed, from a really pure-feathered Black-red hen (Fig. 69). We do often see real blotchy or 
large pencilling, and I know it is difficult to breed birds without ; but such marking is most 
objectionable, and so often a sign of a Duckwing or Pile cross that it ought to be more discouraged 
than it is. The true and proper marking is as figured here, just like a partridge, and should be so 
described. 
“The second colour of hen for breeding purposes is: — Hackle golden-yellow, streaked with 
black ; body — at least back and saddle — partridge-colour of a wheaten or slight creamy tinge, but 
still partridge ; the wings slightly ruddy ; breast a red salmon, running off to ashy colour on the 
thighs. This hen is of lighter shade, in fact, all over the body, a softer or yellow colour pervading; 
but the partridge-marking just the same in character as the No. I. 
“ The third colour for breeding is : — Head and hackle light gold, only slightly streaked with 
black ; back and wings a quite light partridge, with a more even shade of gold all over, but not of 
the wheaten colour ; breast a yellowish ash-colour ; tail black. 
“ Either of these colours having the style and symmetry named can be bred from, and with 
success ; but I don’t say the first cross. The way I should start would be to put No. 1 cock 
with a clear partridge -coloured (or No. 1) hen, clear in the wing, and with no pencilling whatever 
on the flights of the wing ; having a deep salmon-coloured breast, with rich golden hackle, with 
a deep streak of black in each feather. By thus mating you would get rare pullets, and sometimes 
a first-rate cockerel. 
“ Then again, put No. 1 cock to a rich partridge-backed hen, with ruddy wing, and rich golden 
hackle streaked with rich black, and a ruddy-ashy breast, described above as No. 2. Thence you 
get your bright-red, showy cockerels ; but seldom a good pullet, not being dark enough. 
“From No. 2 cock, being more a self-colour, and not that blending of different reds that is so 
pleasing in No. 1, you will get your rich partridge-coloured hens, with deep rich salmon breasts, and 
pretty free from pencilling, if mated with good partridge hens. Putting this cock to a red partridge 
(or No. 3) hen, inclined to Wheaten colour, you sometimes get a really beautiful bright red cockerel. 
“With regard to the No. 3 cock, the only thing I have seen his colour get good has been 
pullets from the clear partridge (or No. 1) hens; the cockerels in general are loose-feathered, and 
too dark. 
“ There is also what is termed the Wheaten-rcd hen — that is, a hen with buff breast ; back 
slightly partridge, marked with buffy-rcd ; hackle clear buff or very slightly striped with black ; 
and tail black, inclined to be tinged with buff. The name was given, as many think, from its 
resemblance to the skin of the red wheat. These hens are most valuable to a breeder for getting 
him a really pure bright-red cock, for which you put to them a cock of the Nos. 1 or 2 colours, 
the former preferred ; but this has to be carefully done, and the notion about the Wheaten hen 
being the best to breed cocks from has been harped rather too much upon. It is very well to use 
one cross, either with the bright-red, or No. 2 cock ; but if you cross with the Wheaten the second 
time you will get a blotchy breast and rusty fluff, the blood being too light to have too much of. 
These hens are also useful for breeding Piles and Duckwings, as mentioned farther on ; but the 
second cross, from hens bred from the Wheaten hen, has a certain softness of feather not desirable ; 
therefore, all Black-red hens bred from this cross ought to be cooked. It is from the second cross 
the softness comes, the Wheaten hen herself being hard-feathered, and generally throwing very 
sound-feathered cockerels. 
z 
