48 
THE POULTRY BOOK. 
chickens, especially the cockerels, require high feeding and considerable scope for 
exercise, or they very rarely become superior specimens. 
As exliibition fowls, no doubt the most opportune moment for their owner to 
hope for success in prize-taking is the period when the pullets are just about to 
commence laying their first eggs. If they have been well attended, kept studiously 
from intercourse with the male bird, and all means used to prevent them laying 
early, they will then be as perfect in appearance as possible. The countenance 
of a Cochin pullet at this time of her existence possesses much beauty that is 
rarely present in after-life ; for at two years old many Cochin hens appear really 
careworn and aged ; besides which, in very many instances, the comb becomes 
irregular, not standing in a straight line, but forming what is technically termed 
a ‘ waved ’ or crooked comb. Cockerels for exhibition should, if possible, be two 
or three months older than their companions, or they will certainly appear compara- 
tively immature. As a general rule, young Cochins show to much greater advan- 
tage than old ones. But in breeding chickens, it should be remembered that 
those produced from the eggs of old hens not only acquire their feathers much 
more rapidly than those hatched from the eggs of pullets, but mostly possess 
more bone, and consequently make larger birds. Old hens, and a one-year-old 
cock, are therefore the most useful stock birds. Cochin fowls are very attentive 
and indomitable sitters, and usually bring out any chickens that are confided to 
them very strong; they are apt, however, to lay again too speedily, and desert 
their offspring before they are sufficiently advanced to be left to themselves.’* 
These valuable remarks of Mr. Hewitt so nearly exhaust the subject that little 
more remains for the present Editor than to record his own opinion on some points 
not noticed by that gentleman ; — namely, the cost of the keep of Cochins, and their 
value as table and market fowls. 
The cost of keeping Cochins has been estimated by some authorities as upwards 
of fourpence per week each, others regarding the entire expenditure required 
as little more than a penny per head per week. As usual, the truth lies between 
the two extremes. At the average prices of corn, when Cochins are entirely 
hand-fed, and have not the advantage of the stray grains of the farm and rick- 
yard, it will be found that they cost each about twopence per week, provided they 
are confined to a not very extensive run. If, however, they have a free range, 
they supply themselves with a very considerable quantity of food, as they graze, if 
the term may be allowed, to a much greater extent than any of the other varieties, 
the quantity of clover consumed by them in this way being very large. But, 
with these advantages, they still consume much more than smaller breeds would do 
in the same situation. It is contrary to all experience to imagine that a bird 
weighing from ten to twelve pounds should not require a greater amount of 
nourishment than would suffice for the support of another of half the weight ; it 
would not be more erroneous to assert that a cart-horse could be kept on the same 
amount of provender as a Shetland pony, as to state that a gigantic Cochin could 
be maintained at the same cost as a spangled or pencilled Hamburgh. 
