THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Jcty 5, 1859. 
August 27th. Halifax. See., William Irvine, Holmfleld, Ovenden, near 
Halifax. 
August 29th, 30th, 31st, and September 1st. Crystal Palace. Poultry, 
Pigeons, anil Rabbits. Sec , William Houghton. 
September 22nd. Bridgnorth. Sec., Richard Taylor, Bridgnorth. 
October 11th, 12th, and 13th. Worcestershire. Sec., Geo. Griffiths, 
7, St. Swithin Street, Worcester. 
BEARING YOUNG POULTRY. 
“ For twenty years I have reared a great number of poultry 
with much success ; in fact, I never had any trouble with them 
until this year. In January last I took charge of the poultry 
belonging to the lady under whom my husband holds a situation. 
Her hens consist of grey and white Dorkings, Cochins, and 
Spanish, and the crosses of all; but only Dorking cocks. 
“Now for my trouble. I brought out about 150 chickens, 
ninety of which were Dorkings. After they left the shell, about 
one-fourth never ate a bit, seemed cold, would not go from under 
the hen, pined away, and died about the third day, except when 
I crammed them, which added a day or so to their miserable 
lives. The rest seemed to do well for about eight or ten days, 
when about another fourth pined away and died. But, what was 
most extraordinary with the last was, that they seemed lively 
enough, ate well, but never threw out any more plumage, or 
grew a bit from the time they came out till they began to pine. 
“ Well, when about three weeks old the Dorkings and all the 
crosses took the pip. A few pills of tobacco and cramming 
when unable to eat generally cured my chickens, but nothing 
seemed to have any effect on those here. The deaths were dreadful; 
but the Dorkiugs suffered most. I tried everything I ever heard 
of without effect. I knew the cabin people around me reared 
plenty on the same food—oatmeal dough or stirabout—the only 
difference was, I boiled, or mixed, for mine, whilst they gave 
what was left after meals. What coidd it be then ? 
“ I fortunately thought of salt. I tried it, and am glad to say 
that all that were not too far gone recovered. I also tried it on 
two young clutches from the beginning, and only two out of 
twenty-five took the pip, and that but slightly. 
“ Well, I had forty-five Turkeys. They throve well for a month, 
when one morning I had twenty-seven with swelled heads ; in 
fact, they had a bad roup. As I heard all the Turkeys died here 
last year, I sent them away to my own home, about a quarter of 
a mile from here. I did nothing but wash their heads two or 
three times a-day; gave a pill of tobacco at night, and put a 
little snuff on their nostrils, and crammed those which could not 
rat. They all recovered but three. 
“ Now, what I want to know is, whether the deaths arose from 
a fault in the food, or in the yard ? I told you what the chickens 
had to eat; the Turkeys were fed on eggs, now milk, chives, 
and nettles, which I always gave my own, made like an omelet, 
but boiled for a week. Then, oatmeal boiled in new milk, 
chives, and nettles. 
“There is about a rood of ground enclosed with a wall four 
feet high, and a paling on the top six feet high. We have two 
gates which are open all day, so that the fowls can ramble over 
acres of woodland ; the yard is nearly surrounded with trees on 
t hree sides, and on the fourth are the buildings, all very good, 
facing the west. We have plenty of sun from about nine o’clock 
till three ; plenty of shelter, for there are nearly forty trees inside 
the wall, sixteen of which are very large—laurel, ash, oak, and elm. 
“ I forgot to say that the full-grown fowls are subject to decline 
here. I sent ten over to my own house, that I thought could 
not live a week; eight of them are now well, although their 
sleeping accommodation is not nearly so good as it is here. 
“The Geese and Ducks all did well. We have a pond inside 
which we can keep fresh.”—A n Irishwoman, Fermanagh, 
Ireland. 
[We are always pleased to receive such communications as the 
foregoing; and still more so if we can clear up a knotty point, 
or advise in a difficulty. Believing that such correspondence as 
the present is full of instruction, we have printed it entire, and 
will remark on it as points occur that seem to call for notice. 
We never attempt to feed our chickens as soon as they leave 
the shell for twelve hours, at least; but we often leave them 
eighteen under the lien without attempting to feed them, and 
they are the stronger for it. They were, as they seemed to be, 
very cold, and they died of “ chill.” In our opinion a clean, 
warm nest is never so much required as when a hen has just 
hatched her chickens. We always provide one, place all the 
chickens under the lien, and put food within reach. If the 
SOI 
hatching takes place on a warm, sunny day, we move her into 
the sun, but we never attempt to treat them as chickens for the 
first twenty-four hours of their lives ; we leave them to the hen. 
We cannot describe the process—perhaps it is only warmth and 
hovering, but they do not seem, to feed for that period; if they 
do it is very little. Nor do we ever cram them at that age ; it is 
in reality only labour lost. • 
Deaths among chickens are very common at about eight or ten 
days old. It is one of the critical points in their existence. 
Here the use of stimulants is most successful, and bread and 
strong ale freely administered will save the lives of thousands 
that would die without it. Iu rearing chickens the weather 
must be considered; and if it is cold and damp, extra nourish¬ 
ment must be given. Chickens will neither thrive nor grow if 
they are dragged about in the mud, and it is no security to have 
a proper and dry place for them unless the hen is confined there. 
If she is at liberty she will drag her chickens to the place that 
suits her rather than them. The probability is, that the cottagers 
were more successful, because they allowed the broods to come 
in-doors, to get to the fire in cold weather, and to have part of 
every meal. These are the usual causes why the poorer classes, 
and children of all grades, arc what is termed so “ lucky ” in 
rearing. The chickens are the first consideration, and they are 
constantly attended to. We cannot help mentioning here that 
we were once at a farmhouse where the lady was fond of poultry, 
but complained sadly she had no placo of shelter for her young 
chickens. Yet in an open grass field, but close to the house, 
stood six or seven large hay-ricks. Now, we know not a better 
or a cosier place for rips with hens and chickens than close under 
a hay-rick. They can always be shifted to be sheltered from wind 
or driving rain. They stand on a dry spot full of seeds that fall 
from the hay ; and a better place cannot be desired. The salt 
appears to have been a happy experiment. We hope we shall 
have no occasion to try it; but we will do so if necessary. 
There is little doubt the Turkeys all took a chill ; probably 
from being out in a cold morning frosty dew, or from a keen east 
wind and rain : they feel such weather much. The treatment all 
seems good, except the snuff; we cannot imagine that would help 
much. The food for them is excellent. We arc not friendly (o 
very good poultry-houses, and are not surprised the sickly fowls 
recovered when removed to a place where the sleeping accommo¬ 
dation is not half so good. Fowls do not like to go round lo 
gates to get out of their yards ; and if some small arched openings 
were made in the wall it would be found they would use the 
grass land ten times as much as they do now. We should be 
half inclined to attribute the consumption, of which even (he old 
fowls die, to the pond. Ducks and Geese do not improve the 
water for drinking purposes; and we have, in many instances, 
traced disease to pond water poisoned by the leaves which fall 
into it in autumn and winter, and which, acted upon by a hot 
sun, becomes most injurious. We knew a yard where no poultry 
could be kept or reared; but when a small pond was filled up, 
and clean water substituted for it, poultry did well. There 
appears to be no fault to find with feeding. It is possible the 
poultry-houses are not sufficiently ventilated, or if not frequently 
lime-wliited, that they have become stale or tainted. If there is 
not plenty of dust at hand the fowls are infested by vermin, and 
that would account for all that lias happened.] 
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE POULTRY SHOW. 
This Show took place on the 29th and 30th ult. The follow¬ 
ing is the list of the awards :— 
Game (Black-breasted Red).— First, II. Adams. Second, .1. Fairless. 
Third, G. Hutchinson. 
Game (any other variety).—Prize, J. Charlton. 
Dorkings (Coloured).—First and Third, J. Graham. Second, II. W. B. 
Berwick. 
Dorkings (White).—First, S. Burn. Second, A. Pease. 
Cochin-China (Buff or Cinnamon).—First, A. B. Cohhold. Second, IT. 
Tomlinson. Third, T. H. Barker. 
Cochin-China (any other variety).—Second, G. Morgan. 
IIamburqhs (Golden-pencilled).—First, G. B. Seotson. Second, P. 
Donaldson. 
IIamburghs (Silver-pencilled).—First, II. Surtees. Second, J. Dixon. 
IlAMBvnGns (Golden-spangled). — First, Messrs. Bird and Beldon. 
Second, II. Adams. Highly Commended, .T. Shield. 
IIamburghs (Silver-spangled).—Prize, Messrs. Bird and Beldon. 
Polands (Black with White Crest).—First, T. Leonard. Second, Messrs. 
Bird and Beldon. 
Poi.ands (Golden).—First, J. Dixon. Second, J. Sim. 
Polands (Silver).—First, J. Dixon. Second, Messrs. Bird and Beldon. 
Polands (any other variety).—First, Messrs. Bird and Beldon (White). 
Second, .J. Sim (White). 
