1 Ocr., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 357 
To those who have had little or no ex 
but may desire to own a few birds for 
chiefly addressed. Whatever variety you have made up your mind to go in for, 
be careful to find out who have beer the most successful breeders and exhibitors 
of the same, and, as far as possible, if they are “ straight”? and will sell 
you birds at a fair yalue. To those who ean afford it, I should 
wways recommend purchasing a cock and two pullets to breed from, in 
preference to buying eggs—this, of course, being a more expensive way of 
commencing, but, in my own opinion, more satisfactory. If, however, the 
purse is not long enough, and the would-be fancier decides in fayour of 
eges, buy from a reliable breeder any time from July until October, 
and see that you have a broody hen well tried before putting down your setting. 
Satisfy yourself on this point by putting a china-ege under her for a couple of 
days, and then, if she proves to be thoroughly broody, take it away (in the 
eyening is the best time) and substitute the setting you have purchased. Be 
sure she is in a place where she will not be disturbed, and also that the nest is 
clean and made up after the shape of a soup-plate in order that the eges cannot 
roll away and get cold. If the eges are fresh and fertile, the chicks will appear 
in twenty-one days, and are best left under her undisturbed the first day, as no 
food is required for twenty-four hours after hatching, On the second day, 
place her under a coop ina dry place, where the chicks ean get the morning 
sun, and at the same time get shade when the sun gets too hot. See that they 
get a good drink of cold water first thing; then throw the balance away, and 
chicks than water made 
? 
give some more later in the day. Nothing is worse for 
warm by the sun. Ax to the best food, &c., an excellent article appeared in the 
September number of this Journal. At three months old, the waste birds 
should be weeded out and the cockerely Separated from the-pullets. The 
object in this particular branch of poultry-breeding is to get them by any means 
to the greatest possible size—not that size is everything in the show-pen, but a 
good big one will alway beat a good small one; so feed liberally, and be sure 
they get plenty of green stuff and grit, as this is absolutely hecessary for good 
health. Do not allow your chicks to roost on perches—a, batten is preferable, 
but a good dry bed of clean dry ashes is better than anything. 
_ About a month previous to the ‘show ” you will pr 
which bird or birds you intend to exhibit. These shoul 
receive special attention. A little extra feeding, with a £ 
little raw meat chopped up fine, to bring out the com 
food, to improve the plumage; and a piece of Tusty iron ir 
to improve their chances of winning a prize and m 
perience in purchasing fowls or eges, 
exhibition purposes, my remarks are 
obably have decided 
d be penned off, and 
ew dainties, such as a 
bs ; linseed in the soft 
1 their water—all help 
aking a name for their 
breeder. 
About a week before the show they should be placed in separate pens, 
about the size of those used in the shows—be frequently handled so as to tame 
them—a bird used to being handled always shows much better than one caught 
the night before exhibiting and then confined for the first time. Their combs 
and lees should he washed, using a soft nailbrush and good yellow soap; and a 
little vaseline rubbed on the comb, and then dried with an old handkerchief, will 
brighten its appearance. 
Only white birds require to have. their feathers washed; and 
to be done thoroughly and is of ereat Ppa I will leave 
next letter in the November number of this Journal. 
as this requires 
it over for my 
