New York State College of Agriculture At Cornell University Ithaca, N. Y. Library Burnhatn's new poultry book.A practical w 3 1924 003 690 124 Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003690124 No. 1. BUFF OR PARTRIDGE COCHIN. As bred by D. TV. Herstine, G. H. Warner. I Van 'Winkle, J. M. W^ade, G. M. Ctiampney, ,f. GravcH, E. J. Taylor, W. .Simpson, Jr., etc. Ho. 2. QUEEN VICTORIA'S ORIGINAL COCHINS. Drawn in 1844, by Harrison Weir, I-ondon. BURNHAM'S NEW POULTRY BOOK. A PRACTICAL WORK ON SELECTING, HOUSIlSrG, AND BREEDING DOMESTIC FOWLS. By GEO. P. BURNHAM, AUTHOK OF "NEW ENGLAND POULTRY EKEEDEK," THE "CHINA FOWL," "DISEASES OF POULTKV," " SECKETS IN FOWL BREEDING," THE " GAME FOWL," ETC., ETC. ILLUSTRATED WITH DRAWINGS OF MODERN POPULAR VARIETIES, PLANS OF POULTRY HOUSES, &c. BOSTON: LEE & SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. C>OPTRIGET. Bt XjEe. and shepabd. 1877. PREFACE TO THE PRESENT EDITION. The first edition of this work was published a few years ago, and met with such success that two more editions were soon called for, and have been exhausted. Many calls having been made for copies, the publishers now present this fourth edition to the public. The increasing interest shown in every part of the country, in matters connected with the raising of domestic poultry, is a suffi- cient warrant for a new issue of a volume from the hands of the veteran author, whose knowledge and skill have been recognized for the last twenty-five years. The contents will be found both entertaining and instructive. No man living is a more competent authority than Mr. Burnham ; and his work will be equally useful to the novice, the amateur, and the experienced fowl-raiser. It is safe to say, that, where there was one breeder of choice fowls a dozen years ago, they are now numbered by the score ; and the American fanciers now have the finest specimens in the world from which to choose. The aim of the author has been to present a record of actual experience, showing what he has accomplished in improving the modem stock of poultry. The illustrations in this volume represent the best modem varie- ties ; and it is believed that no poultry-book has been presented to the public in modem times at such a moderate price, so useful and so acceptable in all respects as this. If the advice and the suggestions of the author are intelligently and steadily followed, the fowl-breeders of this country will be able to rear good poultry successfully and economically, and so secure both pleasure and profit. Boston, April 2, 187T. COJNfTENTS. Chap. Page. I. GENBEAL iNTEODUCnON. 5 IL Ok Eoos, and HATCHUfG Chickens 13 TTT . Feeding and Bearing Young Beoods 23 IV. PUEELT-BBED YBAE OLD POWL, IJPWAED. ... 34 V. PotTLTET-HoUSES, AND ACCOMMODATIONS. ... 51 VL KAISnjG POULTBT AND EGGS FOE MARKET. . . 64 Vn. IlLUSTBATIONS of PotTLTBT-HOUSBa 81 VHL Fowl-Houses, Coops, Chicken-Cages, Etc. . . 100 IX. On Aetificiai. Egg-Hatching. 121 X. Patent Incubatobs, and Improvements. . . 128 XT. Poultbt Exhibitions, and Show-Fowls. . . . 137 XTT. Vaeieties of Popular Fowls. The Bbahma. . 148 XTTT. The Obiginal "Cochin-China." 169 XTV. Old and New Paetbidge Cochins 179 XV. MoDEEN Buff Cochins 188 XVT. The Houdans, Cebvecceues and La Fleche. . 199 XVn. The Daek Bbahma Fowl 207 XVHL The English Geat Dobking. 220 xnr. The Game Fowl and its Uses 227 xv. Black Spanish and Gueldbes 245 XXI. Dominique, Spangled Hamburg, Bolton Geat. 252 XXn. Golden Sebright and othee Bantams. . . . 265 X-XJ.1L " Many Men have Many Minds." 271 XXrV. The American Wild Txtbkby. 284 XXV. Reaeing the Domestic Tueket. 290 XXVL Wild, Bremen, Toulouse, and Native Geese. 301 XXVn. The Atlesbuet, Rouen, and Common Duck. . 311 XXVm. What I enow about Poultry and Fowl-Shows. 318 XXIX. Twenty-five good Rules foe Fowl-Beeedebs. 327 XXX. Raising Fowls in Quantities, to Peofit. , . 333 BURNHAM'S NEW POULTRY BOOK. CHAPTER I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION., It has been aptly stated, by a modern practical author, that " the poultry interest in the United States is a very important one ; " and that " the intro- duction of improved Breeds or Varieties of Fowls, which insure gi'eater size, finer quality, and increased productiveness in eggs or flesh, contributes just so much to the aggregate wealth of the country." The truthfulness of this statement is beyond ques tion. Yet the real value and importance of this easily managed and readily produced auxiliary to the aug- 6 bdbnham's new poultry-book; mentation of our national wealth, is not fully appre- ciated as yet ; albeit much has been accomplished in the right direction, within the past twenty years, and, more signally, during the last decade, in America, towards the desirable object of producing in quantity as well as quality, the finest Domestic Poultry in the world. The statistics, as shown by a late census report, set down the actual market value of poultry in the single State of New York, for example, at near three millions of dollars; which, at that period, exceeded the com- mercial value of all the swine in that State, equalled about one half the value of its sheep, the entire valua- tion of its neat cattle, and over four times the whole returned value of its horses and mules. The amount expended for eggs alone, in the city of Boston in 1869, reached almost two millions of dollars. For poultry, near three millions. One large hotel ii\ that city uses an average of one hundred dozen, daily, at the present time — or half a million eggs, annually. In New York city, a leading hotel proprietor informs me that in 1869 he used in his establishment one hun- dred and forty dozen, daily, during that year. Two hotels in Philadelphia exceed that average, at the pres- ent time. The cash value of eggs sent to London and Liverpool, from Dublin, alone, in 1866, aggregated one million four hundred and thirteen thousand pounds sterling — over seven millions of dollars, in gold ! These are merely items in the vast aggregate — for actual consumption, at market prices — which con- tribute to swell the amount in solid value of poultry A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 7 and eggs, to its enormous reality in this and other countries ; a recent estimate placing their value in the United States alone, at $17,000,000 ! The Societe Industrielle of Mulhouse, in the Depart- ment of the Haut Rhin, Alsace, publish a journal de- voted to manufactures, and general scientific matters appertaining thereto. This Society has repeatedly of- fered, in behalf of the French Print manufacturers of that famed locality, large premiums for the discovery of a substitute for the albumen (or white) of eggs — of which substance they absorb immense quantities, in fixing the colors, in printing calicoes and muslin delaines. To supply the large demand for this albumen — which, up to the present day, has no equal for the specific purpose mentioned, and for which as yet no substitute that equals it has been found — a vast num- ber of hens' eggs are necessarily used, annually. In response to the liberal offer made through this journal, certain parties have produced a kind of albumen, made from the spawn of fish, and others from slaughter- house blood ; neither of which have proved colorless, however, and consequently are not of the value of the original. The requirements of the French print manufacturers therefore are such that they must have this albumen, to a given extent, and this demand has caused the establishment of large poultry-raising establishments, in the vicinity of Mulhouse, for the producing of eggs, from which this albumen is gathered ; which fowl- houses are now carried on there under their style of 8 bubnham's new poultbt-book ; management, with success and remunerative pi'ofit ; and the demand, in every way, is ever increasing, for both eggs and poultry. Everybody " loves eggs and chickens." Almost ev- erybody eats eggs, in some form, more or less, daily. In the family economy, eggs enter largely into our food, our cakes, our confections ; while for our custards, pies, omelets, and puddings — or fried, boiled, poached, or scrambled —^ everybody knows their intrinsic value in the household, in detail. Few families live without eggs, and most of us indulge largely in the beneficent luxury of both the producers, and this product of poultry. Thus, a moment's reflection will satisfy the incredulous of the truth contained in our early quoted assertion, that the poultry interest in the United States, is a highly important one ; and we may add that it is so important and so valuable an interest, that it should continually be nursed and cultivated ; with a care and zeal commensurate with its sterling merits. We know that he who causes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before, is a benefactor to his race; and he who may enhance the quality of our poultry, and increase its size and productiveness, in any way that shall result in 'permanent improvement, is equally a general benefactor to the people. If an experience of thirty years in the rearing and management of poultry will afford one the means of in- forming himself as to the habits, characteristics, needs, and qualities of domestic fowls — the author of thia " New Poultry Book " may lay claim to having gradu- A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. & ated ; since it is more than thirty years ago, that he commenced, (in Roxbury, Mass.,) the breeding of poul- try on a large scale. The results of that long and varied experience will be found detailed in the following pages. The wi'iter has. in his time, bred largely all the varieties of Domestic Fowls that have been popularly known in this country, and in England — from the diminutive Black, or Se- bright Bantam, to the colossal Cochin, Brahma, or Shang- hae ; and his experience has been such that he feels com- petent to the task of offering in plain language, such facts, deductions and directions, in reference to the selecting, housing, feeding, multiplying, and care of domestic poultry, as will — if carried out — assure to fanciers, breeders, or amateurs, both success and profit, as well as easy and healthful pastime, in the modus operandi herein proposed. In the general making up of this book, however, the author has not relied upon himself, alone, for the facta and theories he now submits to the fanciers and admir- ers of that pleasant branch of rural economy — poultry- breeding. As will be seen in the following pages, due credit is given to the gentlemen who have contributed to the work ; and who have furnished for this Poultry Book fine portraits and drawings of various kinds of popular domestic fowls ; with plans of cages, coops, chicken- houses, etc. ; all of which favors are duly acknowledged in the appropriate place. It is believed that no work on this subject at present exists that is so simple in its details, so thoroughly 10 bdenham's new poultey-book ; practical in its suggestions, so complete in its general directions, or so modern in its bearings — as is this vol- ume. It has been the author's aim to state directly and fairly what he knows from long-tried experiment, and to add to his own experience that of other reliable parties who aim to benefit the public through this humble means, in their laudable efforts to improve the poultry stock of this country, and naturally to remunerate them- selves, sooner or later, for the outlay and care necessari- ly bestowed upon their several undertakings in this re- gard. M. de Eeaumer, member of the Royal Academy of Sciences, at Paris, more than a century ago issued a work entitled " The Art of Hatching and Bringing up Domestic Fowls of all kinds, at any time of the year." This volume bears a London imprint — being " printed for C. Davis, over against Gray's Inn Gate " — in 1750 ; and contains a large amount of valuable matter upon the subject now treated of, though that treatise refers more especially to the hatching and raising of chickens by means of artificial heat ; a mode not adopted to any great extent, or with any marked degree of success, as yet, in this country. Mons. de Reaumer presented to the Academy his first paper on this interesting occupa- tion, on St. Martin's Day, 1747, " when the public of that time seemed to have judged, as he had done, of the great advantages to be expected of mahing a business of chicken-raising ;" a business which he claims " requi I'es teveral branches of knowledge, and a great many small experiments, the sum total of which constitutes the sub A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 11 jcct matter of an art," in his opinion ; though M. da Reaumer candidly admits that " all that this art requires wo should know, is so very plain, that it is as soon ob lained as read." At that remote day, to wit, one hundred and twenty- five years ago, this writer says that the " multiplying at pleasure and with the utmost ease, domestick birds, of which such a vast number is consumed, all over the world, cannot be overdone ;" and he avers that even at that time, the public " would be startled with the im- mense consumption made of them. By multiplying chickens and hens, we multiply the number of eggs. The procuring of corn and cattle in plenty," he adds, '• has been a part of the views of the greatest ministers on earth ; nor is the procuring of a plenty of domestick fowls an object less worthy of their attention." De Reaumer was right. And, though he published his " memoir " so long ago, the exact truth, as above quoted, is no less forcible to-day, that the propagation of plenty of domestic poultry is a desideratum. And, in our land, where the work may be so pleasantly and so profitably prosecuted (if undertaken and pursued right- fully, and judiciously) as it may be in any locality in this country, this object is pre-eminently worthy of th& attention of all who enjoy the trivial facilities requisite to aid in accomplishing the acceptable results hinted at. To enable those who have a taste for this pleasing employment to carry out their wishes, and to assist the amateur, the farmer, or the fancier, more readily to suc- ceed in the raising of poultry — as well also as to inform 12 bttrnham's new pooi^try-book. such persons how and of whom they may procure the best breeding-stock, to begin with, and how they may manage either to become rivals among " fanciers," or successful competitors in the production of chickens and eggs for market, simply — is the design of this " New POULTBT-BOOK." We shall give the true history of the large Asiatic fowls from our own personal knowledge and experience with that ever popular variety, and the reader will find, in the following pages that the writer freely accords credit where such credit is known to him to be due, to other gentlemen who have expended money, time and brains — as he has — in the purchase, rearing and ex- perimenting with poultry, foreign and native. It will be the aim in this volume, to state what seems desirable to be set down here, in succinct, plain language, uniformly ; and it is confidently believed, that if the general hints and directions we offer are carefully fol- lowed out, that the novice in " the art " may easily raise good poultry and plenty of it — which may always be disposed of, at remunerating prices, as his reward in this agreeable kind of enterprise. CHAPTER II. ON EGGS AND HATCHING CHICKENS. To begin at the foundation, we propose a brief chap- ter on eggs, and the hatching of chickens. And first — in selecting eggs for incubation, some care is neces- sary to ensure future success with them. The custom at the present time, is very general among beginners, to purchase eggs, for a sitting or two, from breeders, or dealers in the variety of fowls they prefer. This latter consideration is a matter o^ fancy, purely. Some incline to the medium-sized fowl — as the White Dorking, the Black Spanish, Leghorns, the Dominique, the Sicily, the Houdan, or the Guelderlands. Others favor the Cochins, Brahmas, Shangh^s, Crevecoeur, La Fleche, or other large Asiatic or French birds. While a few pre- fer the Bolton Gray, the Hainburg, the Poland, or Game, 13 14 buenham's new poultry-book; The transportation of eggs intended for hatcliing, to any great distance by express and railway carriage, has proved, in my experience, frequently injurious. I have forwarded thousands of dozens of eggs, in all directions, over this country — from Maine to Louisiana, and to the West — and I speak advisedly on this point, after thorough and persistent trial of every imaginable ex- pedient in packing them, for the purpose — when I say that the vitality of eggs is endangered (more or less) by being transferred over long distances in the rough modes of conveyance we are obliged to forward tliem by. A city editor has lately stated tliat " baggage-smash- ing, as a fine art, has reached a high state of perfection in this country, and the skill, ingenuity and perseverance exhibited by railway employes in reducing the strongest built trunk to a hash of wood, leather and iron, must be highly encouraging to the trunk makers. A heavily timbered, iron clad, armor-plated trunk will only stand a two days' trip, and the handling of two or three of these railroad wreckers before it is reduced to old junk." And in the case of the writer of the above, the contents of his stout trunk, " in fact the remains of everything of a perishable nature in it, attested the muscular energy and activity of the American baggage smasher," after a three days' trip. To the tender mercy of this unthink- ing, rough-an'-tumble fraternity, the party who furnishes eggs for incubation is obliged to entrust his parcels, and the resulting disappointment of the purchaser of these frail articles is so commonly known, almost in all direc- tions, as to require little further comment here. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 15 Still, breeders are compelled to undertake to furnish eggs for incubation in this way, and pui'chasers buy them, and accept the attendant risk. Probably it is the best way of disseminating choice stock, as yet known to ns ; and, since it is the only mode that can be made availa.- ble, whereby tiie beginner who resides at a distance from the breeder of the particular fowls, or strain of blood he desires, can nowadays obtain eggs — the amateur must accept the situation, and get all the chickens he can out of his eggs thus transported. In some cases, I am aware, both from my own ex- perience in this matter, and that of other gentlemen, that eggs so sent from a long distance, do well. But I also know that both in forwarding and receiving eggs so conveyed, there is a percentage of average loss to the buyer, when in both instances I have known that the damaged eggs upon their receipt, were fresh and reliable upon shipment — to and fro. But, as to the safety of transporting eggs, it is a point upon which the experience of breeders and dealers dif- fers. Mr. Tegetmeier, the leading English modern writer on poultry, says, " The extreme care sometimes bestow- ed on eggs, intended for incubation, is quite unneces- sary. The yolk is naturally so perfectly suspended, that injury cannot occur to it by any violence likely to be suffered by the egg, short of actual breakage. Eggs have been hatched in England, that were laid in Ameri- ca. The vibration and shaking to which they have been submitted on the voyage, not having injured the delicate germ." And we observe upon the circulars of 16 bubnham's new poultry-book ; many of our best breeders, the assurance that eggs can be shipped with safety to any distance, if properly pack- ed. One dealer recommends the following simple, but very good method, for a transportation-box for eggs. He says " it should be made of thin (half-inch) stuff, with twelve squares or partings inside it, three inches in the clear, each way ; to be fifteen inches long, by twelve wide. This will afford 7-oom to bestow a dozen eggs, one to be placed on end, in each square by itself, in dry bran or screenings, with a thick layer of ttu^ same at the top and bottom ; the box to be at least eight inches in depth, inside. Fasten the top securely, and the eggs thus packed can not be broken, unless the box is smash- ed. The eggs in the box thus arranged, and entirely surrounded by the bran, will appear as follows — before filling up, and securing the top down." And this cor- respondent recommends that " only one dozen eggs be so packed in a box. If more are ordered, increase the number of boxes." o o o o o o o o Like other fanciers, I am constantly applied to for eggs for hatching, the writers invariably proposing to " take the risk " of moving them. In such cases, I A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 11 supply orders. Other breeders send their choice egga ill all directions, and it is of course understood that the buyer takes what risic there may be, in this perhaps absolutely necessary way of distributing eggs abroad, from choice stoclc. The best mode I have ever yet known for facking eggs, to be thus transported, is a very simple one. First, wrap each egg separately in common soft brown paper ; then place the eggs end-wise up, apart from each other, in coarse bran, or shorts ; witii a generous supply of the latter at top, bottom, and sides of the box. Eggs thus packed, upright, with the larger ends placed downwards, in fine hay cut very short, will bear trans- portation very well. If your express-man is not a con- firmed " baggage smasher," and handles tlie box " with care," as should be indicated always upon the outside of the box, eggs ought to go through, with an approxi- mation to safety from breaking, or having the life shaken out of them. I simply say, however, that, too often, they do not escape injury, in transitu ; and 1 merely mention the fact, which is patent. I am lately informed that Mr. Van Winkle of Greenville, N. J. and one or two other breeders have invented a " safety- box " to ship eggs in ; said to be a good contrivance. Having procured your eggs, however, you will pro- ceed to set them under your hen, or hens, which it is pre-supposed you have in readiness for the purpose, — and in choosing a sitter, I have found that a six- pound hen of any variety, is better than one thiit is i heavier. Your large hens (if you have any) of tlia 18 buenham's new poultry-book ; Chinese varieties, for example, are too clumsy and heavy, usually. The Asiatic varieties are admirable sitters nevertheless, and there is no better hen-mother known than the Brahma or Cochin fowl. But they are awk- ward and innocently reckless, both with their eggs and towards newly-hatched chickens — easily breaking the former in their nests, and killing the latter, by tramp- ling upon them, in their infancy. So I advise that the setting hen, for choice, should be smaller, nimbler, and more careful — as the common barn-yarn fowl is, always. Let her be a short legged, compact-built, well feathered bird, of five or six pound's weight ; and, out of nine to eleven eggs, you will get more living mature chickens, on the twenty-first day of her sitting, than with thirteen eggs under the heavy Shanghse, or Brahma, which you imagine " can cover that number so much better " than the lesser-sized bird ; and when the chicks break shell, the smaller fowl will not tramp them to death — before they can stand up, when freed. Obtain your eggs for setting, (or supply them your- self,) from the newest laid ones, invariably. If they come from your own fowls, be careful, while they are accumulating, that you keep them dry, free from damp air, and from all unnecessary motion in handling, at any time. The internal fibres, air-bag, and yolk of an egg are a much more delicate conformation and substance than most persons imagine ; and it is a very easy thing to injure the egg, for hatching, by roughly shaking, jarring it, or turning it over, carelessly. If, as you A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 19 gather your eggs, daily, you stand them upon end in clean dry bran, leaving them thus till you want them for setting, you will find it advantageous. Discard all over-sized, as well as undersized eggs for incubating. The monster-eggs frequently dropped by Chinese or Brahma fowls, are always double-yolkod, and useless. The diminutive eggs, (laid at the end of the litter, usually,) are yolkless, or imijerfect, and will not hatch. Select medium-sized roundish eggs, smooth-shelled ; and never believe in the nonsense that some wise-acres would impose on you, as to the sex of eggs. The man doesn't live who can tell accurately from a look at the egg, whether it contains the germ of a cock or a pullet. As a rule, you will not set a hen before the last of February, or middle of March — unless you chance to have a broody hen a few days earlier, and can set her under glass — in a hot-house, for instance. In any other case, the eggs will more than likely be chilled, upon a cold day, while the hen leaves them to feed — and thus your whole clutch is ruined. But supposing you set the hen when the weather favors, you place nine to eleven fresh eggs under her, in a box twelve or fourteen inches square and deep — forming the nest (slightly concave in the centre,) at the bottom of tlie box, with a thick sod, the grass side upward ; upon whicli scatter a thin layer of fine fresh hay — and let her alone, from the hour you place her. The nest should be in a moderately darkened situa lion, where the hen will not be disturbed, or intruded 20 bubnham's new poultrt-book ; upon by any other fowl. If she is confined to restricted limits, so much the better, since a good setting hen does not care to roam away far from her nest. Let her food and fresh clean water be near at hand always, with a box of dry ashes, also, to ' roll ' herself in, when she comes off to feed, and she will thus keep herself compar- atively free from vermin ; which oftentimes so annoys the sitter as to drive her from her nest before her time is out. The nearer you can approach in this process to what the fowl will do, naturally — if she " steals her nest " — the better success you will meet with, nine times in ten, remember. There is no mystery or difficulty in hatching chickens with a good hen-mother. She should be left to attend to her business by herself, after you have thus provided her with eggs, nest, food, water and ash-box, and a quiet situation ; and she will do this, if you do not dis- turb her. For conveniences of sitting-coops, nests, etc., the reader is referred to another chapter, hereafter. The hen will sit three weeks. On the twenty-first day after she commences — if she has not been disturb- ed in the meantime — you may expect to hear the piping peep of the newly-hatched chicks, always hoping that you will get the same number that you furnished her the eggs for. If they were fresh and in order you may find as many. If you don't find but half or two-thirds this number, be satisfied with these, and try again. A good plan in setting your hens, is, to set two or three the same day and hour. Then put all the chicks you get under one or two mothers, and take the odd one A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 21 away. If the chicks are put under a strange motlier within twenty-four hours after she hatches her eggs, slio will adopt them ordinarily, without any trouble — and she will brood and rear a dozen or fourteen chicks as well as half a dozen. Ou the twentieth day from the sitting, the chicken presents the following appeai'ance before the breaking of the shell — as he lies, fully developed, in " his native element." On the twenty-first day, he will burst the bonds that confine him, and come forth — if left to himself. Only in very exceptional cases should you interfere at the birth of the new comers. Some writers advise, if the shell is too thick, that the chick should be assisted to get out, on the twenty-first day, but recommend extreme caution, lest it be killed with kindness at this critical moment. Another author says, " if you attempt to release the chick from the shell, do it only by slow degrees, remov- ing a fragment at a time, only once in twelve, or twenty hours." 22 burnhak's new poultry-book. As a general thing I recommend that you let the struggling chick alone, severely. The membrane which confines him, is so delicately threaded with blood-vessels, that the breaking of the shell, prematurely, and especial- ly by an inexperienced hand, is almost certain to cause I he young bird to bleed to death — even if released. Don't handle them ; don't fuss with them. But let Na- ture and the hen-mother work, without your bungling aid, and all will go well at the hatching-time. The tender solicitude exliibited by some amateurs, at the hatching time, is altogether gratuitous and un- necessary. Let your hen alone, and, if she is good for any thing, she will much better and more skillfully bring her little ones out of ordinary difficulty — than you and she together can — rely on it. CHAPTER III. FEEDING AND EEAEING YOUNG BROODS. The chickens having now shovra themselves, still let them alone for four-and-twenty hours, at the least. They do not want any thing to eat for one day after hatching. They should then be removed to a clean, fresh place, and the contents of the old nest should be destroyed, since after a hen has sat upon it three weeks, it will necessarily be occupied more or less with vermin, under the best of circumstances. At first the chicks may be fed advantageously for a day or two, upon stale soaked bread, or a hard-boiled egg, broken up fine ; and after the third day, for a week, on oatmeal or barley meal — allowing them to run with the lien, in the sunshine, if the weather is fine. But chick- ens are arc very delicate, and sensitive to cold at this age — of any breed. So that care should be taken to have them sheltered from winds and rain till they are four or five weeks old. The season is then further ad- 23 24 buenham's new poultry-book. vanced, (if they were hatched in March) and while the weather has become warmer, they have grown mucli stronger, too. After this time the hen will take care of them, if she have a good range, for some weeks, with the aid of a regular morning allowance of barley-meal, oat- meal, or other soft feed. At from six weeks to three months old, the first down will drop from chickens of the Eastern varieties — as the Brahmas, Cochins, or Shanghaes ; and most of their little plump bodies will oftentimes be, for weeks, bare of feathers. With other varieties, this does not usually occur. If they are not hatched too early in the spring, however, the weather will have become so comfortable that their growth is not retarded perceptibly in conse- quence of this natural fleecing. If the breeder has the convenience for such an ar- rangement, he will find the advantage of having previous- ly prepared a low-roofed lean-to, against the side of a tight board fence, or along the barn-side, facing the south or southeast, open at one or both ends, and slant- ing from a height of four feet, say, at the back, down to two feet in front — four or five feet wide. Chickens will ran under such a shelter, wlucli is ample to protect them from cold winds, rain storms, or the heat of the sun, at times. If the roof is battened, over tlie board-seams, it will be sufficiently tight too for the purpose ; to be used, of course, only in spring and summer. In the very early season, a better arrangement, however, is, to cover such a roof with common hot-bed sashes, beneath which the young chickens will huddle, in raw weather, and A PRACTICAL TKKATiaE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 25 keep themselves very comfortable during the chilly and rainy days. The hen-mother should be permitted to run with her brood until they are old enough to take care of them- selves, ordinarily. A hen occupies from two and a half to three months, (sometimes three and a half months,) from the time when she commences to sit, to the day that she naturally quits her chickens. Thus, in the season when her eggs are most useful for reproduction, and at the time most generally favorable for laying — during which period she might lay thirty to forty eggs, at least — your valuable hen, if used for a sitter (in- stead of an ordinary fowl, as I recommend,) will have given you no eggs, as a rule ; though some fowls, of the Chinese varieties, will begin to lay within a month after hatching a bi'ood. Generally, however, this is the exception. And for this important reason, 1 also advise that you do not set your heavy hens ; but " break them up," when broody, and bring them rOund to lay- ing again, as soon as possible. To this particular point, I shall refer again, hereafter. From the shell, allow your chickens all the range you can afford them. You will observe that they are con- stantly on the alert, if unconfined. They pick up — • with the mother's aid — great quantities of animal food, insects, worms, etc ; in the pasture, upon the ground, or on the lawn ; and, until they come to be three or four months old, they do no harm, even in your garden. 'With ample range, fresh clear water, and shelter from cold rains and winds, young chickens will thrive, amaz« ingly, with little other care. 26 buenham's new poultky-book ; Up to four or five months old, you will have found if you have a grass patch, or small pasture in which they can have run freely, (and if this be larger, all the better,) that your young chickens have needed very little attention beside what the hen-mother 1ms given them, save the one regular feeding daily. They have been very easily kept — indeed I And this is because you have left them alone, carefully. If you have no such conveniences as the grass-patch, or range mentioned, then you will be obliged, from the commencement, to resort to artificial feeding and care ; which is far more troublesome, more expensive, and more uncertain, in results. In such case, it is indispensable that you provide for your chicks such food and materials as most nearly approximate, to the character of the other, and more natural mode, in rearing them. This can be done, of course — and is done, in thousands of instances, every year by fanciers. But they should be supplied with green food — fresh pulled grass, lettuce or cabbage leaves chopped up, newly cut sods, occasionally, and plenty of broken mortar, oyster-shells, ground bone, etc. ; and, two or three times a week, with animal meat, or scraps, with boiled potatoes, and cooked meal, alternately. And for general food, a mixture of oats, barley, and cracked corn, and rice. They should have a gravelled or earth floor to run upon — if confined, altogether; and in every case, the utmost care must be exercised in keep- ing them cleanly, and supplying them with plenty of A PRACTICAL, TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. Zl fresh water. An ample box of ashes, with a pound oi two of pulverized sulphur mixed through it, should stand where they can resort to it at all times ; in which they will quickly learn to roll, and thus cleanse them- selves from vermin. But no artificial means have aa yet been discovered, by which chickens can so well, so healthily, or so easily be reared — as through the more natural mode of permitting them to enjoy a gen- erous run, in their young days, out of doors, when the weather favors. Specimen pullets of the Brahma, the Buff, or the Partridge Cochins have been known to commence laying at four and a half to five months old. Generally, how- ever, they do not begin to lay till they are six or seven months old, and frequently older. I have found that this depends a- good deal upon the time when the birds are hatched. For instance, early March chickens will ordinarily begin to lay in the fall. May chickens rare- ly lay until the following spring — the cold months of December and January being unfavorable to their de- velopment. But, at five to six months old, the flocks should be separated. You will generally find among your broods a super-abundance of male chickens, in breeding the large varieties ; at least, such has been my experience. These must be put into a coop or enclosure by them- selves, and reared together, without interruption, to keep them from becoming quarrelsome and trouble- some, until you can appropriately dispose of them. There should be no pullets in the same enclosure with these surplus male birds. 28 bubnham's new podltry-book ; Your pullets may be kept separately, also, if con- venient, until they mature. Then you should select those you intend to breed from, and put them with your old fowls, if you have any. If not, exchange one or (wo of your young cocks for a full year-old male, of different parentage, to proceed witli ; for, to obtain good chickens from your young pullets, you must avoid breeding them to young males of the same brood or age as themselves ; and, in any event, a two year old male is better to breed to your young pullets. Your first litters of eggs from these chicken-pullets will come in the fall, or winter. These you had better not set, if you could ; but wait for their second litters, in early spring ; to be set in February, or March, as before. The hatching will be better, the second chickens will come larger and stronger, and the time for carrying them through the next year will be better, than if you " force the season," and attempt to get chickens from the earlier laid, firht litters, of your last year's pullets — however good such bird may be. In reply to an old man in Michigan, who applied to the American Institute Parmer's Club for information about poultry raising, Warren Leland of the N. Y. Metropolitan Hotel answered as follows. The inquirer says " failing health and declining years make it neces- sary for me to give up the more laborious pursuits of life, but light exercise for mind and body is indispensa- ble. Would the raising of poultry within 100 miles of a city market affoi-d a profitable remuneration for the time and management required for the business 1 A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 29 flow much land, and what kind of soil, sandy, gravelly, or clay mixed, would be required for 100 fowls (hens and cocks) ? should it be adjacent to a stream of water, or would a living spring do as well ? What portion of the ground should be in trees, shrubs, and grass ? How many could two aged persons care for, and what return might reasonably be expected from 100 fowls in chickens and eggs ? " Mr. Leland answers, " if this gentleman will come to my place, 25 miles north of New York, at Rye Station, I will show him how I manage my poultry yards. I have found that for every hundred fowls you must give up at least an acre. Rough land is as good as any. Hens naturally love the bush ; and I lop young trees, but leave a shi-ed by which they live a year or more. These form hiding places, and retreats for them. In such places they prefer to lay. I have great success, and it depends on three or ' four rules, by ob- serving which I believe this old gentleman in Michigan can make a good living by raising hens and turkeys. " I give my fowls great range. Eighteen acres be- long to them exclusively. Then the broods liave the range of another big lot, and the turkeys go half a mile or more from the house. The eighteen acres of poultry yard is rough land, and of little use for tillage. It has a pond in it and many rocks, and bushes, and weeds, and sandy places, and ash heaps, and lime, and bones, and grass, and a place which I plow up to give Ihem worms. " When the hen has commenced to sit, I take hei 30 buenham's new poultet-book ; box, throw out the straw and earth, let it be out in the sun and rain a few days, and give it a good coat of whitewash on both sides. In winter, when it is very cold, I have an old stove in their house, and keep the warmth above freezing. There is also an open fireplace where I build a fire in cool wet days. They dry them- selves, and when the fire goes out, there is a bed of ashes for them to wallow in. In Summer and Winter my hens have all the lime, ashes, and sand they want. " Another reason why I liave such luck is because my poultry yard receives all the scraps from tlie Metropoli- tan hotel. Egg making is no easy work, and hens will not do much of it without high feed. They need just what a man who works requires — wheat, bread, and meat. I believe in feeding it to hens." Mr. Leland prefers the Brahmas, light and dark, and changes his roosters every spring — an excellent plan. Se, gets plenty of chickens and eggs, always. When purchasing eggs originally, (from which you contemplate raising a brood or broods of chicks), urge it upon the party who furnishes you such eggs to begin with, that he forwards you the product of different fam- ilies of fowls. This can conveniently be done, by the larger dealers, and there are plenty of honorable and reliable breeders, in this country — named in the suc- ceeding pages of tins volume — who will thus accom- modate you. From such chickens you can proceed to breed, confidently, without the change of males, just suggested, if you prefer this mode ; since the eggs are furnished you from fowls iu no wise related, though an older cock than your pullets is preferable. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC TOWLS. §1 Many breeders make this a " point of honor " with their amateur patrons, for tlieir own subsequent credit, when the buyer shall come to raise chickens from the stock thus sold by them. But if eggs cannot thus bo iiad, unless the change in the male bird is made, at th outset, as I have proposed, the progeny will surely de- teriorate ; the next generation of chicks will come more or less uneven, weakly, imperfect, or deformed — as certainly as this vicious system of " in-and-in breeding " (among relations) is attempted. I insist upon this, be- cause I know of what I am writing ; and I have tried this experiment, thoroughly — to my cost — in the past five and twenty years of my poultry-breeding. The French peasants have a novel mode of feasting their fowls, and at the same time of destroying the com- mon grub-worm, with which in some districts, their land is literally " alive " in early spring, and of which pest I observed the farmer there thus rids himself. When the ploughing is being done, a large coop, or box is placed upon wheels, and filled with advanced chickens and fowls, forty, fifty, or a hundred in each ; and this vehi- cle is taken to the newly ploughing field, and follows the open furrows. The fowls are let out of the peram- bulating coops as soon as the ground is turned over, for a given space, and they are quickly busy in gobbling up the myriads of grub-worms thrown to the surface by the plough — gorging themselves with these rare pickings, of which they seem inordinately fond. The coop is moved on, as the birds advance behind the ploughmen, and the fowls feed constantly, all day 32 bubnham's new poultry-book ; long, in this way ; devouring the fat grubs with intense gusto, and appearing never satisfied so long as there is a stray worm in sight. Thus the French paysan clears his grounds previous to planting, very effectually, from these destructive and pestiferous devourers of the root- lings of tender plants. These grubs breed in countless numbers in the fields of Normandy and Niveniais. At sunset, the fowls voluntarily re-enter the trundled coops, and are thus returned to their home-quarters, or are kept confined till next day, for a continuance of this duty, which appears to be rare enjoyment to them. As to the general /eec? of fowls, however, I have often thought of the counsel of a noted patent-medicine vender, who, in his advice to patients venturing to take his nos- trum, thus briefly alludes to the course of diet they should observe, meanwhile ; " Eat the best you can get, and plenty of it." This simple recommendation is per- tinent. I have found that poultry thrives equally well with humans, in this respect, and I both give to my own fowls, (and commend the rule to others,) " the best to be had, and plenty of it." Variety in feed is desirable. In this corn-growing land of ours, that article seems the handiest and is cer- tainly the heartiest, for fowls. But corn alone will soon sicken the healthiest fowl in the world. Barley, oats, screenings, cracked corn, rice, sun-flower seed, (easily grown) and whole wheat, mixed, for dry food ; and scalded Indian meal-dough, bran-dough, boiled potatoes, and the scraps from your table, with green and animal food for fowls that are confined without a range, will A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 33 keep them in a good healthy, prospering condition, usually. I have practised feeding at regular intervals, and I have left dry food in the feed-boxes, continually, to which fowls had access, to eat of when they desired. The latter mode is less trouble. But the better plan is to give them a variety, changing the fare weekly — and lot them have enough of the best, always. CHAPTER IV. PUEELT BRED ONE YEAR OLD FOWLS, AND UPWARDS. In our preceding chapters, we have submitted general directions as to selecting eggs, and the hatching, and raising of chickens. We will now look to the birds at from approaching a year old, and forwards, and offer our ideas in relation to breeding fowls, ^jinr^t/. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 35 A young pullet will lay, in her first litter, ordina- rily, fifteen to twenty eg}2,s. Then slie ceases, for a sliort time. Usually, she will not show signs of being " broody " (or desirous to sit,) until after laying the second litter. Some varieties of fowls do not incline to sit, at all ; others but rarely ; and others persistently ; until you gratify this natural desire, or " break them up." After laying the second or third litter, these last named — which include the Chinese varieties, notably — will stick to the nest, brood upon stones, crouch on nothing, and beat you out, unless you sufier them to have their way. As has been hinted, already, these heavy birds are not so good for setting, as fowls of lesser weight and size ; and therefore they should be broken uj), as well as for the other reason given, name- ly, that their eggs are too valuable to take them from duty for three months, in the best laying season of the year. Fowls at about a year old, of this class, will make themselves most troublesome to you ; and various strat- agems are resorted to by the inexperienced, to prevent them from sitting, or to induce them to return to lay- ing, instead. Most of these plans are cruel, or futile ; but I have found that placing broody hens in an even bottomless pen, or coop, say four feet by six, and foar feet high — constructed with a lean-to roof to shed the rain, slatted on all four sides with laths, or palings, and set upon the grass, or ground, with nothing what- ever inside it but your broody hen, or hens — except 86 burnham's new poultry-book; the roost — will serve to cure them of this sitting fever quicker, with less trouble, and surer, than any mode 1 ever tried. If a vigorous young crower be put into the pen with her (or them) it is no drawback. But in such a coop she or they will go to roost, at night, and soon forget the broody inclination. If she has no nest, no eggs in sight to sit on, no food or water, except what you place for her convenience outside of the coop, she will shortly get over her fever and go to laying again. But, shutting hens in darkened barrels, ducking them in cold water, or tying them out without shelter , to " cool them off," is both brutal and ineflScacious. If taken in season, when they first show symptoms of broodiness, and dealt with as I have sug- gested, you will have little trouble in bringing them round to laying again, in a few days, generally. If the eggs of such hens are not more than ordinarily valu- able to you, at the time mentioned, then gratify this natural maternal instinct, by all means. But when eggs from " fancy " breeds of fowls cost (or will com- mand) five to ten dollars a dozen, the feasibility of the plan proposed, on this point, I think will be apparent. As to the capacity of a maturing hen to produce eggs, this quality differs in different breeds — some being more prolific than others. Accounts are published of the actual laying of two eggs in one day, by certain in- dividual fowls of extraordinary breeds ; and it is seri- ously stated by Richardson, a noted English writer upon Poultry, that the " Cochin China is a gigantic bird, very prolific, frequently laying two, and sometimes three A PB ACTIO AL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 37 eggs in a day." In support of this assertion, Mr. Rich- ardson subsequently refers as his authority for tliis state- ment (which was called in question), to the " Rt. Hon. Mr. Shaw, Recorder of Dublin, to Mr. Waters, Her Ma- jesty's poultry-keeper, and to J. Joseph Nolan, Esq., of Dublin." I think the author now quoted might have added to the list of his authorities for this statement, with slight research among the old-time doggerel writers, for I remember the couplet in the troubled peas- ant's song — " Some one has stole our speckled hen, I wish they'd let her he ; For oft she laid two eggs a day, And Sundays she laid three!" And I have no doubt, if there ever was one at all, that this was the original hen that " laid two eggs a day." I have lived to handle and experiment rather extensively with fowls in this country, during the past three decades, and, though I do not say that any of the above mentioned parties may not have known the fact stated, yet I must candidly add that 1 never saw the hen that laid two or three eggs in a day, as yet, and I am still in doubt on this point. Purity of blood — as nearly as it can be attained — is very desirable. A vast deal has been written and said upon this point, and we have in this country at the present time, a great many strains of blood, imported from the yards and walks of known good breeders of poultry in England and France. When the chickens from the product of these strains (in the second and 38 bubkham's new poultry-book ; third descent) reach the age of from eight months to a year old, such young fowls will show for themselves, in feathers, form and features, how pure may have been the stock from whicli they originated ! At the age when it is advisable to put your fresli stocli together, for breeding, care should be taken, (if you desire only to have pure descendants,) that no male bird, save one of the same breed with the pullets, shall ever have had access to them. The theory advanced by some writers, to the effect that it is necsssary to allow the male bird to consort with the female only for the time being, to insure due impregnation, and the subse- quent production of the variety you may thus attempt to breed, is utterly fallacious. If the cock used is of the identical variety with the pullets, the changing of such individual male bird, from time to time, is an advantage. But to place light Brahma cocks in the same enclosure with Buffer Partridge Cochin pullets, for instance — at all — after the latter approach maturity, is fatal to the absolute purity of the progeny of such pullets, ever after- wards. 1 set this down as a certain /aci — drawn from repeated experiment during my thirty years' experience in breeding. And at this very writing,, I meet with the following absurd sentence in a communication to the N. Y. Bulletin, over the signature of a correspondent who usually writes well on other points, but who says, •' I am convinced that there is no harm in letting all va- rieties mix during the fall and winter, and separating them a month before saving their eggs for setting." This advice is certainly erroneous : for the sequence A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 39 I have noted follows, invariably, in tlie multiplying of any kind of live stock, and is never-failing. Let mo illustrate this point. Several , years ago, a gentleman in Newfoundland ecnt me a large thorough-bred native bitch dog, which I bred for ten years. The first three years' litters of pups were bred from a line male native Newfoundland, owned by a neighbor, and the progeny were so far uniformly perfect in color, long silky hair, form, and known characteristics of this notable race of dogs. The fourth year, I crossed her with a large Russian mastiff; and got a clutch of superior pups — with the curly hair, shorter nose, more upriglit ear, and the absence of the web-foot, etc., a very satisfactory cro&s, but no longer the " pure " Newfoundland. I bred tha,t mother six years afterwards, consecutively, to the origi- nal Newfoundland male, belonging to my neighbor ; and neuer^ in a single instance, did' this bitch bring a litter subsequently to the fourth year, some of which did not clearly show the marks, in feature, curly hair, short nose, small ear, or absence of the web — belonging to the Hussian mastiff 1 had bred but once to her ; and her last litter, born four years after that mastiff was dead, exhibited this taint more strikingly, than had any previous clutch of pups she ever gave birth to. So it will follow with fowls ; and through this care- less way of allowing a male bird of a different race or variety — in color, or character — to consort with pul- lets, at all, come the imperfections so commonly met with, everywhere, among the fowls produced from what 40 buenham's new poultry-book; are deemed pure breeds and blood ; in support of which principle, I offer another instance, in point. Twelve years ago, I purchased from a gentleman in Andover, Mass., a young imported Alderney bull, which I put upon my place in Melrose, and bred but once to a fine Durham heifer, in her third season, she having been previously bred to a full-blooded Durham. Her third calf was so strongly marked in color, and ultimately came to maturity so like the father, that she has' since been mistaken scores of times for a full-blooded true Alderney cow, with the single exception that she was over-sized. The mother was never served by an Alder- ney bull, again — but for several years afterwards was bred only to the Durham. Yet her subsequent progeny, up to her death, two years ago, in eoery instance plainly showed either the fine muzzle, the deer-face, the fawn color, the delicate limb, the small ear, or the silky coat of the Alderney, to which she was bred but once in her life, as I know. Thus with poultry. In scores of experimental cases, I have seen the effects of this contamination in form, col- or, and characteristics, wlien varieties of fowls have been permitted promiscuously to run together, and " mix during the fall and winter ; " and, though there may not be " any harm " in such a course, yet if the breed- er's purpose is to produce really pure bloods, he will find that which I have here recommended is true, to the letter — with fowls, as with any other kind of stock ; and that the progeny of chickens, bred in the other careless way, will surely, in future generations, come A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 41 more or less like the cattle of Jacob, of old — " ringed, Btreaked, or speckled." Another instance. In 1854, 1 purchased on ship- board, at Central Wharf, Boston, six Broad-tailed (Aus- tralian) sheep — two bucks and four ewes. The pecu- liar characteristic of these animals is known to stoclc- breeders. Its tail is shaped like a flat thin pork-ham, depending from the small end ; and, when cooked, this is said to be a very desirable edible — nicer and more succulent than so much tenderloin beef. In proportion to the body of this kind of sheep its caudal appendage is very large, and forms a marked and distinctive feature of this breed. I had three fine Gotswold ewes, which I imported from Canada at that time, on my place in Melrose, and I crossed them all with one of the Broad- tailed bucks. The lambs these ewes dropped next sea- son, each came of good size and very like the Gotswold mother, with the exception that every one of them had the wide, thick, pear-shaped, heavy tail. I sold the six broad-tail sheep to a gentleman in Louisiana ; and, a year afterwards I sent the three Cotswold ewes, with a line heavy buck of their own breed, to Mr. P. Ducayet, of New Orleans. These three sheep were then with lamb, by this Cotswold buck. When the progeny were born, (upon Mr. D's place, at Bayou St. John,) two of the three lambs came with the broad tail, and the other resembled the Cotswold, more accurately. The gentle- man to whom I sent these sheep wrote me subsequently, that " the young ones were of good size," but he " found two out of the three were deformed, having a monstrous 42 buenham's new poultbt-book ; bunoh at the extremity of their tails ! which he could not account for." (He never saw one of the broad-tail breed of sheep at all.) But this occurrence was one of interest to me, aud I explained the matter to liim — though at the time I had not had sufficient experience to suspect what so certainly followed. He bred tliese Cots- wolds together, three years afterwards ; and more than half his lambs came similarly " deformed," showing the broad fiat tail of the other buck, to which they had never been bred but once, to my positive knowledge. In an able article on the principles of breeding Do- mestic Animals, by S. L. Goodale, of Maine, that gentle- man states that " a pure Aberdeenshire heifer, the prop- erty of a farmer in Forgue, was sei'ved with a pure Teeswater bull, by which she had a fine cross calf. The following season the same cow was served with a pure Aberdeenshire bull, but the product was in appearance a cross-bred calf, which at tW'o years old had long horns ; the parents were both hornless. A flock of ewes be- longing to Dr. W. Wells, in the island of Grenada, were served by a ram procured for the purpose. The ewes were all white and woolly ; the ram was quite different — of a chocolate color, and hairy like a goat. The progeny were of course crosses, but bore a strong re- semblance, to the male parent. The next season Dr. Wells obtained a ram of precisely the same breed as the ewes, to whom they were all bred, hut the frogeny shoW' ed distinct marhs of resemblance to the former ram, in col'H-, hair, &c. The same thing occurred on neighbor- ing estates under like circumstances." Numerous other A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 43 instances might be stated, if space would permit, and not a few miglit be given showing that the same rule holds in the human species, of which a single one will suffice here : " A young woman residing in Bdinburg, and born of white parents, but whose mother previous to her marriage bore a mulatto diild, by a negro servant, ex- hibits distinct traces of the negro. Dr. Simpson, whose patient at one time the young woman was, recollects being struck with the resemblance, and noticed particu- ly that the hair had the qualities characteristic of the negro." Mr. James McGillivray, a well known Scotch Veter- inary Surgeon, tims lately expresses his opinion in refer- ence to this matter. He argues sensibly that '' when once a pure animal of any breed, has been pregnant to an animal of a different breed, such pregnant animal is a cross forever, incapable of producing pure progeny of any breed." And Mr. McG. adds that " many agricul- turalists are familiar to a degree that is annoying to them, with these facts, finding that after breeding crosses, their cows, though served with bulls of their own breed, yield crosses still, or rather mongrels ; that they were already impressed with the idea of contamin- ation of blood, as the cause of the phenomenon ; and that the doctrine intuitively commended itself to their minds as soon as stated, etc." Many years ago there were in the Kennebec valley a few polled or hornless cattle. They were not particularly cherished, and gradually diminished in numbers. Mr. Payne Wingate shot the last animal of this breed, (a bull calf or a yearling,) 44 burnham's new poultbt-book ; mistaking it in the dark, for a bear. During thirty-five years subsequently, ill the cattle upon his farm had horns ; but, at the end of that time, one of his cows produced a calf, which grew up without horns, and Mr. Wingate said it was in all respects the exact image of the first bull of the breed ever brought there. And with a few more veritable illustrations, I will leave this in- teresting subject for those who deem it '' no harm to allow their fowls of different breeds to run together, and mix, during the fall and winter," to consider and ex- periment with, at their leisure. Some eighteen years ago, I imported from Mr. Nolan, of Dublin, and Mr. Baker of London, five or six differ- ent clutches of fine Madagascar (or Lop-eared) Rabbits. I built a house expressly for breeding these then popu- lar pets in, and was highly successful with them, for some years — when I disposed of my whole stock, and gave up that trade. A member of my family had a trio of nice pure white common (upright-eared) rabbits, which had been kept on the place, and remained there some time after all the others left. The two females had been bred to a smut-faced Madagascar buck, two or three times, before I sold out. The three common white short-eared rabbits were then bred together two seasons, and threw more than a dozen litters, after I had not had a male Madagascar on my premises for many months ; and through all that period of two years, neither of those two common white does — bred to the same white common buck, only — ever had a litter of young, some one or more of which did not possess tho A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 45 long lop-ear, or lop-ears, which is the distinguishing feature of the Madagascar breed. Upon these actual, personally tried experiments, I build the theory I am now explaining. Mr. Darwin, an eminent English writer on cattle- breeding, says on this subject, " the reproductive system is highly susceptible to changes in the conditions of life ; but why^ (because this reproducing system is disturb- ed,) this or that part should vary more or less, we are profoundly ignorant. Yet, we can here and there catch a faint ray of light." And among these " faint rays " of light spoken of, is this important one, to wit — the clearly apparent influence of the male first having fruit- ful intercourse with the female, wpon her subsequent off- spring by other males. Attention was directed to this subject in England by the following circumstances, re- lated by Sir Edward Home : A young chestnut mare, seven-eighths Arabian, belonging to the Earl of Morton, was covered in 1815 by a quagga, (a species of wild ass from Africa) and marked somewhat like a zebra. The mare was covered but once by the quagga, and gave birth to a hybrid, which had, as was expected, dis- tinct marks of the quagga in the shape of its head, black bars on the legs, shoulders, &c. in 1817, 1818, and 1821, this same mare was covered by a fine black Arabian horse, and produced successively three colts ; and although she had not seen the quagga since 1816\ they all bore bis curious and unequivocal markings. Since the occurrence of this case, numerous others of a similar character have been observed. Mr. McGilli- 46 buenham's new poultet-book ; vray says : " That in several foals in the royal stud at Hampton Court, got by the horse " Actaeon," there were unmistakable marlis of the horse " Colonel." The dams of these foals were bred from by " Colonel " the previous year. A colt, the property of the Earl of Sheffield, got by " Laurel," so resembled another horse named " Camel," that it was assei-ted at Newmarket that ho must have been got by " Camel." It was ascertained, however, that the mother of the colt bore a foal the previous year by " Camel." Alexander Morrison, Esq., of Bognie, had a fine Clydesdale mare, which, in 1843, was served by a Spanish ass, and produced a mule. She afterwards had a colt by a full bred liorse, which bore a very marked likeness to a mule, and seen at a distance, every one sets it down at once as a mule ! His ears are nine inches long, his girth not quite six feet, and he stands above sixteen hands high. The hoofs are so long and narrow that there is a difficulty in shoeing them, and the tail is thin and scanty. He is a beast of indomitable energy, and highly prized by his owner." We are now discussing purity of blood, and these paragraphs are intended for fanciers and breeders who are contenders for this very desirable attainment, and process. In another place (see chapter on " Raising Poultry and Eggs for market,"^ we speak fully of the advantages of crossing good breeds of fowls — for this latter purpose. At present, however, we are consider- ing the best modes of producing and multiplying birds in their purity, as nearly as that laudable object may be attained. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 47 I liave mentioned the Chinese fowls, only, in this illustration ; but it matters nothing as to the variety you desire to keep and raise — purely. A clutch of young Black Spanish, Dominique, or Dorking pullets, permit- ted to run indiscriminately at large with one or more male bird, of tliese different varieties, when the cliick- cns are coming to be seven to ten months old, will be irretrievably contaminated, for the rest of their lives ; and this ci ursc will render them useless for pure breed- ers — no matter what variety of male bird you subse- quently, or exclusively, breed them to. And such pul- lets will never afterwards give you eggs from which you need expect thoroughly pure chickens. With a portion of the litters they produce, in some degree, or particular, will crop out this inevitable " cloven foot," sooner or later ; and to this carelessness in breeding and intermixture, in otlier lands — in China, Calcutta, t^pain, France, and England — whence we obtain what is deemed pure blood, (because it comes here, often- times, directly from those countries,) is attributable much of the disappointment we experience, when we come to see s\hat this " pure " stock produces, with us. '' Like produces like," I am aware. But I am now writing about what I understand, pretty well. I do not heed the theories, or half-tried experiments of neo- phytes, in this matter of poultry-breeding. And 1 aver that it is not a possible thing either to obtain or to Dreed, and keep our poultry stock pure, unless this rule of nature is strictly observed, as I have now aimed clearly to set it down. Croakers may say this is re- 48 buenham's new poultrt-book ; ducing tho matter to a fine point. And so it is — yet it is precisely so. Your pullets, at eight to twelve months old, are in order to commence to breed from. A two-year old hen is in her prime, and will the second year, as a rule, give you larger eggs, though not more of them, than during the first year. Fowls lay their litters out — say from one and a half to two and a half dozen eggs at a time — then cease laying for a while, and begin with another litter.. If you breed your pullets uniform- ly to a cock of their own kind, from the outset, you will naturally get evenly colored, and formed chickens, similar to the parent stock, unless the originals have been contaminated, as I have hinted at. But, once you cross your pullets with a male bird of any other dis- tinct color or variety, I repeat it, you can never render such fowl available afterwards, as a pure breeder ; no matter how you may try experiments with her. A breeding-cock is better also at two-years old, than at one, even for your yearling pullets. But good birds of this age are not readily to be had, and so you must generally use the younger ones. If you have not per- mitted different kinds of fowls to run together (after your pullets had reached the age of five or six months,) you can place them with the cock that you desire to breed from, as mentioned in this chapter, and keep them thus, without change of the breed of the male ; and the eggs from such fowls will afford you very satis- factory results, when you come to get chickens from them, in this second generation from your purchases. No. 4. DARK BRAHMA COCK, (by H. Weir.) One of the first trio sent to England, by G. P. J5ur. hain. 49. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 49 The strong blood of the Asiatic species exhibits it- self, continuously, when bred straight through — witli- out mixture — from year to year ; and in proof of this, we may point the reader to the '■^Brahma" fowl, (so called, at present, by universal consent,) which 1 have bred since 1849, '50. The light variety of this long favorite fowl — than which none better, will, in my judgmeut, ever be produced in this goodly world — are to-day, precisely, in a general way, what they were when I exhibited them at the Boston poultry-shows of 1850, '51, '52, '53, and afterwards. The old Marsh stock of Shanghaes, now called " Partridge Cochins," (of which more hereafter,) have changed very little in the long years since 1849, when the importer originally got those magnificent birds direct from China, through a Missionary friend there, and bred them clean and pure in West Roxbury for years, subsequently, to the admii ation of us long-ago fanciers of the " largest, and finest race of domestic fowl ever brought into America — " as they were then described ; and of which identical stock I bred, and sent to England, in 1853 to 1857, hundreds of choice sam- ples — from whose progeny, unquestionably come the beautiful birds which breeders in America are now re- ceiving back again ; these splendid specimens of " Par- tridge Cochins " that may be seen in the yards of many of our best fanciers, to-day ! There is no mistaking this variety, there is no mis- taking the light Brahma variety. They are always al'Jie, always the same, when bred clearly and purely. 60 buenham's new poultry-book. So it is with other strains — as the purely bred Blacl? Spanish, tlie Gueldres, the White Dorkings; the Leg- horns, tlie Dominiques, and others. But where you find any of these birds that are up to the standard, themselves, and from which are bred chickens like them in all particulars, you will be sure to find that the breeders of them have never ventured to indulge in tlie pastime of " letting all varieties mix during the fall and winter," or crossing them for experiment's sake, even during the laying of a single litter of eggs ; and such as these, only, can be relied on, to answer the hopes and desires of fanciers of pure blooded fowls. Your young breeding fowls should enjoy the range spoken of, if convenient. If you are compelled to re- strict them to limited accommodations, however, then remember that they should be amply supplied with the greens, lime, gravel, fresh water, ash-box, and animal food already suggested. Without these — in confined quarters — your pullets will quickly drop soft-shelled eggs, (which are worthless for setting ;) and above, all, keep them as clear of the annoyance of vermin as possible. And now, apologizing for this perhaps too lengthy chapter on purity of blood, — we will proceed to con- sider some of the conveniences requisite to keeping these breeding fowls in good condition. CEAPTER V. POULTBY HOUSES AND NEEDFUL ACCOMMODATIONS. The fashion, dimensions, and proportions of fowJ houses, pens, or coops, and the conveniences accorded TO their poultry by different breeders and fanciers, are as varied as are the number of poulti-y-raisers in this country. Yet a good and sufficient domicil for these birds is, anywhere, a very simple affair, both in itself and its necessary appointments. Gentlemen-fanciers, who possess ample means, and who are ambitious to see their aviary in keeping with other costly buildings upon their choice country estates, can spend a deal of money in constructing their lienery, and in its ornamentation, inside and outside. But gen- erally farmers and breeders do not care to indulge in this luxury, and are rightly content with what may be only needful and comely, for the comfort and conven- ience of their feathered stock. 51 A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 53 In England, many fine structures may be seen, which are devoted to the use of chickens and pigeons — one of which is tlie elegant poultry-house and aviary of her British Majesty, Queen Victoria, which the author liad the pleasure of visiting a few years since, which is lo- cated in a quiet beautiful spot upon the " home farm" of this sovereign, on the margin of the great Park at- tached to Windsor Castle — a drawing of which we pre- sent on the opposite page. For many years, as is well known, both Her Majesty the Queen, and the late Royal Consort, Prince Albert during his life, were ardent admirers of poultry, and munificent patrons of the pleasant pursuit of chicken- raising, which M. de Reaumer dignifies as an " art ; " and it is also well known that the author of this vol- ume had the honor of presenting to her Majesty the first mature Brahma fowls ever seen in England ; in return for which the Queen kindly compliment- ed Mr. Burnham by sending him a superb copy of her portrait, with a very agi-eeable letter, which will be found on page 152. The Queen's Poultry House is a large half-gothic structure, with a central well-lighted apartment for viewing the fowls, and over this is an extensive dove- house. Its front and ends are for the most part glazed, and in the wings of the building are the sections or di- visions for the convenience of the different varieties of domestic fowl ; of which there are many very choice breeds kept. In front is a broad lawn divided off with light wire 54 burnham's new podltet-book ; fencing, which affords space where the fowls and chicka may range to advantage. Inside of each division is a gravelled walk or patch, also. In addition to this main house are contiguous lesser buildings, yards and en- closures — dotted with food-houses, laying-sheds, etc. ITer Majesty evinced a rare interest in this agreeable pastime, formerly ; and, very much to her credit, as a woman, exhibited an affectionate zeal in this matter of cvery-day life, which is so truthfully portrayed by the poet : — " I love the neighborhood of man and beast; I would not place my stable out of fight. How grateful 'tis to wake, and hear the sound Of flapping wing and crow of Chanticleer, Long ere the mori^ that tells the dawn is near. Pleasant the path — by garden wall or fields — Where flocldng birds, of various plume and chirp, Discordant, cluster round the leaning stack, From whence the thresher draws the rustling leaves 1" The nests in this extensive royal establishmeuu are formed of diy heather, gathered from the fields, and are covered with twigs and branches of evergreen ; so that the layers are quite in seclusion when upon their nests. A plan of these nests — for the convenience of laying and hatching — is given on opposite page ; the style is both ornamental and useful, it will be found very inexpensive, and may readily be adopted to ad- vantage in this country. The nests are in ranges, about fourteen inches square, with the front running up eight inches from tlie flat A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 55 bottom of the boarding. These can be built on or neai the floor of the house, or at a higher elevation, as pro- feri'ed. LAYING AND HATCHING RESTS, IN THE QUEEN'S PODLTKY-HOUSK. Though this extensive and elegantly appointed es- tablishment of royalty is very fine, the splendid poultry- house of Lord Penrhyn, at Winniugton, England, in the County of Cheshire, is incomparably the most magnifi- cent poultry-palace ever built. This consists of a handsome, regular front, of about one hundred and fifty feet, " at each extremity of which is a neat pavilion, with a large, arched window. These pavilions are united to the centre of the design, by a colonade of cast-iron pillars, painted white, which sup- port a cornice, and a slate roof, covering a paved walk, and a variety of different conveniences for the poultry, for keeping eggs, corn, and the like. The doors int') these are all of lattice-work, also painted white, and the framing green. In the middle of the front, are four stone columns, and four pilasters, supporting, likewise, 66 bubnham's new poultry-book; a cornice, and slate roof, under which is a beautifu. mosaic iron gate ; on one side of this gate is an elegant little parlor, beautifully papered and furnished ; and at the other end of the colonade a very neat kitchen, kept scrupulously clean. The front is the diameter of a large semi-circular court behind, round which there is also a colonade and a great variety of conveniences for poultry. The court is paved, and a circular pond and pump are in the middle of it. The whole fronts to- wards a rich little paddock, in which the poultry liavo the liberty to walk about, between meals. At one o'clock a bell rings, and the gate in the centre is opened. The poultry being then mostly walking in the paddock, and knowing by the sound of the bell, that their feed is ready for them, fly and run from all quarters, and rush in at the gate, every one striving which can get in first. There are about six hundred fowls of different kinds kept in the place ; and althougli so large a number, the semi-circular Courtis always \ery neat and clean. This poultry-house is of brick, except the pillars and cor- nices, the lintels and jambs of tlie doors and windows ; but the bricks are not seen, being all covered with a fine kind of slate, from his lordship's estate in Wales. Tliese slates are close-jointed, and fastened with screw- nails on small spars fixed in tlie brick ; they are after- wards painted, and fine white sand thrown on, while the paint is wet, which gives the whole an appearance of the most beautiful freestone." But such quarters for poultry, in thii country, would scarcely pay! We have merely described these two A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 57 fine establishments, briefly, to show how royalty and nobility care for their fowls' comfort, in En}>;land. With us, as we remarked at the opening of this chapter, the simplest and most economical arrangements for this purpose, having regard to tlie convenience and health of fowls, are all that is needed for their comfort and successful rearing. Poultry-houses upon estates where the birds can have a good run, are only essential for the protection of your feathered stock, so that they may resort to them in cold, rainy, or windy weather — or be shielded therein during our seasons of snows and winter. If left to themselves, fowls will leave the cosiest of houses, during a portion of almost any day in the year — except when the snow lies too deep on the ground ; since they delight in the clear open air, and freedom from the restraint of all closed limits. Consequently their houses should be so arranged as that they may enjoy both warmth and shelter, in the cold season. At other times, they will live abroad most- ly, except when they are roosting, sitting or laying — if permitted to do so. For six or seven months in the year, therefore, (provided they have -unlimited range) in a simple lean-to, shed, barn, or other out-building, where roots and nests can be accorded to them, they will be happy, thrifty, and healthy, ordinarily. " But we want eggs in winter," exclaims everybody. Very well — you can have them by keeping your poultry warm and comfortable, during the cold weather. Tc do this you must liave additional conveniences to a com 58 bdenham's new poultrt-book ; mon lean-to, or shed. Prom May to November, gener- ally speaking, in our Northern and middle States, this will suffice ; after that, the fowls must be housed and cared for, or you get no eggs during the cold months that follow November. The floor of the poultry-house should be dry, and of hard gravel, or earth. This should be cleansed daily, and kept clean. Inside, it should be whitewashed two or three times each season, to keep away, or help destroy the collecting vermin. The roof should be tight, as well as the walls, and good ventilation across and overhead is indispensable. Dampness, rain, melted snow leaking in, and cold winds, sicken or destroy more fowls than die from any other prime cause in our cold weather. A window or flap upon each side of your poultry- house, for ventilation, is an excellent arrangement — to open and shut at pleasure. At night one of these should be closed to avoid the consequences of exposing your fowls to a draught of cold air, which is very injurious alike to fowl or human. In the winter season, these windows should be open only at intervals during the warmest part of the dai/ ; and always be closed tightly on winter nights. The roost may be four feet high from the floor, for large, heavy fowls, and should be ascended to by means of a foot-wide board resting on either end of it, from the ground. A cross this, horizontally, nail laths, the length of the width of the board, six or eight inches apart ; by which your larger birds may readily ascend and descend from the roost. This simple arrangement will save many an injury to these clumsy fowls, first and last. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 59 Let this roost be a single spruce pole, two inches thick, and dii-ectly underneath it, (say two feet wide) secure a boarding, upon which the droppings from the birds may fall in one place during tiie night. Clean this board often — thrice a week, at farthest ; and save this manure by itself, in a clean barrel. It is better than the same quantity of the best guano for your gar- den, if you have one, and if not, the morocco-dresser nearest you will gladly pay you six to eight dollars a l)arrel for it. Mr. Nutter, of North Bridgewater, Mass., has adopted a plan for saving and utilizing the droppings of his fowls, which is a good one. He arranges a shallow trough, of about the widtli we recommend, and the length of the roost, which he places underneath it, and cleans out frequently — to marlced profit — he says. Mr. Nutter calculates that fowls are upon the roosts nearly two-thirds of the time, when kept in confinement, and the amount of manure he thus saves, from a couple dozen birds, (when mixed with loam, properly,) fur- nishes him with an excellent dressing for his goodsized garden, from which (after applying this compost) he has raised the finest vegetables in his neighborhood. In one corner of his fowl-house he keeps a heap of loam, or dry soil, handy, which he mixes with the dropjnngs from time to time, as it is gathered from under the roosts ; and he has found that the compost thus made in a season — even from his limited number of fowls — is not only super-excellent in quality, for his garden- dressing, but is quite generous in quantity. Prepared 60 uurnham's new poultry-book ; either in this manner, for the purpose i:idicated, or saved clean, to be sold to the tanners, your foils' drop- pings are worth caring for; the more especially if you keep many of them. The aspect of your poultry-house, lean-to, shed, or whatever building you may undertake to winter fowls in, should be towards the east and south. This gives them the early morning sun ; and its front should ac- (;ordingly be furnished with glass sashes — more or less — carried down to within a foot of the sill, if con- venient, so that they can have the full benefit of this natural and cheerful heat, inside the house, through the glazing. Heating your fowl-house from a stove (as some persons do,) is absolutely pernicious, and of course altogether unnatural. In large establishments, where hot water or steam pipes could be run through the buildiiig, readily, such artificial heat might answer. But all this kind of thing, 1 have found to my cost, will produce more vermin than anything else ; and I long since concluded that if the fowl-house is tight, the birds do better (with what sun-heat they can get, ordinarily) than through the other means, in winter. The opposite plan is for a convenient double summer fowl-house, each half being provided with a roomy yard, in front. The whole area occupied, may be 75 by 40 feet, or less. The house has a plain board-battened roof 8 feet high front, 11 feet at rear ; it is tight all round, except the slats in fronts ; there is ah entrance door to each part (front) and a hole for fowls to enter a'ld leave / he house (or shed' at each corner ; yard and A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 61 1 O O QC 1 ors. ~ 1 1 Do n n : FRONT. \ OPEN YARD, 1 FRONT. OPEN TART). A CHEAP, DOOBLE BATTEHED-EOOF SUMMEE FOWL-HOCSE. 62 bubnham's new poultry-book ; shed are divided in the centre hy a continuous hlgn closely-slatted fence ; roosts and nests, etc., same as in plan p. 107 ; size of each shed part 20 by 15 feet ; open yards 60 by 20 feet. The slatting can easily be removed in the fall, and sashes put in its place, for winter use, if desirable, at wmall cost. Provision should be made for ventilation, at the sides. Water should always be handy for the fowls, inside any house — and plenty of it, fresh and pure. Not snow-wa.ter, either. Obliging your fowls to drink melted show, will take the flesh off your poultry faster than it can be put on, with the heartiest and most abundant food you can force into them. Remove the water-vessels, or empty them every night, in freez- ing weather — and replenish in the morning, daily ; and you will quickly note the difference in the general health of your fowls, if you have only pursued the other careless mode hinted at. This recommendation may seem to be a trivial matter — but I have managed both ways. Perhaps the reader hasn't ! In the middle of the winter's days, ventilate your house, always — when snow, or sleet, or rain, will not drive into it. Fowls love fresh air ; and, in confined places, diseases — roup, gapes, dysentery, vertigo, and vermin will generate, and spread amongst them, won- drously. Keep the poultry-house clean. Never scatter the feed about your floors. Keep your dry food in shallow boxes, where it can be seen, and got at, easily. Nail across the edges of these feed-boxes slats of laths, six inches apart, so that the birds can't stand in, and befoul or scatter the grain. A PRACTICAL TREAIISE ON DOMESTIC l''OWLS. 63 Give them light, fresli air when convenient, lime, scraps, the dry offal from your table, ashes to roll iu, and fresh water — and they do well, even in confine- ment, if looked after, daily. I have said that you can have eggs from your fowls, in winter time. This will depend, iu a measure, of course, upon the age of your layers. Early sprint; pullets will begin to lay in the fall, and will continue right along, during the colder months, if you keep them warm, dry, and properly fed. Old hens do not lay much, in the cold season, usually. Indeed, my ex- perience has taught me that a hen becomes " old," when she reaches her third or fourth year. After this period, she will scarcely pay for her keeping, for the eggs she lays. As a " show " bird, (barring the unsightly scales that will then accumulate upon her legs,) she may answer a purpose. But I have found that the China fowls " lay themselves out," by the time they come to be three years old ; and many die, before reaching that age, or bag down, astern, so that they become worthless, in my estimation. To have fresh eggs, in winter, then, you must depend upon your previous spring-hatched pullets; and they must be kept where they will be warm. They should also be well fed, aud allowed animal food, chopped fine, with plenty of lime, and gravel, always. These arti- cles largely furnish the materials for eggs and egg- shells, which the bird readily obtains, in the summer season, amidst its roamings. And this brings us to the subject of raising eggs and chickens in quantities, for market purposes, simply. CHAPTER VI. RAISING POULTRY AND EGGS FOB MARKET. At the request of Hon. Isaac Newton, late Commis- sioner of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, at Washington, D. C, I prepared the paper on this sub- ject, which appears in the official Report of that De- partment for the year 1862. I was absent in the army up to the fall of 1864, and did not see this article until a year after that Report was published. But it con- tains in a general way, my ideas upon the subject of raising poultry in quantities, as well as in reference to the producing of eggs for market, so accurately, that I give place to that paper, here, with such notes and explanations as my subsequent experience prompts, up- on this important branch of the fowl-trade. The communication alluded to, is illustrated from drawings of my own poultry-houses, upon the estate I then occupied in Melrose, Mass., and the principal A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESITC FOWLS. 65 building is still standing there. The illustrations in thia and the next chapters are also copied from the Depart- ment Report, for '(>2, and are correct. I insert this article, entire ; from which it will be seen, by compar- ing it with other parts of this " New Poultry Book," that I have not materially changed my opinions in reference to the general points therein treated of; though — during a visit to Europe, in the j^ear 1867, 1 learned some facts connected with the details of this paper, which I have noted, in the appropriate place. Tliis article appears under the title that heads this chapter, and is as follows : — " A great deal has been written in the few past years on the subject of advantageously breeding, keeping, and fattening poultry, and producing eggs for market. Many suggestions and numerous theories have been presented to the public through the medium of books, and the press of our own and other countries upon this theme ; and much of the information and advice thus promulgated has been of a visionary and impracticable character, though, at the same time, no inconsiderable amount of valuable information has thus been elicited from actual experiments made public, regarding this agreeable and now highly important pursuit in rural life. It is the object of the present paper to present the results of a practical experience in this department, in a familiar manner, and to offer for the benefit of tlie farmer, the breeder, and the amateur, certain facts and hints acquired by the writer through a long experience 66 bubnham's new poultry-book ; with, and a careful observation of, the habits, wants, and characteristics of domestic fowls ; and to point at the probable profits attainable by breeding poultry and raising eggs for ordinary market purposes. The common fowls of the country are at this time, of course, in great excess of numbers over any and all of the "fancy" breeds of late introduced among us, from abroad. Yet it is a. notable fact that, by means of the importations of foreign blood made within the last dozen years, and especially through the introduction of the large Chinese variety ( Gallus giganteus) amongst our farmers and poulterers since 1850, the distinctive characteristics of this race of birds are now very wide- ly disseminated among the domestic fowls of America ; and it would be unusual at the present day to meet with the flock in our farm-yards and poultry-houses ; bout the country, where the marked features of the Jhiuese race of fowl are not to a greater or less extent visible. That the mixing of this foreign blood with that of our own native races of domestic birds has proved of great advantage, no one who has bred poultry ex- tensively in the last twelve or fifteen years will deny ; and whether we consider the item of increase in size, and iveiglit, at a given age, attainable with certainty througli the crossing of stronger foreign blood upon our native breeds, or that of the well-decided advantage thus obtained in the enlargement and increase of weight and numbers of eggs obtained from the product of this crossing, the general gain by the process is most clearly A PRACTICAL TREAl'ISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 67 in our favor. It is, therefore, but truthful to prcAiise that the mixture of the Chinese blood with that of the common fowl of the country has proved of great bene- fit, and that the contiimaiice of the practice will bo found of corresponding advantage in raising poultry for the market, inasmuch as the product of the crossing matures much earlier than does tlio old native stock, thus giving, within a shorter period, more pounds of flesh in good season ; while, for the producing of eggs, the half-bloods are known almost uniformly to com- mence laying at a much earlier age than the common fowl, thus affording us eggs abundantly at from four and a half to five and a half mouths old, and after- wards. For these reasons the writer fully agrees with a recent English author of reliability and experience, that the introduction of the new races of fowls in late years " has resulted unquestionably in diffusing over the country greatly improved breeds of this interesting and useful kind of live stock ; that more judicious modes of treatment than were formerly practiced liave been made known ; and that our markets certainly will by this means henceforth be more fully supplied with both eggs and fowls of a vastly superior quality." Within the writer's experience, if from this cross chickens are hatched in the months of February and early March, the male birds, properly cared for, will by July and August attain to a generous size for the table, and, if well fed during this period, they will average a dressed weight of five or six pounds each, or eleven pounds the pair, which, at the ordinary value of poultry 68 burnham's new podltbt-book ; in market in the months Zast named, will aiford a ver^ handsome profit upon their cost and keeping. At about the period when the cocks are thus killed oif, the pullets of this cross and age will begin to lay almost uniformly, and will continue to furnish eggs during the entire winter, coming in foi- sitters na'urally in the months of February and March, when their litters have been exhausted. As to stock for breeding purposes, a selection is best made from the short-legged China (Shanghae) male birds, to be introduced to the common native female stock. From their chickens, selected birds only should be kept for future breeding, and the cross thus obtained ai-e best bred bach to the China male again, reserving from season to season only the short-limbed and well-shaped pullets from this crossing for subsequent use. In this way the better characteristics of the foreign blood are more uniformly retained, though it will be necessary constantly, as above recommended, each year to select the most promising fowls in shape, size, &c., for breed- ing purposes ; for it is a well-known fact that all crosses deteriorate after the first one. For obtaining the greatest amount of eggs, or for the production of the best average quantity of flesh, fowls should never be kept beyond the age of two years old. It is well-settled that during the first year of her life a well-fed hen will lay more eggs than ever afterwards. From the end of her second year she begins to fail as a breeder, and chickens usually raised from old hen's eggs are never so vigorous, so healthy, or otherwise so prom- A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 09 ising as are those hatched from the eggs of young birds ; that is to sa}', those from one to two years of age. Male birds are ia their prime only down to the e.id ot the second year, and should not be kept for propagation beyond that period of life. For ordinary breeding pur- poses a vigorous young male bird will serve advantage- ously twelve or fifteen hens, the former number being preferable as a rule. The males should be changed every season from one flock of females to another, and no male bird should be permitted to run witli the same hens during more than a single season, under any cir- cumstances. For the producing of eggs only, no male bird is neces- sary to be kept with the laying hens ; and during the season of moulting it will be found of advantage, decid- edly, to separate the cocks from the pullets altogether. These hints are offered for the consideration of those wlio desire to breed fowls systematically and to the best advantage in moderate quantities. Where large num- bers of birds are kept, it is not absolutely necessary that these recommendations siiould be altogether observed ; but for the purposes of comparatively " good breeding," making no pretension to simply keeping up a purity of race, but rather for the every day purposes of the far- mer, who is satisfied with fair profits, and who breeds for the ordinary market, the hints proposed will be found generally advantageous. Late competent author- ity affirms that for breeding upon a large scale " oi ly tlie best of both sexes should be selected, and these not too near akin." TO BURNHAM'S new POULTBy-BOOK ; If it suits the fancy or object of the owner, his fowls may be of several breeds, without any risk of inter- mingling, the select breeding stocks being kept up by merely changing the cocks every second year, and not more than one cock to thirty hens need be kept for the general stock, as it is of no consequence whether all the eggs are impregnated or not. This has reference not to high breeding for the show rooms, but to the produc- tion only of poultry-meat and eggs. The cost of fowl- keeping first and last, if all tlie necessary food is pur- chased at ordinary market prices, will average not far from ten cents a head per month. With the run of the farm-yard, however, and only a moderate number of fowls, the cost is much less. In large numbers, say hundreds or thousands, the expense of keeping will reach the first-named estimate fully, if the birds are con- fined to limited quarters. This sum is fixed for the . food dealt out only, the additional expense of care, and interest upon investments for cost of buildings and fix- tures, land occupied, &c., is not included, and must de- pend, of course, upon the extent of the establishment, the taste and means of the poultry-keeper, &c. Where the fowls are kept for profit, and especially when large numbers are present, attention should be directed to saving the feathers taken from them, (if dressed for market,) and also the manure from the houses — no inconsiderable item of value each year. Wilson, in his " British Farming," says that " where a hundred common fowl and a dozen geese or ducks are kept, the quantity and value of th j manure produced A PRACTICAL TUEATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 71 by them (but little inferior to guano,) if kept by itself and secured from the weather, will surprise those who have not made trial of the plan." Where five hundred or a thousand fowls or more are kept, the importance of this item will be worth remembering. lu raising poultry, whether the object be to produce chickens for the market, or to obtain a supply of eggs, the first principle to be observed is absolute cleanliness in and around the houses they occupy. During the brief fattening process, if this plan be adopted at all, a range for the birds intended to be slaughtered is not necessary. On the contrary, for two or three weeks de- voted to finally fattening fowls for the spit, the more quiet they remain in their confinement (always suppos- ing them to be kept cleanly and free from vermin) the better. For the London and Paris markets, light even is excluded from the fattening coops during the few weeks devoted to putting the fowls in their best condi- tion before killing. But this process is of doubtful util- ity, and the " cramming " method in vogue among so many breeders is generally deemed not only inhuman, but is undoubtedly not remunerative. Fowls collected together in any number will get sick, and the query is often made, " How can they be cured ?.' ' If the fowl houses are kept thoroughly dry and clean, and the poultry free from vermin, there will be but little sickness among the chickens. When the case occurs, however, remove the bird that droops, at once, knock it on the head, and bury it beneath the roots of the grape-vines. This will be a profitable and effectual 72 burnham's new i oultky-book ; riddance of sick fowls. Kobert Scott Burn, in his " Les- sons of my Farm," very rightfully asserts that " the cure of disease in ordinary fowls is not worth attempt- ing, and the best way — mercilessly, or rather merciful- ly- — is to devote the sick bird to the hands of the exe- cutioner. A fowl under the slightest sickness, deterior- ates so fast in condition that it is best to kill it at once, and thus put it out of misery, and aToid contamination to its neighbors. Far " better kill than attempt to cure." It costs more than it is worth, and where there are numbers to contend with, the cure of fowl sickness is exceedingly difficult and uncertain." Such is my own experience, and such is my invariable disposal of sick chickens. For both laying and breeding fowls a range is a neces- sity to their comfort, health and profitableness. With- out this convenience, to a greater or less extent — and the more liberal the range the better — it is futile to attempt to grow fowls to profit, and idle to expect them to produce eggs regularly. Good range, pure water, dry shelter, animal food, and entire freedom from filth, are all needful to promote high health and continuous pros- perity in the poultry yard ; but more or less range for laying fowls is the first essential to their well doing. To afford this desirable accommodation space is required ; and where a considerable number of birds is kept upon a single farm, the room assigned to each lot should be as liberally accorded as possible, in order to prevent immediate sickness among the stock, for the crowding of a large number of fowls into single enclosures is cer tain to generate roup and other diseases. -r-lW|I^V No, 5. DARK BRAHMA HEN, (drawn by H. Weir.) The first sent to England, by G. P. Burnham. 73. A PKAUTHJAL. nsr;,nici:i ^^.. riZIESTIC FOWI.S. 73 Fowls must be colonized, in small numbers, ti) be bred profitably. Tliis, iu my experience, has proved a sine qua non. According to the " ancient laws of Wales," the intrinsic value of poultry in England one thousand years ago, was very insignificant. " The worth of a goose," affirms this authority, at that period, " was one legal penny ; of a gander, two legal pennies ; of a brood goose the value of her nest ; of each gosling half a pen- ny, until it lays, and afterwards a legal penny ; a hen "was one penny in value ; a cock two hens in value ; every chicken was a sheaf of oats, or one farthing in value until it roosts, and after that a half penny, until it shall lay or crow." This value was made up in the good old times, and contrasts singularly with the nom- inal value of certain fowls in the year of grace 1854-'55, for example, when cocks and hens of the then favorite breeds of imported Chinese stock commanded readily in England, as well as in the United States, such almost fabulous sums as five, ten, and even twenty guineas each ! But neither the penny valuation of a thousand years ago, or the nominal pounds sterling value of the fancy breeds of 1854 '55, are of material consequence ijL this article, and we allude to the fact simply by way of comparison. Of a more practical character are the estimates which follow. The London Board of Trade officially returns, as the number of eggs imported into England from France and Belgium for five years inclusive up to 1857, a yearly average of 147,342,219. For four years inclus- ive succeeding this period, that is, from 1858 to 1 861, T4 burnham's new poultry-book ; the average number annually imported was 163,581,110. In the year 1843 the number was but 70,515,931. In 1851 the number was 115,526,236, the amount of import duty paid during that year being i£ 25,700, or about 1128,000. In 1861 there were imported 203,313,310 eggs. At eight cents ijer dozen (the average wholesale market price realized) the money value of this single article for the year 1861 reached $1,355,542. This was for eggs alone, imported into England and sold in or- dinary market to first hands at wholesale prices, and liad no reference, of course, to the large quantities raised by England upon her own soil, aud consumed by her home population in the interior. In the year 1856 the value of poultry imported into England was X221,400. The annual increase of impor- tation since then, up to the year 1859, was about twen- ty-nine per centum. In 1861 the whole value of eggs and poultry imported into England reached the extra- ordinary cash value of £385,000 sterling, or nearly $1,800,000. This has reference to the reported value of marketed poultry only, and includes no estimates at all of the large quantities grown and used at home, or the heavy sums paid for stock imported by breeders. During the last year (1861 to 1862) this vast valuation is very considerably increased, as the statistics clearly sliow. In the vicinity of all large cities and towns fresh eggs ar'j always ,in request, at the most r'^munerative pi-ices. Every tiller of the soil possesses, mi ro or less, facilities for feeding poultry economically, and A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 7c has also the space upon his land to make them com- fortable and thrifty. But some time must be given to looking after them daily, and a degree of care la requisite to keep them ia " good heart," and to render them of profit in the end. Our Shorthorns and Alderneys, our Suffolks and Chesters, our Southdowns and Cotswolds, all require care to keep them in fine condition. Why not, proportionately so with our poultry, which, has'ing reference to the comparative cost and product, pays with certainty so much greater a percentage of profit, year by year i In France, every farmer has his chicken yard, and the amount of poultry and eggs consumed by, and exported from, that country is enormous. Monsieur de Lavergne, for example, estimates that the poultry of Great Britain for this year (1861-62) is valued, in round numbers, at twenty millions francs, ($4,000,000,) while the total value of the two products — poultry and eggs — in France, at the same period, reaches rising two hundred millions of francs, ($40,000,000.) This last estimated product leaves a large margin for exportation from France over and above the requirements for home consumption, which surplus is sent over to England. These figures, relating to the quantities of poultry and eggs used and raised in France and England, are quoted, briefly, to afford an idea of the importance of this branch of ruj-aj economy in other countries, and thus to suggest its magnitude in our own. In Paris and London, as in the large American cities also, the demand for early chickens (for the table) ia 76 buenham's new poultry-book; always large and equally steady. Prime c);ickeng command from nine to twelve dollars the dozen in Amei'ican markets during the season. In England they bring from twelve to fifteen dollars per dozen. English farmers and poulterers, even at this day, are considered far behind either the French or Belgians in this branch of domestic economy. If our American farmers would pay more attention to this subject, and so manage as to put upon the market their poultry in good condition early in the season, annually, (say in the months of May and June,) a more than commen- surate profit would follow the slightly increased ex- penses, and extra trouble of the earlier rearings, inas- much as matured chickens will command a consider- ably higher price in tlie months of May and June than during July and August. The most economical and advantageous mode of pro- ducing poultry and eggs for market has long been a mooted question ; but favorable results depend prin- cipally upon the facilities at hand for multiplying fowls most readily in quantities. That poultry is, and can be, raised to profit in large numbers, is no longer problem- atical, the opinion of many modern writers upon this subject to the contrary notwithstanding. For instance: Monsieur De Sora, of France, who is the most exten- sive breeder of poultry in the known world, has been eminently successful in this business. His market for chickens and eggs is Paris, where tens of thousands of his poulets are annually disposed of for consumption in that city. But Monsieur De Sora has no use for setting A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 77 hens. He raises all his chickens by artificial incuba- tion, that is, by steam heat. His establishment is immense, and a large amount of capital is at present employed in the prosecution of his vocation.* Yet he began with a few hundred dollars only a few years ago, and has progressed, until now he employs over a Imn- dred hands constantly in the different departments of his colossal poultry house. Monsieur De Sora's product of eggs during the last year averaged almost 50,000 dozen weskly, which, with the sales made of his early chickens, yielded him $280,000 gross, in round num- bers. His expenses, all told, were some $145,000, leaving him a profit of $135,000, for the year, or 675,000 francs. He feeds his stock upon animal flesh chopped up, varying the fare with vegetables and grains- cooked. During the three months in the fall of the year he sends to the Paris market over one thousand dozen' fattened capons, say from September to the end of November. His process of artificial incubation is being carried on continually, but the bulk of his chickens are produced during the late winter months. His net profits are now estimated at about fifty per centum * This description of " Monsieur De Sora's " establishment, and the accom- panying statistics above given of his pouUiy operations, were gathered from an article in a leading American agricultural journal; and though they savored of monstrous dimensions, at the time, it was not thought to be an improbable account; since it is known that very large poultiy-establish- meats were then in existence, near Paris, which supplied that chicken-loving city with its myriads of poulets. But, when the author was in France, he sought for "Monsieur De Sora," and could find neither him, nor this great establishment described. Though the consumption of chickens and eggs in Paris is enormous, the demand is supplied by a great number of poultry- raisers, in the suburbs of the capital — ^or was, lefore the late war there — none of which, however, as far as I could learn, *ipproximate to the colossal size indicated in this paragraph, describing Do So a's establishment. — a. p. is. 78 bdenham's new poultrt-look ; npon his gross annual receipts of nearly three hundred thousand dollars ! To our vision these immense figures appear very formidable, but De Sora's poultry establish- ment is an enormous concern. During the year 18f»8, he \vintered 100,000 birds, and in 1860 over 112,000 of the ordinary varieties, discai'ding, as he does, the Chiaese breeds in their purity, altogether. His plan of producing chickens is almost identical with that of the Egyptians, who, it is known, raise enormous quanti- ties of fowls by artificial heat for market with constant . success. This mode is not convenient or feasible, however, in this country, as a rule. The above in- stance is quoted merely to show that fjwls can be raised in quantities to advantage. With our farmers the plans of nature must be followed and adopted. Eggs must be raised in the natural way with us, and chickens are best produced through the ordinary process which has been so long in vogue with us, to wit : the sitting of hens. A western journal estimated the value of eggs in the United States, in 1859, to be equivalent to one hundred and twenty-two millions of dollars, at eight cents per dozen. The New York Evening Post subsequently set down the value of eggs and poultry in the United States, in 1861, at the enormous sum of two hundred and sixty-five millions of dollars, reckoning at New York market rates for these products. The shipment of eggs from a single county in the State of Ohio, over the railroads east- ward, in one month, was recently ofiicially reported to be 115,2o0 dozen. From the State of Maine thousands A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 79 of barrels of eggs are shipped monthly to the B'^ston and New York markets. These facts are cited as instances only. When we consider the immense num- bers of eggs used in home consumption in every locality of the country, annually, and the vast quantities that are shipped from the interior to all other cities and large towns on the sea-coast, as well as the great supply of poultry that is daily furnished to the chief marts of the country, in addition to both the poultry and eggs which are consumed by all classes of Americana from their private domains, the calculations above noted arcs by no means unreasonable, though at first sight they appear almost fabulous. In lesser establishments, such as seem to be suf- ficient for, and to satisfy the taste of the occupants of most farms in the country, where the raising of poultry is not made a speciality, the most indifferent accommo- dations are deemed ample for the comfort and welfare of the fowls ordinarily connected with the place. A simple lean-to, an out-building, a rickety shed attached to the barn side, the barn itself — without other pro- vision — in the estimation of many farmers, is con- sidered " well enough " for the use and convenience of the chickens. But where one or two hundred fowls can just as well be profitably kept in a thrifty condition as a dozen or two can be neglected and starved, it is well that every farmer should look at this item of live Btock, and bear in mind that, with ordinary care, (con- sidering the necessary investment of capital and the aouble of it« keeping,) no live stock will return hinj 80 bdbnham's new poultry-book; anything like so generous a percentage upon his money ao will his too often neglected poultry. As a rule, the poultry-house or houses are better placed, all things considered, with the aspect facing towards the east and south, with high rear and side walls upon the north and west sides for the hatching coops, to ward off the cold winds and effects of storms, more especially In our northern and eastern States. Shelter and warmth, in bad weather, are as requisite to the continuous prosperity of poultry as are cleanliness and food. During the severe winters experienced in our northei'n latitude, domestic fowls will neither lay, nor be free from various diseases, if exposed to rough weather or the chilling winds." Fig 1 — A CHEAP AND GOOD POffLTKT HOUSE. CHAPTER VII. ILLUSTRATIONS OP PODLTEY-HOUSES AND COOPS. " A cheap and good style of fowl-house may be con- structed with a partial glass front and end, facing as above indicated, the sash running from just above the sill towards the peak, and upon the side towards tlie eaves, of any desired dimensions, upon the following plan: Such a house lias been in use for several years by the writer, and has been found to answer admirably for sitters, as for layers, with a slight change in the in- terior arrangements, from one season to another. The glass used may be of the very cheapest quality, " blis- tered " or " wavy " being as good as any ; and the glazing may be such as serves for the ordinary green- house roofing, that is, lapped upon the edges, and done at moderate cost. This affurds light and ample oppor- 81 82 BUENHAM'S new PPULTEY-BOOK ; Explanation.— W, windows; b, ash-boxesj d, doors; n, nests; r, for roosts. (Ground plan.; I a ■w ■Ml b w Hi b L 1. n T1 = tunity for warmth from the sun's rays continually, and has been found the most economical and comfortable of all styles of winter poultry house. The wing may be of any length. Clay-beaten floors beneath the roosting places are economical, easily cleaned, and afford slight attractions for vermin. Half round roosts of large sized spruce poles are the most comfortable, and these should be movable, to set upon cross-stilts not over two or three feet from the ground or floor. If these roosts are covered with strips of old woolen cloth, (tailor's list is best,) which, at nightfall, once a week, in warm weather, may be wet with spirits of turpentine or kero- sene, the process will serve the double purpose of keep- ing the roosts freeffrora vermin, and of freeing the bodies of the fowls from this same annoyance. Access to a gravelled walk or yard at the rear, in fine weather, is indispensible. A grass endosure, if practicable, upon A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 83 which fowls can range daily, is a desideratum in sum- mer. In the roar of the above described house, was alloted halt an acre for this purpose. In the absence of these two last mentioned almost necessities to the high health of domestic fowls, fresh gravel and sand, broken shells, ifec, and green food of some kind, as cabbage leaves, ruta-baga tops, turnip leaves, grass, or the like, should frequently be thi-own within their reach, which they will devom- with avidity, and which will greatly tend to their continual improvement. Old mortar or oyster shells, bi'oken up, are excellent for variety, if accessible. The house already described (figures 1 and 2) may be used for laying hens during the fall and winter, and for sitters in early spring time. From .such a house the chickens, when strong enough, may be transferred to the open or " summer " coops mentioned hereafter, and shown in figures 3, 4 and 5. It must not be forgotten that thorough ventilation of the poultry house is a sine qua non. Pui'e air, and plenty of it, when not freezing cold, is as desirable to fowls as to man. A dust-batifT" formed of screened coal or wood ashes, is a luxury for fowls confined in limited accommodations. The pre- mises described should always be kept as cleanly as possible, and at least, semi-annually whitewashed upon the inside. The water furnished poultry should be pure, and if a stream runs through the enclosure iii' ihe better; if not, fresh water should be supplied tlu'. regularly, and the vessels from which they drink 6\vn'' never be suffered to stand in the sun, at any season. 84 burnham's new poultkt-book ; Fowls drink a great deal, daily. They should always have plenty of water — fresh, clean, and cool. From long experie^ice and observation, the writer feels as- sured tli^t no dumb ci'eature better appreciates this provision for its health and comfort than does the d oiiiestic fowl. In a recent address before the French Academic des Sciences at Paris, M. Genin declared that, after a care- ful study of three years upon the subject, and from re- peated actual experiments, he could confidently state that the sex of eggs may be determined as follows: " Eggs containing the male germ can be distinguished by their elongated form, and a partially raised or ringed surface around the small end of the shell, while those containing the female germ are comparatively smooth, and more equally of a size at both ends." The writer has tried many experiments upon this theory, with but fair success. Though not invariable, this simple rule, in the selection of eggs for sitting, is comparatively safe. The remarks thus far submitted, have reference, in a general way, to the keeping of poultry upon an ordinary scale. With slight daily care and attention, as above hinted, any farmer can keep his hundred or two of fowls, which may readily be tended and pro- vided for by the boys upon his estate, or even by tlie women of the household. From two hundred birds thus disposed he may obtain, annually, two thousand three hundred dozen of eggs, and, if inclined, at least fifteen hundred pounds of marketable chickens, before the close of August in each year. The products will A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. ?& pay him from four hundred aud fifty to five hundicd dollars in money, and leave him his original stock ioi the next year. His expenses will be not over two hun- dred to two hundred and fifty dollars, thus furnisliinj^ him with an equal sum of profit upon say two hundred fowls. Half this number will afford liim half us much certain income, or nearly so. The cost of Iccepiny fowls in such quantities as are alluded to, would not exceed sixty-five cents per head, if all their food is purchased and corn be rated at seventy cents the bushel. With the run of the farm, of course, the expense would be lessened. This leaves a handsome profit upon the investment. The calculation here made as to returns in eggs, is set down at an annual yield of 140 eggs to each hen. This is fully up to the average, under the best care, and upon high feed. Some fowls will lay more than this number, but these are exceptions. From 120 to 140 eggs, yearly, is a generous supply, and I have never known any fowls except the Chinese, or the cross al- j-eady described, that would accomplish more than tliis. The hen spoken of by some writers that " lays every day in the year" is a myth. By extra attention and care as to cleanliness and range in summer, with warm shelter and animal food in w'nter, fowls may be made to lay somewhat more liberally than is stated. But this forcing is done at too great a pecuniary cost, and also at the expense of their health, for they quickly become exhausted and worthless by the process. Hens will lay only a given number of eggs annually, and it is 86 bubnham's new podltbt-book ; only jy hatching your chickens early in the spring that fhej' mature in season to lay during the succeeding fall Hiid winter. The secret of having hens to lay in wintet • ies not (as asserted by some) so much in feeding them , eouljarly, at that season, as .in the simple fact of hatching out the pullets in the right month of the year to bring them to maturity in the fall. As to the feed, variety is essential to the high condi- tion and health of the birds. Fowls permitted to run at large, it will always be observed, are continually ou the lookout for change in their diet. Insects, grass- hoppers, worms, stray bits of animal and vegetable food, are devoured by them greedily at all times, and are songht for in every cranny and corner. Grains, bread crumbs, small bones, &c., are very grateful to them. 3o it is better to follow nature, in feeding them, as closely as possible. For fattening fowls the best corn is the cheapest standard for food in this country. Boiled rice and po- tatoes and shorts or " middlings " of wheat are excel- lent. Small potatoes and broken or even " damaged " rice, which can usually be readily obtained in any large city, serve an admirable purpose, and will be found economical for every-day feeding. Occasional allow- ances of barley or oats, or both, are highly advantage- ous to laying fowls. Sunflower seeds, which can be so easily grown profusely along the entire range on both sides of all fences, without taking up room or causing any trouble save the original planting, are one of the very best alteratives and changes in diet that can be ob- A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOW^S. 87 tained, and fowls will devour these with a gusto, always. In the writei''s judgment, fowls should never be stinted in food. As much as they will eat without waste, and of the best, is deemed the most economical in the end ; and this method will keep poultry always in good con- dition for the spit at brief notice, while laying fowls are thus continuously supplied with the material for afford- ing tlie largest number of eggs regularly after they begin to lay. When the poultry is necessarily confined with- in enclosures, coarse meat, such as sheeps' plucks, liver, the harslets of swine, pounded bones, obtainable at the nearest slaughter-house at very trifling cost, should be given them as frequently as thrice a week. They will devour this food eagerly, and it supplies the place of that which they need and obtain when allowed to range at liberty. Where large quantities of fowls are kept, they must of necessity be confined in colonies, to com- paratively limited quarters, and artificial high feeding becomes necessary, while some sort of animal food is requisite to keep them laying, and in good condition. Male chickens intended for the market may be kept together advantageously in considerable num- bers in the same coops, if brought up together from the outset. No pullets should ever be placed in these cages or yards. As fast as the birds reach the proper size and weight for killing, they should be disposed of. For this particular purpose, cock chickens are the most profitable, as they furnish more meat at a given age, and are of no account (in numbers) other- wise, after they attain to i size suitable for the table, 88 bcrnham's new poultry-book ; FIG. 3 — RANGE OF SUMMER OPEN CHICKEN HOUSES — FRONT. These male birds should be well fed from the shell. They will generally pay a large profit upon the invest- ment, and may be killed at from four to six months old. The plan of a fowl house already given (see figures 1 and 2) is such as the writer had in use for some years, in size, proportions, and appointments. Below is the de- sign of houses adopted by him also for many years for summer use only, in which large numbers of chickens are annually raised for liie market, and which are built at trifling cost. FIG. 4. — SFMTvreR r-rrx nrrrKi-x nousra — kkat> A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 89 via. 5. — UKOUSD TLAN OF OPEN SUM51ER CHICKEN COOPS. Six of the compartments (or coops) are under one roof, and four different houses stand at the four angles of an oblong square of land half an acre in extent, thus : o i PEN COO PS. OPJ :sr COOPS. (Half an acre, or more. ) Clump of Trees for shade. 'jPES coops. OPEN- COOPS.. 1 This arrangement colonizes the different lots of chick- ens, with the raotliers, from March or April to June and forward, and separates each from interference with the •jtiiers. The land might be subdivided into four lots, 90 buenham's new podi, try-book; but the expense of fencing would be considerable, of course, and has not been found necessary upon tlie writer's system of management. In each of the six ■ coops indicated, have been kept from early March or April, twenty-five or thirty chickens, with two or three hens each, the aggregate upon the half acre in the four houses, averaging during the summer 600 to 650 chick- ens, raised for and sold in market from June to August. A portion of the chickens, say one-fourth, are allowed to run into the whole lot (which is in grass) during three or four hours daily, when they are driven in and another fourth part are released for exercise. One house is usually devoted to male birds, exclusive- ly. In the fall, a few of the finest of both sexes are selected to add to the next year's breeding stock, and the balance, seven or eight months old, are sold for con- sumption, at thirteen to fourteen cents per pound, pay- ing a profit of 40 per centum at least, on cost, interest on investment, keep and care. During the season, fine samples of birds for breeding purposes are sold in limit- ed numbers, readily, at better rates even. These open or summer coops described, are construct- ed of laths or paling-stuff upon all sides, and are pro- tected by a shed roof, battened over the seams. The height of the front is eight feet, the rear six feet. The doors (to each subdivision) are also made of the same open or lattice-work, or palings, and each division is twelve feet by seven. The six divisions make each house about forty feet by twelve. This is cheaply built, but is ample for all the purposes of raising the chickens A PRACTICAL TKEATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 91 to marketable condition, from the time they leave the hatching-house with the hen-mothers, as described. The floors of the houses should never be hoarded. The earth is much better, cheaper and healthier. The roosts described are movable (being rested upon crotcli es) and may be set up in any portion of the coops wliere most convenient. If the floor is Itept hard and dry, the sweepings from the cages may readily be saved and removed to the compost-heap, twice a week or oftener. In any of the northern States, even, such coops as the above (for summer months) are far preferable to close houses of any kind, for the rearing of chickens. The boarding of the roofs, and partially down the" sides from the eaves to the lathing, (as shown in the engraving,) affords ample protection from the wet weather, and the young birds are thus early inured to the open air, and invariably do well with good feed and the daily run they have in the grass plat in front. The winter laying and sitting house described below, (figures 7 and 8) may be also used for summer chicken- raising, if desired. The sashes in front can be taken out and lattice-work substituted ; or the frames of the windows can be covered with two-inch mesh-wire screen- ing, which is inexpensive and very durable. By this change the poultry-house is rendered cool and airy, which for the " heated term," would be found too close and warm, for summer use, with the glass windows. This house should be carefully cleansed in the spring, after the early chickens are removed to the open coops, which should be located, of course, on another part of 92 burnham's new poultet-book ; the lot, and if in the whitewash-tub is thrown a pcuud or two of powdered sulphur, the wash will be greatly im- proved, so far as aiding to destroy any vermin present is concerned. The lattice-coops will have already been cleansed, of course, for the reception of the young birds. The entire fixtures in these chicken-houses consist of a water-vessel for each, a feed-box, a low roost upon brackets, and a dust-box, two feet square for ashes. Into this latter it has been found a good plan to mix with the ashes a handful of powdered sulphur, occasionally, which helps to destroy vermin. In a few weeks from their entrance to these coops, the chickens will follow the mothers to the low roosts, and I have never found any diflBculty in keeping two or three hens with their broods in each of these compartments. Beneath the eaves front and back, a board a foot wide forms a facia, beyond which (upon the lowest side) the roof overhangs about five inches, to carry off the rain. The whole arrangement is put to- gether of rough boards and laths or fence-palings, and its cost is very moderate. I have had these in use, now, for twelve years, and have found them all tliat is needed for summer houses for market poultry. Now, if six hundred chickens can be produced thus successfully upon a half-acre lot, no good reason natural- ly appears that any given number may not be similarly raised — for market purposes, be it remembered - and kept, advantageously, from the early hatching period suggested, through the summer months, while the weather will commonly permit of their being left com- A PRACTICAL TREATISE OK DOMESTIC FOWLS. 93 paratively in the open air. To attempt to house large numbers of fowls in close quarters during the severe winters at the north, is not recommended. Thus in order to raise chickens by hundreds or thousands, a great deal of space is necessary, as I have already aimed to sshow. Now, when winter approaches, and the weather gets too cold for comfort, upon the plan suggested, all the previous spring and early summer chicl?ens will from time to time have matured and been disposed of, and only the fowls for winter laying and the n^xt spring sitting remain on hand. The accommodations of the previous year are now used for the convenience of these birds, say from October to February, and March, and the hatching of their broods, subsequently — their chick- ens, in turn being transferred, in due time, to the open cages described. For the accommodation of the layers, and afterwards for the sitters in early spring-time, the plan on the fol- lowing page is in use by the writer. (Fig. 7. and 8.) This house for sitters and layers, furnished with great simplicity, has been found ample for the purposes indi- cated. The building was erected ten years since, of rough No. 4 boards, set upright upon a two by four-inch joist frame-work, with four-inch corner-posts and cen- tre-studs, and is battened upon the outside (over the seams) with three-inch paling-stuff. The roof was fin- ished in tlie same manner, but shingling is better for this purpose. The corner-posts of the central portion of the building are sixteen feet high, the pitch is " one-third," ^ 2 a J 4 2 « < a ri B< Q a 3 o . . I 00 g 1 09 ^ ' o 1 b • .in L2_. >®1_ ■ @i>. - %^ .1 ■zl rzi A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 95 and the dimensions of this part arc seventeen by fifteen feet. The two wiiigs (as shown in the elevation) are shed-roofed, falling back from the front, are twelve I'ecf high, running down to seven and a half feet in rear, fii'teen feet wide, and extend right and left from the out- side of the central biiilding, in each direction forty-five feet, making the whole house ninety-six feet long by fifteen feet in width, except the centre, which (for ornv ment in this instance) projects out two feet in front, as shown. This house is surmounted by a cupola five feel square, with a vane, which adds to the comeliness of the premises, but need not be indulged in except to suit the taste of the builder. The central portion is twd stories high, as is Fig. 1. The upper loft is floored over, and is useful for storing grains and vegetables, corn, &c., and can be turned to good account for cook- ing food for your fowls, if desired, or, by a proper contrivance, can be made the centre for a heating apparatus to add to the comfort of the birds (with pipes running right and left) during the coldest of weather. This loft is approached by a ladder from the rear, outside, through a door above the upper floor in the gable end. The building may be whitewashed upon the exterior, and made to look clean and respectable, or it can be clapboarded and painted to correspond with the residence or other farm buildings. To economize the cost it may be put up with boards and battenings simply, with the commonest glass sashes — tight, com- fortable, and very serviceable, at moderate expense, and 96 burnham's new poultry-book; will last many years, if properly /rawed. Tho sashes arc upon a line in front, and are glazed in the mannei already indicated in plan. Fig. 1. In this house about fifty hens can be conveniently set at one time — say, in the ten apartments* five each — who will not interfere with each other if properly cared for, daily. During the late fall and winter months, this building will accommo- date, in its ten divisions, over a hundred laying hens comfortably. During the early spring, an average of a dozen eggs may be placed under your sitters, and, with good luck, four liundred chickens may be produced, and these from the earliest broods. These may be removed in due time to the " open houses," and another fifty hens may be placed upon the nests vacated by the first ones, who, with proper care, will bring out another four hundred chickens, more or less, say in six weeks after the earlier sittings. It will be understood that upon the removal of the first broods, the sitting boxes should be nicely cleansed before the second hens are placed upon the nests. By the time the second broods come ofif, it will be the last of March or the first of April. All the young stock may be safely transferred to the open houses by the begiiming of May, where they can thenceforward be fed and cared for as previously di- rected, and fitted, like their predecessors of the year before, for the suiamer and fall market. Prom the new stock the best samples of pullets are selected again, to * The length of page in this Poultry Book is insufficient to show the ten compartmeuts, so we show only eight. They are all alike, however. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 97 add to the next year's breeding stocli , as before ■, the old fowls (two years of age) are killed, the young cocks are all put in separate houses, to be used for the earliest maturing and largest chickens, and affairs go on during the fall, as during the season previous. By adopting the plans thus laid down, with the build- ings and appointments herein suggested, a thousand chickens can be readily and profitably raised for the summer market, annually, while ample conveniences are thus afforded, also, for at least one hundred laying hens during the winter months in the glazed house, (Figs 7 and 8.) If the desire be to raise more, in- creased space njust be accorded to your fowls, and more buildings should be erected. It will not answer to in- crease the huddling of the birds under one roof. If the buildings are smaller even than those described, and more numerous, being scattered over acres, instead of confining the stxjck mentioned to half an acre, and to a building of the size given, it will be all the better for the general health of the birds, undoubtedly. Crowd- ing fowls into too narrow a space, is one great cause of the fatalities attending the attempt to breed them. Fresh air, light, cleanliness, varied fare, pure water, range, grass or occasional green and animal food, shelter from wet and raw winds, with plenty of gravel and ashes to roll themselves in, are all requisites to success. With these advantages and fair attention, provision being made for the warmth and comfort of the laying hens in winter, chickens can be i-aiscd for the table and for market in any quantities, and to highly 98 bubnham's nkw poultry-book; satisfactory profit ; and eggs in abundance may also he had, in any dry location within reasonable distance of the larger cities and towns of America, as has been proved through years of experience, and of successful experiments." An infallible mode for preserving eggs fresh and in perfect condition through the year, is given in chapter XXIX. Tliis plan is for saving eggs for consumption, or sale, only — not for future hatching, of course. lu July and August, eggs are worth a cent and a half each, on the average. This is the time to " lay them down " most economically. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, they bring three to four cents apiece. The gain to any family, by this simple and certain means, (or to the egg-seller,) is apparent. The cost of the process is but nominal. The sale of poultry, dead or alive, in Prance, is con- ducted on an admirable and judicious plan ; much better tlian is our system of marketing this article, in America. All the poultry is sold in Paris, at La Vallee, the metropolitan market, at auction, daily. The chief city agents, to wliom the farmers consign their poultry, eggs and butter, arc licensed by the authorities, who sell it at public vendue, at a certain hour, and fore- stalling is unknown thei'e. The highest bidder gets the poultry, and the scene at these sales is a very interest- ing and active one. So in the smaller towns. At the ringing of a bell, the crates, boxes and baskets are first uncovered, and the bidding is very lively, for choice, tiie buyers taking their position outside the market- A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOVfLS. 99 place ; and in a littlo time after the opening, thousands of eggs and thousands of chickens are Icnocked off to the highest offers, to be sent at once to London, Paris, &,i., for consumption. 'PIiTMOUTH bock" FOWIi. CHAPTER Vm. MODERN FOWL-HOUSES, COOPS, CHICKEN-CAGES, ETC. Having given in the last chapter economical plans of some of our own Fowl-houses, Summer-coops for chick- ens, etc., we will now offer other illustrations possessing merits, both exteriorly and interiorly ; and the first is that of a very convenient well-fashioned one, ventilated at the top. The above cut represents a very good and cheaply constructed Fowl-house, with glass sash-front, mostly facing the south and east. It is simple, yet ample to shelter a moderate number of chickens, in winter ; and if it can be thrown up (with the right aspect) the back side against a high stone wall, or upon a barn side, out of the way, it can be built for a trifle. The door may be on either side, and fowls can enter or leave it from the front, as shown in the engraving. The sash may 100 A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 101 be run up, on the front of the roof, four to six feet; which lets in more sun and light. It can be divided by a slat partition, inside, and two varieties can thus be kept to advantage — letting the fowls out for a run al- ternately, a few hours, daily. The arrangement of the nests, roosts, etc., can be similar to other plans to be found in our pages ; and the size of it may be 30ft, front, by 20 deep, to afford accommodation for a dozen to twenty fowls, in each side, amply — if care is taken to keep them cleanly, constantly. The height can be four to five feet front, run up back to ten or twelve feet, as convenient. This proportion of slant will serve to carry off the rains. The roof-sash should be laid ou in the green-house form, in order that the water may run off free over the eaves. Here is a very nice arrange- ment for late winter and the spring season. GLASS CHICKEN-HOUSE, GEEEN-HOUSE PLAH. The above is a plan for a half span glass-roofod 102 buknham's new poultry-book; house, put up on my own premises some jeurs ago, and of another of the same class in use b)' my next-door neighbor, for a cold grapery, originally ; but serving admirably for the raising of young ea-ly broods of chickens, in which they grow finely. My own is 60 by 16 feet, with a plank tan-packed double partition-wall on the north side. The top and other three sides are all glazed, in the usual green-house mode. Tlie range of small lower sashes (beneath the front eaves) open at pleasure, for ventilation ; the framework inside of the sashes being covered the whole length with coarse wire screening, to prevent the birds from getting out, when the windows are open. Entrance on. the west end. For chickens hatclied in March and April, this has proved a most excellent shelter, and they have come along during these cold months, and on through May, very rapidly — under the genial warmth that pervades the interior of this glass-house in sunny weather. It is more expensive than some others, but I have found it an excellent arrangement for the young chicks, during the early inclement New England weather. And for valuable fancy stock, nothing in the way of a spring fowl-house can excel it. " Topknot," in the N. Y. Bulletin, says — one of his fowl houses, is built as follows. Size thirty feet long, by sixteen feet deep, posts eight feet high — boarded and battened. Roof pitching both ways and covered with cement and gravel. Three winddws in front and rear, two feet high and six feet long, close up under the caves, so as to give a good circulation of air above the A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. IOC fowis ; sliding skylights in the roof in front, which to- gether .with the other windows have wire netting, and are kept open, except in the coldest of the weather. The floor is rat-proof, being made of cement grouting ; one third of it is six inches higher than the rest, and kept clean to feed ou. The low part has three inches of sand upon it, and over this the fowls roost. The perches are hung on hinges to the side of the building, and are raised up in the day time, and when let down lor use at night, are 20 inches above the floor. It is very important for large fowls that the roosts should be large, so that they can sit comfortably on them and not injure their breast bones, and close to the floor, so that that they will not injure themselves in coming down. The building, which fronts southeast, and is lath-and- plastered, is divided in three rooms, with board parti- tions three feet high, and wire netting above. Large yards for each, with fence four feet high, which is sufBcient for Asiatic fowls, also extra yards to change and give the grass a chance to grow. This will give the reader some idea of what the writer thinks a model Fowl house. Among the best patterns of American poultry-houses, is that of Mr. John C. Wells, of Athens, Pa., though it is not a very large one. But for the ordinary fancier, or breeder of two or three varieties of fowl, it is ample. He describes it as 40 feet in length, 12 feet walls, and 10 1-2 feet to the roof-peak. It is of a light frame, 3eiled outside, the roof boarded and shingled. It is divided into six compartments, five being devoted to 104 burnham's new poultrt-book ; the fowls. Tlie first compartment is for setting hens, &c. These divisions are 9 by 10 feet, separated from each other by a picket and slat fence. In each part are five nests, a neat drinking fountain, boxes of ground bone, gravel, ashes, etc., with a feed gutter, slatted across to prevent the birds from fouling or wasting their food. Large windows of 30 lights of glass each, 8 by 10, light up the interior, and afford the fowls plenty of sun ; and at the south end are other windows used for venti- lation, &c. There are six outer yards, one for each compartment, 80 feet by 10 feet. The premises are painted outside, whitewashed inside, and the floor is of gravel. Mr. Wells breeds the Dark and Light Brahmas, Houdan, Black Spanish and White Dorkings. He has some fine spring chickens, and his manner of raising them proves very satisfactory. He has no gapes, nor has his chickens been troubled by vermin. He sets his hens in small kegs with the tops out, covered with wire netting ; a hole is cut in the side for the lien to go in and out, and the inside is white-washed, or washed with kerosene oil. (The latter is a very good plan.) When he has a hen that is broody, he scalds the keg with boiling water, to cleanse it, makes a nest with cut hay or straw, and to keep the lice out he either places tobacco leaves in the bottom of the keg, cr wood ashes and sulphur. When the chickens are hatched, he re- moves all pieces of shell and had eggs from the nest, and docs not disturb them again for 24 hours, when he feeds them with hard boiled eggs, crumbled. In about A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMES! C FOWLS. 105 two days he removes them fi'om the nest and puts them in a coop with a wooden floor, covered with dry earth, and when they are two or three weeks old, they aro taken from the hen, and put in charge of his " Artificial Mother," until they are old enough to I'oost, then they are placed in other quarters. (This artificial mother is A. M. Halsted's, of Rye, N. Y., we are informed,) and Mr. Wells says of it that " it works splendidly, and everybody is in ecstacies over it." (See page 182.) In the rear of Mr. Wells' six yards is a very large grass plat, enclosed by a tight board fence, 9 feet high ; and his fowls have access to this run, alternately, through small gates at the foot of the yards. Mr. W. has latterly found it necessary to sheathe his building, and has done so with felt and siding, which increases the warmth inside greatly, in cold weather. This building, complete, cost #600. But it could be built for less. We have one on a similar plan, of our own, described hereafter, glazed, whitened, battened, etc., 30 by 25, in three divisions, that cost less than $300, all told. Two hundred dollars ought to build and equip a very good fowl-house, large enough for summer and winter uses, with good yard-range accommodations outside, for all the purposes of an amateur who breeds only two or three varieties. Here is another plan, copied from " Tucker's Annual of Rural Affairs," very good, and quite inexpensive. This is large enough to afford interior accommodati,ona for thirty fowls, and is proposed to be built ten by six- teen feet. It is thought by another writer in the U. S. 1.06 BUENHAM'S NliW POULTRT-BOOK ; Report quoted froia, that fifty fowls would not over- stock such a house, but he adds, at once, tliat " experi- ence teaches us that it is unsafe to house in one apart- ment more than fifty fowls, at tlie same time, and even witli that number, ventilation should always be free, during the coldest of weather." Ventilation should be good and ample, always, and thirty chickens would be enough to house witliin such limits as are described below, for this ®^^g^ KEAT AND CHEAP POnLTRY-HOUSE. Let the house face the east or southeast; and it would be an improvement to stud the building all round with three-inch studs, and to line it with inch matched BtufiF. It should be covered with sound, matched boards, and battened. The spaces between the studs should he filled in with dry tau ; and it would add greatly to its warmth to make the roof double also, and fill as at the sides. The floor should be ten or twelve inches higher than the earth on the outside of the building, and the best material of which to make it is 2, mixture of sand and gravel. po"nded down very A PRACTIOAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 107 firmly. Plant deciduous trees thickly about the house to keep it cool in summer. Perches for the Shangha3 and Dorking should not be over two or three feet high ; for Spanish, about four feet ; and for Games and Ham- burgs, five feet high would not be too much. RJOSTING ROOMS. FEEDING VESTS. ROOMS. NESTS. FIG. 1. — GEOUKD PLAN. FIG. 2 — A CEOSS SECTION. These two last cuts above, show (1) the lower ar- rangements inside, with I'oosts, nest, &c. ; and the other (2) the end elevation. The writer continues to com- mend what we have already advised — that every house should have its dry dust-bath box, lime, pounded oyster- shells, etc., and fresh pure water, daily. Here is a handy portable " tent-coop," for either a sitting hen, or hen and chickens, for the first mouth or two after hatch- ing, and a slatted feeding gutter. FEliD-TKOUGH AND TE.\T-COOP. 108 buenham's new poultry-book ; This coop is battened and made like the pitch-roof (Jf a house or barn, 2 feet high, -1 feet square, simply ; has no floor, but is held together at the two euds by a four-inch cross-strap of boarding ; slatted in front so the hen cannot get out, and the chickens can ; and may be moved about and set in a new place daily, if desirable. The feed-trough is a broad gutter, with two square ends to liold it upright, and slatted across (as before explain- ed) to keep the fowls from scattering their food. Both these are handy, and easily made. In this same Departmeut Report for 1862, another writer furnishes a few plans of cheap poultry-houses which we give here, and which are, briefly, thus de- scribed. A PRETTY FOWL HOUSE. " Let it front to the south and east ; build with nine feet posts a room eight by thirteen feet, on the ground. This will accommodate two dozen fowls — sufficient for one family's use, or for breeding any single ' fancy ' vari- ety. A dove-cot can be arranged in one end if desired, to which one gable window will afford sufficient light for that p/irpose. The nest-boxes may be placed over the feeding-boxes, two or three feet from the floor, as A PBiUTlUAL. iuii.Aj.iaii U11 i/OMESTIC FOWLS. 109 may be convenient." (TFe should recommend that the size be at least ten by fifteen feet, however, since it costs, little more, and is much more roomy than the above.) " Lay a tight matched floor about six feet above the lower floor. The roosting-poles should be placed crosswise of the gable, and near the stairway, com- mencing at the bottom next the stairway, the first about eighteen inches distant and so on to the top. The loft should be cleaned daily, or have a daily sprinkling of dry black muck, or disintegrated burnt clay, or burnt plaster ; the whole to be removed frequently, and care- fully put into barrels or boxes under cover, for the future use of the farm or garden. A door should be made in the rear-side of the dove-box for its frequent cleaning. A trap-door may be made over the back end of the en- try, to be reached by a perpendicular round ladder, to get to the dove-box." A very well contrived coop for a hen and chickens, was awarded a prize at the late N. Y. show, and the fol- lowing account of it is given in the Poultry Bulletin. It is both simple and practical, and any one can readily make it on the farm. This handy contrivance is made as follows. " The floors are two feet wide and four feet long, on half of which, is built a house two and a half feet high to the peak ; half of the roof is on hinges, to facilitate the cleaning of the coop, a sliding door is in the back, and a small hole with wire netting on in the peak for ventil- ation. The other half of the floor has a glazed frame on it, twelve in( hes high at the house, and eight at the 110 burnham's new potjltey-book ; end ; the sash hinged, through which the chickens may be fed, the sides have sliding doors, to be closed at night, which makes it rat proof. This makes a nice place for the chickens to run and feed in, during a storm, and in the mornings before the grass is dry." It may be made somewhat larger than this, to advantage, we should say. But the general plan is a very good one. And below is a simple ground-plan for a cheap hen house and yard for the use of one variety, say 30 to 50 fowls. Nests. 1 c U 1 1 o — ti Dry Feed. ■g c Open Yard— 1-4 of an acre. a 00* ply terms, the result proves unintelligible, and con- fusion follows. The absolute regulation of temperature is an exceedingly difficult matter to compass ; and long- tried experiments have proved, to my satisfaction, that we have not yet, in this country, reached even the rudi- ments of artificial incubation, with any show of cer- tainty. I 'know (because I have proved it individually) that artificial hatching can be accomplished. But that it ever will become a frequent or common method, I doubt. While therefore, I frankly state that — alone, and by itself — the incubator is a failure, compara- tively, still as an aid, I deem it invaluable, in finishing 132 buenham's new poultry-book: what the hens begin, as thus : after allowing your heu to sit 10 days upon the eggs, remove them to the Incubator, and set another clutch under her. She vill continue to cover three or four settings. You can complete her work in the machine ; and your shicks will come out strong, healthy, free from vermin, and none are trodden to death. Then comes in the usefulness of the " Artificial Mother," which requires little care, and BALSTED'S ''ABTIFICIAI. MOTHEB.' no study to manage. After five years' trial, I repeat it, I would never be without this machine, if I could pro- cure or make one. My success has been constant and perfect, and I thus raise one-fourth more chicks. A mother such as I use costs but $10. The size above represented is 20 inches wide, 42 inches long, and 15 in greatest height. This will hover and raise 50 chickens, and will last for years. Others have tried it successfully, and I recommend it, from personal knowledge of its utility. But whoever attempts to use au Incubator, to any extent, as a means of hatching chickens, from the outset, must first inform himself, thoroughly, by patient study and care, as to the details of its rightful management — to make its use success- A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 133 ful." As Mr. Halsted is himself an inventor of one of these machines, this opinion is certainly a candid and valuable one. The " hydro-mcuhator " of Mr. Cantello, of Chiswick , has attained to some degree of popularity in past years in England, but it has been found by experience in all countries, save Egypt, (where the warm climate aids them in their oven-hatching process) that it is the rais- ing of the chickens after hatching, that becomes trouble- some. They need the natural mother's care, and the " artificial mothers " don't answer — thus far — though that of Mr. Halsted, and Mr. Graves, portrayed above, seems to our view to be the best we have ever seen. The inventors of Cautello's hatching machine claim that only twelve to thirty per centum of the chicks hatched by this invention, can be brought up. A one- tray Cantello's machine, they say, will produce on an average seventy-five birds to the hatch — eighteen times in a year — or 1,350 fowls, A two-tray incubator will give 2,700 a year, and so on. But no provision is pro- posed except through the artificial mother, (which in their case is often a failure,) to bring up the chicks. And in this respect we incline to the opinion that arti- ficial hatching by any means in our cold uncertain climate, cannot be rendered successful to any extent. Mr. Graves and Mr. Halsted are very confident how- ever, with their inventions, and they have already raised and matured a good many chickens. If they can make their Incubators work, regularly, and if these " artificial mothers" prove reliable — they have accomplished an 134 bdenham's new poultry-book ; important thing indeed, for the poultry intei'Gst in America. How I'eadily these machines, or any other for artifi- cial incubation, may be adopted by poultry-raisers in tlie United States, remains problematical ; but upon a mod- erate scale, as is indicated in the articles furnished us l)y the inventors, the contrivances both of Mr. Graves and Mr. Halsted certainly promise well, and are much the best of any " incubators ',' which have had their birth in " Yankee invention," and have died for lack of pa- tronage among us in the past twenty years. The Report of Mr. Geyelin, from which we havf quoted the four modes of artificial hatching adopted iu France, gives a further account of the " live hatcliing machine " used in several places, there — which process has been also adopted with success by a few breeders in the West, and in Pennsylvania within the past five years. This is but the natural way of hatching — turkeys being used instead of hens. Mr. Geyelin says upon this point that this " Natural hatching differs from what I ever saw be- fore, and in some parts of France forms a special trade carried on by persons called Couveurs, or Hatchers. They hatch for farmers at all times of tlie year at so much per egg, or purchase the eggs in the market and sell the chickens as soon as hatched, from threepence to sixpence each, according to the season of the year. This system may aptly be called a living hatching ma- chine ; and in my opinion it is the very best and cheap- est way of hatching, as will be seen by the following description : — A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 135 Tlio hatching room is kept dark, and at an even tem- perature in summer and winter. In this room a num- ber of' boxes two feet long, a foat wide, and a foot six- niches deep, are ranged along the walls. Tliese boxes are covered in with lattice or wire work, and serve for turkeys to hatch any kind of eggs. Similar boxes, but of smaller dimensions, are provided for broody fowls. The bed of the boxes is formed of heather, straw, hay, or cocoa-fibres, and the number of eggs given each tur- key to hatch is two dozen. At any time of the year, turkeys, whether broody or not, are taught to hatch, in the following manner : Some addled eggs are emptied, then filled with plaster of Paris, and placed in a nest ; after which a turkey is fetched from the yard, placed on the eggs, and covered over with lattice. For the first forty-eight hours, she will endeavor to get out of her confinement ; but soon becomes reconciled to it, and then fresh eggs are sub- stituted for tlie plaster of Paris ones ; they will then continue to hatch without intermission, /rom three to six months, and even longer ; the chickens being withdrawn as soon as hatched, and fresh eggs substituted. After the third day the eggs are examined, and the clear ones are withdrawn, and sold in market. These turkeys are taken from the nests once a day and fed — the nests cleared of excrement, and thus they are kept busy for months. After a time they cease to feed of themselves, and are necessarily ' crammed ' with food and water." The writer visited several different places in Prance, where this turkey-sitting process was largely carried on 136 bubnham's new poultry-book. — in one place (that of Mr. Auche, at Gambois,) noting sixty turkeys there thus occupied. Often a hundred are so employed on a single place. These birds seem to be so fond of this sitting process, that instances are re- ported where they sit constantly for five or six months, the chickens as they come being taken away, and raised under " artificial mothers," or glass, subsequently. The sitters are said to grow fat too, during this long period, and are very steady in their work, after commencing — appearing rather to like the ease of this monotonous occupation. The setting of turkeys upon hens' eggs, may undoubt- edly be rendered largely profitable, in producing chick- ens for early marketing, from the facts above quoted, since double the number of eggs can be placed under each bird, at a sitting. This is so much gained, in point of time ; and if the chicks thus hatched are looked after with care, from their birth, a majority of them can easi- ly be brought up to marketable size and condition — of the ordinary varieties of barn-yard fowls. For the mul- tiplying of fancy stock and good breeders, however, the hen-mother is the only sure thing to begin and end with, in our confirmed judgment. A MODEL (male) SHOW BIRD. CHAPTER XL POULTRY EXHIBITIONS AND SHOW-FOWLS. To the eye ot the initiated, the above spirited en- graving will at once suggrst the copy of a capital por- trait of a perfect Cochin or Shanghse cock, at from a 137 1 38 bubnham's new poultet-book ; year and a half to two years old, in flue plumage and high condition. The general form is that of a fine Dark Brahma, hut its color better represeuts the Buff or Partridge Cochin bird. We consider this a very faith ful likeness, however, of a first-class male representa- tive of the Chinese race, and an admirable model of a crower for the Show-pen ; executed for us by Bricher and Conant, in their best style. The original establishment of Poultry Societies, for the amusement of enthusiastic breeders, the im- provement of the domestic feathered race, and for the Exhibition of, and competition in, the various strains and varieties of Fowls bred by fanciers, amateurs, and dealers, dates back some years, in Eugland — where premiums were first awarded to those who contributed what were deemed by the judges to be the best i-epre- sentatives of the different kinds of birds thus bred, from year to year. In this country, Fowl Shows are of a more recent date — the first one of any magnitude having occurred in Boston, Mass., about twenty-one years ago ; which was inaugurated at the Public Garden by the author of this Book, in conjunction with Dr. J. C. Bennett, Rev. Mr. Marsh, Col. Jaques, Dr. Ebcn Wight, Mr. Alden, H. L. Devereaux, Capt. H. H. Wil- liams — and a few other gentlemen, which proved a great success. The first Poultry Society in America ivas then formed, and other similar associations sprang 1]) subsequently, in New York, Rhode Island, Connecti- ul, &c. Latterly, the New York State Society has taken the lead, in this direction, in this country. A PKACl'lUAL, XKiiiAiioii u« wuiJESTIC FOWT,S. 139 In llassachusetta, the Now England Ponltry Club, centering at Worcester, has been in successful operation a few years, and in the spring of 1871 another new society was formed at Boston, by a number of eastern breeders and fanciers, who tliought the ' hub ' the most appropriate place for their exhibitions ; from the fact that it is the Capitol of the State and is more conve- nient for the shows of the association — all the Massa- chusetts and New England railways entering and verging from that city. The gentlemen connected with this enterprise are well known among the lovers of good poultry, and several of them have not only bred fowls carefully, but for a good while ; and no doubt they will so conduct the affairs of the " Massachusetts Poul- try Association " as to cause it to aid in the furtherance of the important objects generally contemplated and proposed by these excellent societies. When properly and rightfully managed, these can be made the media of wide-spread good, and are conducive to real improve- ment in the character and production of poultry. The advantages of such associations are too often turned to the especial account of individuals, or cliques, however — it is to be regretted ; an error in management which we trust may not creep into the conduct of the newly organized ' Massachusetts Poultry Association ; ' and a reasonable guarantee against which mistake is af- forded at the outset in this Society, in the selection of its officers — Messrs. Philander Williams, W. J. Under- wood, E. C. Comcy, Henry F. Felch, C. Carroll Loring, Geo. B. Durfee, John B. Moorfi. J. N. Oady, E. L. 140 BimNHAM'S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ; Rice, Nath'l. Foster, John P. Buzzell, Jacob Graves, Col. Geo. A. Meacliam, Mark Pitman, C. E. Tuttle, C L. Copeland — and otlier enthusiastic breeders, gentle- men of integrity and good standing in the business community. This society was inaugurated under highly favorable auspices. The production of specimens of different kinds of Fowls merely to compete for prizes at our Poultry Ex- hibitions, now-a-days, will scarcely remunerate the fan- cier for the requisite outlay for stock, the subsequent necessary care that must be given such birds, and the attendant expense that inevitably occurs first and last, in bringing the birds to the Show-room in the best con- dition and most acceptable shape, to compete for offered premiums. The benefits derivable from these exhibi- tions, nevertheless, which are realized by such breeders, seem to be satisfactory, since through this means from time to time they may be successful in carrying away the prizes ; and the notoriety thus obtained, ensures the fortunate premium-takers abundance of orders for this same stock, subsequently. Now it is scarcely to be expected, (and every one, upon a moment's reflection, can see the force of this assertion,) that any breeder of poultry can deliver to order, at call, precisely such birds as are thus given the preference at these exhibitions, unless he disposes of the identical individual specimens to which are ac- corded these premiums. And this result is not attained, ordinarily, except at enormous figures ; since the suc- cessful competitor uniformly " puts his best foot for«- A PRACTICAI, TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 141 moot," in this sort of thing, and naturally, too ; and lie must rob himself, to accommodate a patron, in comply- ing with the other's ambitious wishes. The same ftock, of course, can be purchased, and occasionally, this turns out equal to tlie prize specimens. But, as a 'ule, amateurs can scarcely obtain in this " same stock," exactly such fowls as bear off tlie palm at the sliows. The " Poultry Bulletin," a well conducted monthly publication, under the auspices of the N. Y. State Society, has spoken repeatedly and fairly upon this point, and in a late issue upon the subject of raising " fancy " Poultry, with a view to its paying, merely, the editor says, aptly — "half our fanciers do not care whether it pays or not, and the care, study and ex- penses of journeys undertaken for the sake of the birds, if added to their cost, would demonstrate that poultry keeping, to the real fancier, is anything but a paying business in nine cases out of ten." And he adds that " the raising of poultry, or any hind of fancy stock to he successful, must he conducted with a sensitive love for the kind of stock hred, and a fellowship with others of similar tastes. Breeding fancy poultry, etc., to sell, will not do. Money may be made by it, for a few years, but reputation, never. After a fancier once establishes the reputation of his strains of blood, from careful breeding and good success in winning prizes, he can get very remunerative prices, for all the good stock lie has to spare." And this result is the leading object to be attained in owning or breeding specimens ' up to the standard' for the prize-pens. Indirectly, this 142 burnham's new poultry-book; specialty contributes largely to the general welfare and improvement of Poultry, of course ; but it is attended, as the Bulletin suggests, with heavy outlay, care, study and labor, to compete successfully, and is usually ac- complished by the few " fanciers who do not care whether it pays, or not." While, therefore, the good effected in its way by this means cannot be denied, it ought not be, nevertheless, cither the province of the general breeder, or his pur- pose, to aim only at producing show-birds. Few of tliese premium fowls are duphcated, as we all kuow, by this time. And if a fortunate strain of blood be gained possession of, it should be bred clean and purely, and followed up — without admixture with other varieties — for results that will tell at large, in the end. In sup- port of this theory, or principle, we have only to point to the unrivalled success of the well-bred Brahmas, the Shanghaes, Games, Dorkings, or Black Spanish Fowls, for examples. These bii-ds have always been in demand, from the outset, and they will continue to be sought after for general use, in our judgment, long after the present producers of these unexceptional true varieties pass beyond the pale of poultry-breeders ! The emulation incited through the establishment of these poultry associations and their annual or semi-an- nual exhibitions, is altogether commendable, however, in the main. They bring together the best stock in the neighborhood for comparison side by side, and the soci- ety-principle keeps the breeders in friendly communica- tion with each other (or ought to do so) whereby they A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 143 may readily compare notes, and excel their neiglil'ors, if possible, from year to year. The prices maintained at these shows for good fowls, are kept up to paying limits, and those who originally spend their money time and brains upon this idnd of undertaking, are thus enabled to outain remunerative returns for their in- vestments and labors toward improving the general poultry stock of the country ; since successful contribu- tors are now required to bring the quality of their birds up to a high mark — to win. The breeding of good stock is in consequence reduced to a very fine point, with some fanciers among us. I have noticed the recent published accounts of one elaborate raiser of Brahmas, who lias elevated it to the " pedigree " system — Mr. J. K. Pelch, of Natick, Mass. His birds have been very successful in the show-room^ and are noted for good size, color and truthfulness, gen- erally. This nicety in the genealogy of poultry may an- swer to amuse the enthusiastic fancier who indulges in its observance, and it may prove sufBciently interesting to him to pursue its ramifications, and attend to the records it involves. But its utility is, in our humble judgment altogether equivocal, in a general way. Still, for original breeding-stock, such birds as the Brothers Felch produce and offer " with a pedigree," may be most desirable to certain purchasers. For ourselves, however, we agree with the editor of the Bulletin, that " the fowls must stand or fall upon their individual merits, when they come into the ring ;" and though this furnishing of a pedigree for poultry (which no one cares 144 buknham's new poultry-book; to dispute or to inquire into,) may serve the purpose of such ticketed stock, it is of no mortal use, certainly, to the general purchaser. The fowl bought is either a good or an indifferent one ; and a paper recoi'd of his ances- tiy makes him no better, no worse, surely. Yet this hobby of Messrs. Pelch has proved no disadvantage to them — naturally ; and their laudable aim appears to be to breed steadily quite up to the required standard. In an earlier chapter on the subject of purely-bred stock, we refer to the manner of " Topknot," who permits " all varieties of fowls to run together in the fall and win- ter," promiscuously. Such breeders as Messrs. Felch, for example, we opine, would hardly run tliis sort of risk, and then undertake from succeeding hatchings of eggs of their stock, to furnish pedigrees very confidently ! In refei-ence to the " standard of excellence " estab- lished in England in late years, and followed generally in this country latterly, much discussion has eventuated ; and in the fall and winter of 1870-71, certain leading poulterers connected with the New York State Society conceived that a revision and refining of this scale of points in fowls was advisable, to be adopted as the fu- ture required American standard, exclusively. A con- vention was called, but it was subsequently announced authoritatively that parties had made so many protests against adopting the standard, as revised by the Poultry Convention, on the ground of incorrectness in descrip- tions, the committee appointed to revise the same have Jotermined not to take the responsibility of putting it to press, and propose another convention in May, 1871. CO' (3 z s cc o loT Q >- !■ < IT es *5 A I 1— t CO ^; J 5: •■*. o # z h bJ »• tt U. 3. o a. Hi 3 o ^ cr <£ CD A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 145 It seems that the wide difference of opinion current as to the merits and demerits of certain nice points in color, conformation and other characteristics of the leading breeds of poultry is so apparent, and so much can be said on both sides, as to straight-combs, pea- v/Ombs, and straw-colored saddles in Brahmas, for in- stance, and fifth-toe or no fifth-toe in Houdans, muffs or no muffs on other pure varieties, etc., etc., that no defi- nite agreement can be arrived at, among the savans in the chicken trade, upon this interesting subject. For ourself, we think this matter of ' standard ' is brought down to a pretty fine point already, on this side of the Atlantic. And witJiout designing hereby to criticise the ideas or opinions of any individual, anywhere — we can- not but respectfully suggest that the refining process, in this direction may be " run into the ground." easily, and would suggest that to our view it is very well, as it is. For the reasons given, however, we are of opinion that Poultry Societies and their public shows are bene- ficial ; albeit there has heretofore existed abuses in con- nection with both, that have not been creditable to those who have controlled these affairs simply for their own aggrandizement, or for the benefit of the selected few who enjoy the privileges of certain rings. A sensible " old farmer" at Ambleside, N. Y.,in a late communi- cation, indicates that in the Empire State, an extraordin- ary degree of interest has latterly been evinced through the influence of the New York Poultry Society, upon the ( i subject of improving the character of the common fowls 146 buenham's new poxh-tey-book ; around liim. He says : " Through the efforts of the New York State Poultry Society, many farmers not only in this, but other States, have already been aroused to tlie importance of improving their poultry, and have secured thorough bred males to cross with their own fowls, have also built houses and yards for their poultry and small coops for their hens and chickens, and have shut chicks up at night, and kept them from the rats and out of the wet grass. Those who have done this have been agreeably surprised at the result; their fowls, (ever from the first cross) are increased in size at least one third. The pullets are better layers of larger eggs, and in place of raising thirty per cent, of their chicks, tliey now raise seventy per cent. I see there are many new Poultry Societies forming in different states, and that the people are awakening to the importance of the ben- efits that will arise from the improvement of poultry. At the third exhibition of your Society, held in Decem- ber last, I was much gratified to see the great improve- ment made by professional breeders of thorough-bred poultry. They there had turkeys weighing 37 lbs. each, geese 27 lbs., ducks 10 lbs., and fowls 10 to 12 lbs. " It may be far in the future, but I believe the time is coming when every farmer will have his comfortable poultry house, and his choice poultry, and will look upon them as one of the blessings that God has given him tc be taken care of and improved. When this time comes, the farmers' poultry and eggs will be of better quality, and will average more than twice their present weight, A PRACTICAL TRKATIBli; OJN UUfllESTIC FOWLS. 147 and be cheaper tlian any other food. The benefits of capunizing will then be better known and practiced by all, as there is as much diiference between the flesli of a capon and cock, as there is between steer beef and bull beef. If the merchants and gentlemen of wealth, who now think poultry of so little consequence as to be un- worthy of their notice (unless it is cooked) would look upon it in the light it deserves, and encourage and aid the Poultry Societies, then the good work would pro- gress, and the results would soon be manifest." We may all join in the expressed hope of this com- mon-sense " old farmer " that such results may soon be brought about, generally. It is the influence that these societies exert upon the mass of poultry-raisers, that is of vastly more importance to the. universal good, rather than whatever benefit may accrue to the few individuals who go in for the ' highest premiums,' with one or two or half-a-dozen fancy specimens, which " can't be beat," nor duplicated either ! And so while we will do all that in us lies to promote the growth, advancement and success of the poultry Societies, and their shows, let us not forget that the true aim of such institutions should be not merely to improve fowl stock for the fancier and amateur, but to disseminate among the farmers of the land this improved stock — at reasonable rates ; and so contribute to the benefit of the community at large, aa well as to the national wealth of our country. ECN= UGHT BRAHMAS. CHAPTER XII. VARIETIES OF POPULAR FOWLS. Thus far we have endeavored to point out in concise and plain language, the better general course to be followed in the selection of eggs, hatching chickens, feeding and rearing the young birds, breeding older fowls, furnishing poultry houses, raising poultry and eggs for market, and briefly regarding the production of poultry through artificial incubation. We proceed lo consider the qualities and merits of the different varieties of popular fowls at present sought after, and now bred in tlie United States. As will be seen in the pages which follow, we are 148 A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 149 under obligations to American breeders, in different parts of the country, for many of the tasteful and re- liable illustrations which adorn our Poultry Book, with aocompanyina; descriptions and valuable hints from these contributors, as to the character and qualities of the beautiful portraits furnished us. In one word — these gentlemen individually will please accept our ac- knowledgments, here, for their favors ; which are appre- ciated by the author, and we are confident will be quite as well valued by the readers of this volume. We commence our consideration of the merits and qualities of popular modern poultry, with what we con- sider the leading race, or variety, in this country — as it is, and has been for many years, also, in Eng- land — ta wit, the Chinese, or Asiatic Fowl ; and at the head of this list, we unhesitatingly place the justly famous " BEAHMAS," a variety that has enjoyed an un- exampled popularity, for twenty years. We call them by this name, now, because this has become established by universal consent and usage. Yet, as the fact is well known, my own fowls of this splendid variety, were the first ever brought to public notice, both in this cormtry and in England. Originally, I called them " Gray ShanghaBS," for the simple reason that they were gray in color, and most of my first pure stock came direct from Shanghce. Subsequently, other speci- mens turned up, and certain breeders then ambitious of notoriety, through mystification, trumped up the name of " Brahma Poutra " f )r this superb variety This title was found diSicult of pronunciation, however, 150 btjrnham's new poultry-book ; and it came to be changed, in various ways, directly. Different poultry societies and different dealers spelled it Bramerpooter, Brahmapootra, Burrampouter, Buram- p'. otra, Bramapoota, Brahmapootra, Bramah, and in a dozen other ways — and finally we liave it conveniently reduced to " Brahma." Let it stand ! It is a good fowl, and not a bad name. We are content. The true Brahma fowl is clearly of Chinese origin. The tasteful cut at the head of this chapter, represents a pair of E. C. Newton's stock. All the characteristics of this magnificent bird, like the " Buff," or " Par- tridge " or " White " Shanghass which have reached us in the past twenty years, are identical, save in color alone. No specimen of either of these varieties (now called " Cochins ") has been shewn ever to have seen Cochin China, or " the Brahma-putra, a River, that dis- charges its waters into the Bay of Bengal," as one late writer has stated it. This is entirely immaterial, however. They came from the East, " and were first seen in New York," says this same author, " in 1850." Now the record shows that in 1849, '50, 1 purchased from ' Asa Rugg ' (Dr. Kerr) of Piiiladelphia, for twenty-five dollars — r.t that time deemed a very remarkable figure for two chickens — a pair of large gray fowls, which thei\ were called " Chittagongs." They were feathered legged, plumage clear white and black, like the Brahmas, and were undoubtedly the same variety of Chinese birds we now have here. Shortly after this, I procured from on board a ship direct from Sharghae, half a dozen A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOW/.S. 151 other gray fowls, which were enormous in size, but fanciers said " too white " at the time. I bred them all together a while, and then I sold the two original grays, and they were bred by Dr. Bennett, in Plymouth, Mass., with his huff Shanghses. The first progeny came white and black, and had a slight top-knot, some of them ; but were considered very handsome and uniform fowls. The owner placed them in the second Boston Fowl Show, then called them " Burampooters ;" they took a prize, while my gray fowls also took another, as " Gray Shanghass ; " and, from that beginning, sprung the stock that was for years afterwards known the world over as " Gray Shanghaes," or " Brahmapootras." Mr. Cornish, or Mr. Hatch, had fowls of this stock (similar, in every particular) at this same show, I think. But all were fine, and we all succeeded subsequently, very satisfactorily with our fine ' Gray ' or ' Brahma ' fowls and their progeny. Cut No 3 is a good representation by H. Weir, of a cock and hens, of the light Bralima fowls I had the honor to send to Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain ; of which this stock are the exact counterparts, in great size, perfection of color, superior laying qualities, and all the desirable properties of good poultry. The London Illustrated News, in noticing the arrival of the Queen's poultry in England, said " they are a very choice consignment, and the largest doinestic birds known, at the time of their shipment by Mr. Burnham from Amer- ica, these weighing over twenty-two pounds the pair !" The following acknowledgment of these Brahmas, is 152 buenham's new poultry-book ; Frcf. n Son. Col. Phipps, H. B. M. Secretary. Windsor Castle, Eng., 1853. Dear Sir : — The cage of gray. Shanghse fowls intended as a present from you to her Majesty the Queen, has this day been received from Mr. Mitchell, of the Zoological gardens, and tliey have been highly admired by her Majesty. I have received Her Majesty's commands to assure Mr. Burnham of her appreciation of his attention, and to add that it affords another addition to the many marks of good will from citizens of the United States, which the Queen has received, and to which Her Maj- esty attaches so high a value. I have the honor to be Your ob't and humble servant, C. B. Phipps. A few weeks afterwards, the author received another letter, accompanying a beautiful portrait of the Queen, and referring to this cage of Brahmas (through her Majesty' Secretary of the Pi-ivy Purse, Hon. Col. Phipps,) as follows : — Buckingham Palace, March 15, 1853. Q-eo. P- Burnham Esq. Melrose, U. S. A. Dear Sir: — I have received the commands of her Majesty the Queen to assure you of her Majesty's high appreciation of the kind motives which prompted you to forward for her acceptance the magnificent Chinese Fowls which have been so much admired at her Majes ty's aviaiy at Windsor. Her Majesty accepts, with great pleasure, such a mark of respect and regard, from a cit' izen of the United States. 1 have, by her Majesty's command, shipped in the " George Karl," to your address, a case containing a A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 153 portrait of her Majesty ; of which the Queen has direct- ed me to request your acceptance. I I have the honor to be, Sir, your ob't and humble servant, C. B. Phipps. This extraordinary stock has bred for years with marked fideUty — in color, size, form and other charac- teristics, and thousands of superb samples have been sent by me all over the United States, and to England, Canada, Prance, Bavaria, Lisbon, Cuba, &c., where they have uniformly given the highest satisfaction. They are as fine this year and last, as ever — and will be found altogether unexceptionable. 1 could add largely to these commendatory letters, by printing several received from those to whom this strain of fine poultry has been forwarded latterly from my yards; but! will conclude the opinions on my Light Brahmas, with the following communication, acknowl- edging the receipt of three cages of this variety, which I shipped south in April, 1871. From Hon. R. B. Bullock, Governor of Gfeorgia. Atlanta, Ga., April 8, 1871. Deae Sir. — The three cages of Brahmas you sent me, arrived safely this day, in fine order. They appear in good condition, are very handsome birds, and 1 am highly pleased with them. One coop I send to my plan- tation, one lot I retain in town, the third is for a neigh- bor. I shall most cheerfully recommend your fowls and establishment to my fiiciids, and am Yours truly, Eupus B. Bt llock. G. P BuENHAii, Esq. 154 burnham's new poultry-book; On pages 156 and 157, 1 give admirably executed portraits of a cockerel and pullet, of well-bred Light Brahmas, about ten months old. ThQ feathering of this pair of young fowls is very perfect, and those who a\y preciate this nicety of plumage, will find on examina- tion of these two pictures, that they represent the color and markings required by the " standard of excellence " established in this country and in England — quite ac- curately delineated, though the form of both is not of course fully developed, at the age presented in these two cuts. The qualifications required by the ' standard ' referred to, are, for the Light Brahma Oock — head white ; neck white, with distinct black stripes down the centre of hackle feathers ; breast, body and thighs, white ; back and shoulder-coverts, white ; primaries, black ; legs, bright yellow, fringed to the middle toe with white feathers, or slightly tinged with black. Hen, white — similar in details; neck to be distinctly striped on the hackle feathers with black ; breast and back, white ; thighs and flufif, clear white ; legs yellow, well feathered to toes — like the cock. The pair of fowls delineated on these two pages are very correctly drawn, and will serve tlie nice fancier lor a good model to imitate — if he desires to breed up to the standard. On the history of the original Brahmas, Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier F. Z. S., in his London "Poultry Book," a magnificent and altogether reliable work, says " There is not a particle cf evidence to show that they came from "ludia. The banks of the Brahmapootra have A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 155 long been in possession of the British, at least the lower part of the course of tliis River, and no such fowls were ever seen in that locality. In fact, the Brahmaa originated not in India, but in America. The light Brahmas undoubtedly were identical with those Gray birds that iu the first importation came from Shanghse, and public attention was first callod to them in conse- quence of an acute American fancier, Mr. George P. Burnham, presenting a consignment to Her Majesty ; and these* birds were subsequently exhibited by His Royal Highness, the late Prince Albert, at the London and other Shows, as " Brahmas." * * * These liglit Brahmas, with pure white or cream-colored bodies, and elegantly pencilled hackles, were in great favor ; they were universally admired for their beauty, and esteemed for their good qualities, when suddenly a new variety sprang upon the scene. A pair of birds were shown at Birmingham, which were sold for 100 guineas. These were dark in color, and different in general character ; they were the first Dark Brahmas seen in this country. These birds were subsequently figured in the " London Field," having been drawn by Mr. Harrison Weir."* On this subject of the Brahma fowl, Mr. Saunders, the author to whom I just now briefly referred, in his work on " Domestic Poultry," speaking of Mr. Baily of London, the eminent breeder, says that Mr. B. in- forms him that " he has imported and bred the Brahmas * Portraits of these origina. Dark Brahmas, (which Mr. Burnham sent tc Mr. Baily of London, ) thus accuratoly described by Mr. Tegetmoier, talcen from Mr. Weir's picture, will be found among the tmted illustrations in oui book. ■'?''; '// 'r/ ((( t^ ^^' K'SHT IRAHMA COCKERB'',, TEN WOXTTIP OTS>. 1!C'-^.' L-KiUMA J"JLLET, TEN MCSTHB Oia. 158 buenham's new poultry-book; for two years ; and that they differ in many pointa from the Cochins, with which they are sought to be identified." This information from Mr. Baily must cer- tainly have been given this autlior a long time ago, in- asmuch as / sent out to London a cage of Brahmas, which were exhibited at the Birmingham, Eng., Show, in 1853, " one pair of which, from Mr. Burnham of the United States, the property of Mr. Baily, of Mount street, shown among the extra stock, were purchased from him by Mr. Taylor, of Shephord's Bush, at one hundred guineas — " says the record ; and in the month of September, 1870, (last year) I received a letter from Mr. Baily, in which he writes me, among other mat- ters, thus : " I continue to breed from the progeny, the old type of " Brahmas " you sent me, as you may have observed, from the fine birds I have sent to Mr. P. Williams, and others, in the United States." Now Mr. Baily has been breeding these fowls steadily for fifteen or sixteen years. And the fine Brahmas he has thus returned to the United States, (bred out of my stock, with others,) have taken first prizes, repeatedly, as their parents did, before them, at the principal shows in America, in the last four years — Mr. P. Williams' splendid samples frequently bearing off the palm, lat- terly, as among the best. Mr. Mark Pitman, of Salem, who has enjoyed a large acquaintance with these fowls, and who with Mr. -T. Graves of Beading, Mass., has a splendid stock, in a communication to the N. Y. Bulleti ), thus states what he knows of the Brahma's origin ; which coincides, in A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 159 the main, with .the facts I have always claimed, from the beginning. Mr. Pitman says '• the Dark and Lif>ht Bralimas as originally bred, have both nearly the same origin, and are the product of the union of the Bvff Cochin hens with the Qi-cy Chittagong cock. They were not imported, but bred first in this country." And upon this point, I first stated years ago, (in another work of mine on Poultry) the following facts, wliich the editor of the Bulletin kindly quotes from that hook, in a previous number of his paper. " The variety of fowl itself was the Grey Chittagong, the first samples of which 1 obtained from ' Asa Rugg '(Dr. Kerr) of Philadelphia, in 1850. But my friend the Doctor (Ben- nett) wanted to put forth something that would taice better than his " Plymouth Rocks," and so he consulted me as to a name for a brace of gray fowls I saw in his yard. I always objected to the multiplying of titles ; but he insisted, and finally entered them at our Fitch- burg Depot show (in 1851) as " Burrampooters " all the way from India. " Those three fowls were bred from Asa Rugg's Gray Chittagong cock, with a yellow Shanghae hen in Ply- mouth, Mass. They were then " Burrampooters." Sub- sequently these fowls came to be called " Burampootras " ' Burram Putras " " Brama-pooters," " Bralimas," etc." " An ambitious sea-captain arrived at New Yorlt from Shanghas, bringing with him about a hundred China fowls, of all colors, grades and proportions. Out of this lot I selected a few gray birds, that were very large, and (ccr.sequently) " very fine," of course. I 160 buknham's new poultry-book; bred these with other gray stock I had, at once, and soon had a fine lot of birds to dispose of, to which I gave what I have always deemed their only true and appropriate title (as they came from Shangh®,} to wit, G-ray Shanghces" and to these corroborative facts I shall briefly refer again, in these pages. I never claimed aught but this : tliat my Gray Shanghaes, or Brahmas were the first bi'ed in Massachusetts, and the first (of both Light and Dark) that were sent to Eng- land, from America. As to where I procured my stock from time to time, subsequently, (and I bought a good many fowls, I remember, in those days ! ) it is surely not of the smallest consequence, now. Mr. Pitman continues, as follows: — " Mr. G. P. Burnham, who sur- prised not only the Royal family of Queen Victoria, but all the breeders of fowls in England, by his present of an elegant lot of Light Brahmas to her Majesty, saw in the Darks still greater remuneration, and eagerly pur- chased, disposing of them, at what might even now be termed fabulous prices. This variety at once took the lead of all others, even of the long esteemed Dorking. From this importation, many of the large breeders of England and Ireland were supplied ; but wishing to im- prove them if possible in size and color, those old sagacious breeders crossed the hens with the black-breasted Dorking, the only bird which would give the qualities desired ; and this progeny was bred back again with the Dark Brahma cocks sent from this country ; so that now we are receiving from Great Britain, not the original Darks, but the improved. A gentleman who visited those old establishments a few years after the first birds A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 161 were seat from the United States,* was in time to de- tect this cross, which undoubtedly was intended to be kept secret ; and at once observed the change in size, tlie black breast, and actually saw the fifth toe." DARK EEAHMA HEN. G. P. BURKH/.M'S SraCK. *I presume that Mr. Pitman intends here to intimats bj' the words " firat birds sent from the United States" of this variety, that they were mine; though the language is rather ambiguous. 162 buenham's new poultry-book ; As to " purchasing " Grays, after a time, I did so very generously — from among the birds I had sold as chickens, or which were raised from eggs I supplied to scores of fanciers in this country, when the demand for the Brahmas was at its best. And I had to 'pay for these purchases, roundly, too ! On this subject of the Brahmas, Mr. Tegetmeier says that Mr. Burnham sent into England, the^rs^ Brahmas ever seen there. And Dr. Wm. Custe Gwynne says, in this same work, page 177, " a circumstance which con- firms me in my view as to the identity of these birds (the Brahmas) with the Shanghai breed, is the fact that the fowls previously presented to Her Majesty, by Mr. Burnham under the name of ' Gray Shanghaes,' are ad- mitted by Dr. Bennett, (the author of the name ' Brahma poutra,') to he precisely similar to his own" This is true also. Dr. Bennett originated the name of " Bralima poutra ; " he bred my first pair of old gray fowls, when I got the second lot ; and he says that my Brahmas, (or Gray Shanghaes) and his Bi ahmas, " are precisely similar." . . . Thus much for this name. And in the other poultry work to which 1 have alluded (Mr. Saunders',) under the head of " Cochin-China Fowl," (which, by the way, is illustrated with a fine picture of heavily-feathered-legged Shanghaes,) it is stated that " the Cochins were first possessed by Queen Victoria," &c. So they were. But the " Cocliiu-ChJna " fowls first possessed by her British Maje.^ty, were no more like ^\Q present birds called " Cochins," or like this illustra- tion in his work, than they were like the Malay, or A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 163 Game fowl — nor lialf so much; for they were tall, gawky, smooth-legged birds, as every one knows, who ever saw the originals ; and the exact history of which we give in the next chapter. Referring to the remarkable hardiness and general useful qualities of the Brahmas, the Editor of the Can- adian Poultry Chronicle strongly recommends this breed to farmers, for a stock fowl — since they have been tried in that cold country, thoroughly. The writer in the above named Canada paper says, " much has been writ- ten about which breed is most profitable for the farmer to keep, and it will not be denied that there are some breeds possessed of such general cliaracteristics for use- fulness, as to render them more suitable and better adapt- ed to the farmer and general breeder than others. That which combines within itself large size, good laying and flesh-forming qualities, and hardihood, requiring the least amount of care and attention either in chickenhood or maturity, will at once be admitted to be the most suit- able fowl for the farmer. He wants not only a good supply of eggs during the year, but also meat for his ta- ble, or for the market. It is useful, not ornamental fowls he requires ; although if both are combined in the same breed, it becomes a still greater favorite. We have no hesitation, then, in saying that the Brahma 'owl possesses all these qualities, and many others beside ; and that of all the recognized breeds of fowls, this is the best adapted and most suitable to the farmer. " It is not our intention to draw distinctions between the j'espective breeds of fowls, nor to seek to elevate the 164 burnham's new poultet-book ; tlGHT EEAHMAB. BITENHAM'S IMPOETED STOCK. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 165 one to the disadvantap;e of the other, but merely to show wherein the Brahma is the most suitable fowl of all others for the farmer to keep. The great size of the Brahma, at once renders it an object of attention. In this respect it surpasses all other breeds. Hens in their second year with moderate care, will weigh from 8 lbs. to 10 lbs., and cockerels from 13 lbs. to 14 lbs. each. The quality of the meat is also good ; when tolerably fed it will be found almost, and very often quite equal to the Dork- ing. There is probably a little less meat on the breast ; but this is compensated by the extra quantity of that on the thighs ; indeed, many people think the leg of a Brahma cockerel one of the best parts of the bird. If the object of the farmer is simply to prochice chickens for the table or market, then a cross between the Brah- ma and a Dorking cock will produce truly magnificent fowls ; the largest, perhaps, that have ever been reared. Chickens thus bred, have at the age of six months, at- tained the weight of 18 lbs. the couple, and over — no mean matter for the farmer's consideration. " As a laying fowl, the Brahma is, in our opinion, equal to any other breed. There is no doubt that the propensity to sit interferes considerably with the pro- duction of eggs. Notwithstanding this, the fecundity of the hens and pullets is very great. Brahma pullets will lay with great regularity at six to seven months old, and usually sit within two months after. They may thus be made exceedingly useful, where a regular supply of earl^ birds for the market is desired. Indeed, no breed so eminsntly possesses tho regularity and certainty in the 166 burnham's new poultry-booj. ; time of incubation, without carrying it to a troublcscme excess. It is also remarked that the hen in her second year lays raucli longer than the pullets, and in this re- spect makes the fowl as a layer, far superior to nearly any other. " After the second year the tendency to incubate be- comes greater, and increases with age. We would, therefore, recommend that hens, after the third year should be got rid of; nor indeed is there any necessity to keep them any longer, as pullets can always be had to supply their places. In connection with the produc- tion of eggs, we may mention another cross with the Brahma well worthy the attention of the farmer, that is, between a Brahma hen and a Spanish cock. This cross produces a fowl which for average fecundity surpasses any and every fowl we know. " Altogether, then, we consider that the Brahma pos- sesses a greater amount of usefulness and value than any other pure breed, and is also opable in an eminent degree, of communicating its good qualities to other fowls by crossing ; and for this reason we strongly recommend it to the farmer as a stock fowl." The Light Brahmas are so widely known, at this time, and good stock has become so generally distribu- ted over this country, that we need only refer those who iJesire to purchase, to almost any dealer, for these louis. But, in the west, Mr. E. C. Newton breeds them finely, and G. W. Felter, in Ohio. Wade and Henry, Phil'a., and I. M. Harvey, Chicago, 111., 0. N. Palmer, Gallipolis, Ohio. In New York State, J. Y. Bioknell, A PRACTICAL TRi!!A;iSE OrJ DOMESTIC FOWLS. 167 & Co., E. J. Taylor, Waterloo, D. L. Stage & Co., Schenectady, C. A. Mayers, Auburn, D. C. Noxon, Beekman, A. Nelson and others at Buffalo, Isaac Van Winkle, Greenville, N. J. In Connecticut, all the breeders have choice light Brahmas, as well as in Massa- chusetts and Rhode Island. I. K. Pelch, Natick, B. C. Comey, Quincy, Philander Williams of Taunton have LIGHT BRAHMA HEH. WADE AND HENKY'B STOCK. ■rery choice stock of this breed. Mr. Saunders, on Staten Island has a superior strain, also. Ezra B. Dibble, of New Haven, is among the foremost Connecti- cut breeders of light Brahmas, and his prize stock, •,rith which he took first premium at the last State Show, there, were pronounced as fine samples of this Iti8 burnham's new poultry-book. favorite race as ever were seen in that region ; where this fowl is bred — as a rule — to great perfection. Mr. D. is a very careful breeder, and is satisfied only with being at the head of the list, in the line of specialties to which he now devotes himself — the finest Chinese varieties, principally. G. P. Burnham of Melrose, and C. H. Edmonds of same place, think they have as good samples of this breed as can be found. Also, G. H. Champney, Taunton, 0. Carroll Loring, Boston, and J. C. Ives, Salem. They keep and breed only from the best samples — uniformly. Portraits of this strain — of the same blood as that sent by Mr. Burnham to her Majesty Queen Victoria, mey b" found in this volume, see illustrations. a C/5 ^ < CD (r Q UJ I- C/5 < UJ DC CO < _l CD O O cc h 6 rt CD 13 X * hi la ir:o»sK» "cociiN." queen's "cochin." CHAPTER XIII. TES ORIGINAL "COCHIN CHINA." We place the above two drawings in juxtaposition, for convenient comparison by our readers, and we pre- sexit a description of this much talked-of variety with pleasant recoiled ions, since it fell to our lot to intro- duce the famous Queen's Stock of ' Cochin Chinas ' into the United States, as is very well known. In view of the fact that the name of the author of this " New Poultry Book " is inseparably connected with the original of this variety also, which came through his importation into America, we feel competent to describe them, accunitely. Tiiis name has been variously used among us, for twenty-two years past, but within a few 169 170 bubnham's new poultry-book ; years it has come to be generally accepted simply aa " Cochin." In Tegetmeier's celebrated modern " Poultry Book," in reply to the oft-repeated query "Are Cochin China and Shangbas Fowls the sameV lie answers " we have always entertained the opinion that they are; as we have invariably found that fowls imported from China," (of any colored plumage, dark or light,) " came from Shaaghae, or its vicinity." And thus this able authority upon the subject of poultry concludes that " Cjchiu Cliina is a name altogether misapplied " to the Shanghae fowl. This accomplished author is unquestionably reason- able in his opinion, and he adds, forcibly, that " this conclusion amounts to conviction ; since Mr. Robert Fortune, who has passed so many years in various parts of China, says " the man who first gave these fowls " (the ShanghsBs) " the name of Cochin China, has much to answer for ! J firmly believe that these two are one and the same. What grounds," asks Mr. Fortune, pertinently, " has any one for supposing these fowl ever saw Cochin China ? It is a breed very little known in the southerly parts of China, and the Southern Chinese were as much struck with the size of this breed, as we were." Mr. Fortune adds that the Shanghce breed are more common around that port and vicinity than elsewhere, though he has seen them all over that part ol the country ; " while the Southern breeds have long been known, but there is nothing marked in their character.'*^ And we may here appropriately add to A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 171 this, briefly, our own experience with the Simon-pure, renowned, much lauded, original Queen Victoria Cochin Chinas, which as everybody knows we first imported into the United States. In the previous chapter, appears the Queen's letter in reference to my Brahma fowls. In addition to this flat- tering compliment from Royalty, I give place to the fol- lowing pleasant communications I received previously, from distinguished Americans to whom I forwarded samples of my early " Cochin " China fowls. These gentlemen were supposed to be good judges of live stock, and the author deems their opinions sufficiently disin- terested as well as valuable, to reproduce them in this volume — even at this late day. And I publish the let- ters which follow, simply because I desire to show that twenty years ago samples of my original imported Cochins went into the hands of such well known gentle- men ; who, in addition to their other vast store of knowl- edge, knew what good poultry was, and who appreciated these fine birds, which were bred from the Queen's stock. I'rom. Got. G«orge X. Brings. Mt dbab Sib: — The cage of Cochin-China chickens yoa were kind enough to send, reached me in safety; and I am much obliged to you for this favor. They are, beyond comparison, the finest domestic fowls I have seen, and I shall breed them with such care that I hope to be able ''.o give you a good account of them in the future. They are vei-y much liked by all who have seen them, and you wiU please accept my thanks for your attention. I am, respectfully, yours, Geo. N. Bbiogs. PmsFiELD, Mass., 1851. 172 burnham's new poultey-book ; From Hon. Henry Clay. Geo. p. Buknh am. Esq. My dear Sir. — I duly received your obliging letter, informing rae tliat you tiad sent by the Express of Messrs. Adams & Co., a cage containing four fowls for me, and I postponed acknowledging it until the fate of the fowls should be ascertained. I have now the satisfac- tion to advise you that they all reached here safely. They have been greatly admired, not only for their enormous size, but for their fine proportions and beautiful plumage. I thank you, my dear sir, most cordially, for this very acceptable present. It has been my aim for many years, to collect at this place the best improv- ed breeds of the horse, the cow, the sheep, swine and the ass — though the last, not the least valuable, in this mule raising State. To my stock on hand your splendid Cochln-China fowls will be a congenial and valuable addition; and, if we succeed with them, I will take care not to monopolize the benefit of them. I am greatly obliged to you, and. With high respect, I am Your ob't servant, Ashland, 1851. H. Clay. From Hon. Daniel W^ebster. Geo. p. Buenham, Esq. Deab Sib. — The coop of chickens arrived safely, and are noble specimens of the Chinese fowl. Tou will rarely meet with samples apparently so well bred, and they will do any one credit. I thank you for the consignment, and consider them a most valuable addition to my stock of poultry. Accept my best wishes, and believe me, dear sir. Yours, very truly. Mabshfield. 1851. DAiaEL Webster. Late in 1848, 1 sent out an order to England for half a dozen of these fowls ; for 1 was unfortunately then one of " the men frantic after Cochin Chinas," and was the first American who imported any of the Queen's noted Cochins into this country, by a year or two, at the least, In 1849, 1 learned the following facts, namely : A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 173 Three of the Queen's famous Cochin China stock, which had so stirred up tlie people in England, had been exliibited, and had taken the gold medal prize at tliG Royal Dublin Sliow, and were tlien presented by Her Majesty to Lord Heytesbury, the Lord Lieutenant of Ire- laud. His Lordship had placed these fine birds in the hands of J. Joseph Nolan, Esq., of Bachelor's Walk, Dublin, to breed. I sent to Mr. Nolan, who exhibited the first pure bred Cochins in England, and from him direct 1 obtained two cocks and four pullets. One eock and two pullets were very good birds, the other three were indifferent. They were dark partridge-colored fe- males, and red and brown males. I bred these first (and a second lot, which I procured some time after- wards, direct from Canton) and their progeny, for years subsequently, adopted the name of " Royal Cochins" for them, and realized very handsomely upon them. They turned out finely (the progeny,! mean,) they were extraordinary layers, quite uniform in dark partridge- colored plumage, and took prizes again and again at the fairs, both of my own raising, and those raised from my stock by others ; but they always came full black- eyed, always showed the darkish colored limb, and al- ways (never failing !) came with entirely smooth legs ! This was the " Queen's Cochin China," which I procured direct from Mr. Nolan, who bred her Majesty's stock, which I subsequently bred in Roxbury and Melrose for years and years ; and which is illustrated in this late " Domestic Poultry Book," with a pair of short, hand- some, heavily feathered-legged Shanghse birds, and de- nominated " Cochin-China." 174 burnham's new poultry-book; Now we hear of the " Bufif" Cochins, the " Partridgt " Cochins, the " White " Cochins, etc., and the poultry- show Committees award premiums for birds thus named. This is all right enough, since everybody agrees to it. This Cochin is a good name, too. Let it pass. I do not object to this change, or the improvement. But I state facts. 1 have imported and bred these Chinost- Shaiighse-Brahma-Cochins for over a score of years ; and 1 may be permitted to claim that I know something about " originals," I think. Having stated thus much in a general though some- what personal way, we will now take up the character of this extraordinary race of Chinese fowls as we find them to-day ; and, adopting the name given one strain by Dr. Bennett, snd the other as improved by the fiat of the Poultry Societies in England and America, point out their many excellences and intrinsic merits — con- tent with the fact that the Eastern fowl is the best in the world, all things considered, and that "The KOBE by any other name, will smell as sweet." In order, however, that the readers of my " New Poultry Book" may judge for themselves how nearly like to either the " Brahmas," or th.Q present so-calleu " Cochins," were the original Cochins, of Queen Victoria's famous stock, I have caused to be fallen from a copy of the London Illustrated News, the picture of those fowls, drawn from life by the celebrated Harii- son Weir, in 1844, when Her Majesty's Cochin fowls were first presented to admiring poultry fanciers. By A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 175 reierence to the illustration of tlio Queen's Fowls, (see cut No. 2,) and a comparison of tliis altogctlier reliable engraving with any other illustrations in this work, or any late authority upon this subject, it will at once be seen that there is no similarity whatever be- tween these two plainly distinct varieties — to wit, the original " Cochins," and the present so named '• Cochins." Yet our picture No. 2, is a good and veritable like- ness of the Queen's Cochin stock, and is a faithful i-e presentation of my Cochins, already described in this chapter, which came from Her Majesty's fowls through Mr. J. J. Nolan, to me, in 1849. Let the reader com- pare the two ; and then say for himself if the Queen's tall, long-bodied, smooth-legged, large-tailed Ciiina fowls of 1844 were Cochins, how appropriately the fowls of 1860 and 1870 are named " Cochins ! " So much for tlds misnomer. Of this much lauded fowl Mr. Dixon, says : " Whether the breed now under consideration did really come from Cochin China or not, is probably known only to the party who imported them, if to him. But they have been cultivated in this country previously to their intro- duction to general notice as the most conspicuous orna- ments of the Royal poultry-yard. A gentleman living in Monmouthshire, informs me that, nearly thirty years ago, a friend sent him a cock and hen of the true ' Java breed.' The cock was so fine, large and handsome, that he was immediately made ' Cock of the walk.' The present stock on tlie farm, whijh I have seen, are 176 bdbnham's new poultby-book ; entirely descendants, and are true Cochin fowl ; so that in this case, Java and Cochin, are synonymous. The first parents of this lot came direct from India. The legs vary from a flesh-color to an orange-color, and are not so long as in the Malay ; the eggs are buff-colored, of large size, and blunt at both ends; the chickens progress rapidly in size, but feather slowly." Another writer describes the Cochin cock as having a large, upright, single, deeply indented comb, very much resembling that of the- black Spanish, and when in high condition, of quite as brilliant a scarlet ; like him also, he has a very large ear-lobe or ear-cheek. This is not au indispensable, if even a required qualification ; it is, however, to be preferred, for beauty at least, if not as a mark of pure breed. The wattles are large, wide, and pendant. The legs are of a flesh-color; some speci- mens have them yellow, which is olyectionable. The feathers on the breast and sides are of a light chestnut- brown, large and well defined, giving a scaly or im- bricated appearance to those parts. The hackle of the neck is of a bright yellowish-brown ; the lower feathers being tipped with dark browu, so as to give a spotted appearance to the neck. The tail feathers are black, and darkly iridescent ; back, scarlet orange ; back hackle, yellow orange. It is, in short, altogether a flame-colored bird." C. N. Bement, in his " American Poulterers' Com- panion," published by Messrs. Harper, states that Mr. G. P. Burnham, of Boston, communicates the following in reference to two importations of Cochin fowl by him. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 177 He says, " I obtained two lots of these fowls — one batch of six, from J. J. Nolan, of Dublin, and the other direct from Canton. The prevailing color of my birds is yellow, or yellowish-brown pullets, and yellow and red, or yellow, red and brown cocks. They have nut deviated from this range of color except in two or three broods out of the dark Canton cock. Tlic chicks come even in size and plumage ; and down to the third gen- eration they have bred exactly the same ; this is a very satisfactory result, in my estimation. I have never yet seen a black, a gray, a white, or a speckled chick from this stock. " For all purposes of a really good domestic fowl, whether I speak of productiveness, easy keeping, laying qualities, size, disposition, beauty of form and plumage, or hardiness (in this climate), after a careful compara- tive trial, I deem the Cochin the best. And to my fancy they have no equals among the varieties now known in America."* There is not the slightest objection, at this time, to the acceptance of the title accorded to these fowls we are now receiving from England and Ireland, and which are being so splendidly bred by Messrs. Hicks, of Roslyii,L. I. Mr. Van Winkle of Greenville, N. J., D. L. Stage, Schenectady, N. Y., E. J. Taylor, Waterloo, Philander Williams of Taunton, Col. Meachem, of Somerville, J. Graves of Reading, Mass., Mr. Herstine of Philadelphia, E. C. Morton of Batavia, 111., J. M. Wade of Philadelphia, G. W. Felter, Batavia, Ohio, and ' *This quoted opinion of mine was given before I liad so tlioroughly tested the Brahmas, as Isubsequently had the opportunity to do G. p. b. 178 buenham's new poultey-book ; scores of other importers and breeders — and now called ' Cochin,' under the sanction of the poultry societies. But we have given an exact history of the original Queen's Cochins, in this chapter, (so far as it is known) and we also give an illustration of those birds, drawn from life by the best fowl-artist in Europe, Harrison Wisr. These were smooth-legged birds, and bore no .more similitude to those that are ealled Cochins, to-day, than they did to any other large fowl that can be named. Still, they came from the East, and were undoubtedly realty Oriental birds. Possibly they first started " from Luckipoor, up the Brama-pootra ; a river that dis- charges its waters into the Bay of Bengal ; " for their origin is certainly very obscure, yet. Of two things, however, we feel well assured : first, that they are mag- nificent birds — and secondly, that the Cochin came originally from " up the Brama-pootra river," as cer- tainly as ever the Brahma fowl did ! 'f^A^'':^' CHAPTER XIV. OLD AND NEW PARTRIDGE COCHINS. The first strictly Partridge-colored Chinese fowls I ever saw, to wit, in the year 1849, were in the pos- session of the Rev. Mr. Marsh, of West Roxbury, Mass. This gentleman was a retired clergyman, and had passed the best part of his middle age, I think, as 2, Missionary, in China, and returned home well worn in the service. He either brought this superb clutch of Oriental birds with him, or they were sent to him by a brother Missionary, direct from Shanghae. And they were really unexceptionable in beauty, great size, duiforniity of plumage, and all the characteristics of i, gooi, and at that period, very desirable fowl. 179 180 BtJENHAM'S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ; The descendants of this clutch of genuine " Shang hiBs," imported direct from one of the celestial ports, and known lo be jowrc, (if such a thing existed,) from Mr. Marsh's breeding in 1850, down to a biood of this stock which 1 met with in Norfolk County last season, (1870) were strikingly uniform, throughout ; and the hundreds of fanciers who have in the past two decades had and bred this noble strain of blood, would readily recognize these birds, wherever they should see them. I bred hundreds upon hundreds of this particular strain of stock, and 1 sent out to England in 1852, '3, and '4, a great number of what was then known specifi- cally as the " Marsh Shanghaes," as did other gentle- men here, who then bred both the Bralimas and the Shanghffls, largely. Within the last two or three years, this old Marsh stock — in no wise changed, in no wise improved, in no wise different in any one particular of form, size, color, or characteristics, is coming back to us ! The beautiful " Partridge Cochins," as they are now called, which have been imported from England into the United States, are identical with the Marsh stock. But they are a noble fowl. There are none better, standing above ground to-day, as representatives of this favorite race. It may be that English breeders have, in the past ten years, got out from China, direct, fresh blood of this variety, to intermix with those sent them so generously from America, more than a dozen years ago. But these we get here now are so strikingly similar, in A PRACTICAL TBBATISB ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 181 every point of excellence, that those who have madu themselves acquainted with the Marsh stock of Shanghaes, at once recognize these birds as akin to tl)at long-time noted strain of real Chinese poultry. The Partridge Cochins, owned and bred by E. C. Newton, of Batavia, 111., porti'aits of a pair of which, appear at the head of this chapter, are very superior specimens (though the cut is not so large as some others sent us) and there are perhaps few that equal these birds, (none excel them) for size, accuracy in points, and perfection in plumage, on this side the At- lantic. Cut No. 1, frontispiece, represents one of the splendid Partridge Cochins which have carried away first prizes at our late Poultry shows, deservedly. They are bred fully up to the mark, and these samples, of which the likeness furnished is very perfect, certainly are not only elegant birds, but are at once recognizable by breeders in New England especially. Tliis variety of the now Cochin race will average- in weight, as heavy as the best; and if cleanly bred, will exhibit the partridge feathering as uniformly in a hundred chickens, as will the Light Brahmas show their peculiar caste of plumage. And very beautiful feathering it is, too — clear-cut red, black and gold. Their form is all that can be desired, in this class of fowl — compact, well-rounded, full-breasted, short-leg- ged and not over heavily-limbed, well-feathered to the toes, small gamey head, upright single comb, medium sized wattles, sliort tails a])d fluffy flanks and sterns — • 182 bubnham's new potjltrt-book ; on the pullets — altogethe ; as handsome a Chinese fowl as is bred in the world. They are good layers, the chickens are hardy, and easily reared, they come to maturity early, and are de- scribed by Mr. Newton, as being in habit and size very much like the Buff Cochins, except being more compact. The color of the cock is as follows : neck hackle, and saddle feathers are of a rich bright red, with a black stripe down the centre of each feather ; back and wiug- bow dark rich red, with a greenish black bar across the wing ; the breast, under part of body and thighs, black ; tail glossy black. Color of hen is light brown, with each feather penciled with dark brown ; neck same as in cock; legs of both — dusky yellow. The Partridge Cochin will ever be one of the most popular breeds of fowls we have, or can have, if taken all in all upon their genuine merits, alone, and we speak of this fowl thus at length because we know it well, and have always deem- ed it one of the choicest breeds of China blood that ever came into America. Messrs. Van Winkle and E. J. Tay- lor, Waterloo, N. Y., Wm. Simpson, Jr., West Farms, N. Y., C. Brinton, Jr., Chadsford, Pa., and others, have had a constant demand for chickens and eggs, from the imported stock of this variety, which at present com- mand the highest prices generally of any of the fancy breeds of Chinese fowls in this country. The reader is referred to the fine portraits given of these Partridge Cochins, see our frontispiece, and page 184. I have casually alluded to this variety as one of the " fancy " breeds. But I fully agree with Mr. Anster A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 183 Bonn, a name well known in poultry annals, that " in spite of their high price, etc., I do believe tliese Cochins to be the best fowls for the poor man, or the farmer, considering them not as fancy, but as productive stock. I have eaten a great number of Cochins, and find them without exception, by far the finest-flavored, best birds for the table, which we have ever bought, bred, or eaten."' As this authoritative opinion coincides so ^accurately with my own experience, I cheerfully add that Mr. Bonn does not thus overstate the real value of the Cochins, for general utility. Mr. Van Winkle, of Greenville, N. J., whose Part- ridge Cochins are noted, and whose beautiful illustrar tions published in the " Hearth and Home " last season faithfully depict to the life his specimens of this choice bird, has perhaps expended more money for selected fowl, (which he has imported from England in late years) than any fancier in America ; and he has been ambitious to obtain prize birds for breeding from abroad — without regard to their cost — that should be the very choicest in the world. And in reproducing this stock here, he has evinced the highly commendable and persistent aim to breed only the best of its kind for dis- semination over the United States ; " hoping," as he expresses himself, " to see as much interest taken in this country in the breeding of fine fowls as in England, and a better class of table fowls sold in our markets . It can be done. The demand for first-class fowls in- creases every year. It costs no more to keep good than it does to keep 'poor fowls." /^yj^ k A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 185 And Mr. Van Winkle is I'iglit in this. " It tm, be done." It is now being done. In this blessed year of our Lord 1871, the demand for good poultry, in evei'y direction, was never so great in the United States ; and American breeders have never before shown, either in their yards or at tlie State Exhibitions of New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Massachusetts and else- where, so fine a display, in enormous numbers, of magnificently bred poultry, as has been raised in the twelvemonth preceding this year of grace. it is noticeable that the Partridge Cochins imported by Mr. Van Winkle, and some other gentlemen, from England and Ireland — of late years — are bred "to the feather" more accurately than those of any parti- colored bird we have ever had in this country, except the light Brahmas. The pencilling upon the body- plumage of the hens, particularly, is exquisitely perfect and precise in the best samples, when sent even from different yards in England. This shows how skillfully the thing is managed abroad. The requirements of the standard of the Societies there are such that, to com- pete successfully, these strains must be brought to the show-rooms bred to a very nice point. But, as we have said, the blood of this variety is very strong, and we have seen so many hundreds of the old Marsh stock that have been bred from the original, purely, down to the tenth generation, all of which come so true to their illustrious parentage, in form, color, markings, size, and characteristics, that we have no doubt these we are now getting, in America, similarly 186 BUENHAM'S NEW POULTRY-BOOK; bred, in the hands of the experienced parties who have secured this favorite stock, will continue to produce their like, continually. And none of the large Chinese fowls can be found to excel them. D. L. Stage & Co. of Schenectady, N. Y. have not created so much stir in the chicken-breeding world as some of their competitors, but they breed good fowls, and sell a great many of them. The Dark Brahmas bred by this firm are from Boyle's Irish stock, the Cameron, and the Fry importations. (See cut page 215.) Their Partridge Cochins are magnificent birds from C. 0. Pool's importation — well marked, and of mammoth proportions. Their Buff Cochins are of the celebrated Cooper strain, a trio of the original of which sold in N. Y. in 1870, at the round figure of $315. They have also the Leavitt Stock, very fine. Their Dominique are superior, from the establishment of Hon. John Wentworth, of Chicago. And their other varieties are of the first class. We do not hesitate to commend this unostentatious concern to the attention of those who want good poultry, as we believe them both competent breeders, and reliable iu answering orders — uniformly. Messrs. Stage & Co. inform us that their orders this season are lai'gely in excess of those of previous years, and they are breeding very extensively this year, to supply this increasing demand for their excellent stock. Messrs. Wade & Henry, of Philadelphia, contribute a few illustrations to our present vclume, which depict their fowls — of which they have an extensive and fine A PEACTiCAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 187 collection. They inform us that their Dark Brahmas are from imported and prize stock, and we have seen a few samples from their establishment, that are very large and well plumed. Their Light Brahmas are out of the best to be had in America, and are equal to the average of this well known breed. They keep for sale, and feed it to great advantage (they assure us) to their own poultry, " broken fresh bone," crushed into the size of whole wheat, of which fowls are very fond ; and of the beneficial results of wliich, in the feeding of domestic birds, there can be no question. They have a fine strain of the Hamburg Fowls, both Gold and Silver Spangled, which are highly prized for their beauty of form and plumage. They furnish both fowls and eggs of all the popular varieties, and do a very large business, in this line. Their admirable " stone drinking fountain" for the hen-house, is illustrated and referred to in another place. They deal in all the ordinary requirements and fixtures for the fowl-house and poultry-yard, and among their stock it is said they possess the largest and finest variety of pigeons in Pennsylvania. Of the Partridge Cochins, Messrs. Wade and Henry have secured some fine specimens of prize stock, and of them and the Bufi", they make a specialty, the present season, they inform us. CHAPTER XV. MODERN BUFF COCHINS. I have placed at t,he head of the list of China Fowls, tlie ever beautiful Light Brahmas, because after a long trial with them, under all kinds of treatment — good and indifferent — this right royal variety of Shanghass have proved thoroughly unexceptionable ; and for- size, weight, comeliness, plumage, and truthfulness to their originals — they cannot be rivalled, in my judg- ment. But the Buff Cochin of the present day, as it is pro- 188 A PRACPICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 189 duced by Isaac Van Winkle, S. A. Bassett, Thos. Gould, Jacob Graves, M. Pitman, J. Y. Bickncll & Co., Wm. Simpson, Jr., E. C. Newton. Benj. Hicks, D. W. Hers- tine, G. W. Pelter, D. L. Stage, E. M. Wade, and others in this country — and Messrs. Sturgeon, Potts, Cooper, Baily, Punchard, Beldeu and others in England — ranks among the very highest in estimation, with many breeders, and perhaps most deservedly, for its peculiarly rich beauty of plume ; while it possesses all the other desirable qualities of size, form, etc., in an eminent de- gree, as a chief and noble representative of the much lauded and often greatly abused Shangbae, or China fowl. The superb specimens seen among us of late years, are certainly very attractive birds. And the portraits given of these fowls in this work are very fine. The two next illustrations in our book, are portraits of a pair of the superb trio of Buffs which took premium at the late New York Society's show, and are the prop- erty of Mr. D. W. Herstine, of Philadelphia. These fowls are very large and are superior specimens of im- ported stock. We are informed by Mr. H. that they have also taken first prizes at several other exhibitions iu Pennsylvania. The proportions of this pair are coi- ossal. One of the most remarkable single specimens of the Buff Cochin ever produced, probably, was that of Mi. Sturgeon, in England — as portrayed in Tegetmeier''3 work. The owner called this splendid fowl "th'i Queen ;" and she was quite up to the highest standard uf excellence, in every desirable point. Prom her and 190 BUENHAM'S NEW POULTRY-BOOK; others of a similarly first-class character, great numbers have descended since her time, and the first premium birds of this variety at the N. Y. State Society's Show, in 1870, were well up to the mark, in comparison ; as all who saw those extraordinary samples will at once iidmit. The American Agriculturist, whose proprietors of- fered an extra premium for this variety also at that ex- hibition, says, " the Buff Cochins are a very attractive breed, from their immense size, their beautiful and very uniform huff 'plumage, their profusion of feathers and fluff ; and they are useful as winter layers, as good mothers and' nurses, and for their quick growth. The eggs are of fair medium size ; the flesh not of the best quality when old, but very good when eaten as young chickens, and especially good as broilers of six or eight weeks old, if they have grown with sufiicient rapidity. The winning group of nine specimens were exhibited by Isaac Van Winkle, Esq., of Greenville, N. J." E. C. Newton of Batavia, 111., whose modest cut of the Bufis is at the end of this chapter, writes that they " are one of the largest and most popular breed of Poul- try in the country at the present time. They are of a beautiful- golden buff color. Their legs are a yellowish orange and well feathered ; single comb and black tail. They are hardy birds, and being well feathered, stand our northern winters without extra care ; good market and table fowls — always in good order and easily fatted ; great winter layers, good sitters and mothers. They bear confinement well, and a fom- feet fence will ampjj limit them." A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 101 The color of the Bu€ Cochin is more of a golden hue, hhau simply buff. The under sliade upon the downy or fluEFy portions of their plumnge, is paler, but to look at when in their best feather, they are of a rich luminous yellow shade — sometimes aptly called " lemon colored." This hue is usually even, all over the bodies of the hens, and none of the China fowls exhibit the soft, downy fluff so remarkably as do these. Upon the flanks and stern this peculiarity is very fully developed, and gives the female a rich, contented, comfortable appearance, that is seen in none others of the race. In the cock of this variety, portions of his plumage are red, or darker, as the wings, neck-hackles, etc., but the yellow color prevails in both. In England, for years, the Buff Cochin has been a favorite, and except when the Brahmas have been put into the exhibitions in competition for the prizes (simply " for the best Shanghses," without regard to color) it has been with the Buffs that the leading premiums have been, for tlie most part, carried off. " The extreme neatness of their appearance," says Tegetmeier, " more particularly of the hens, the uni- formity in all the groups, and the quality of the specimens shown, have combined to justify the awards of judges, and to secure for the Buffs the preference of amateurs, generally. And in addition to this, the breeding birds shown have been brought to equal 'n weight those of any other variety." A very desirable recommendation to the Buff Cochin, is, that the fowl oe strictly uniform in color, to answer 192 bdbnham's new pocltet-iook ; the requirements of the present aimed-for statidard ; and the nine fowls exhibited by Mr. Van Winkle were quite up, in this particular. As to size, those I liave seen for tlie past two years, here, as well as hundreds I saw in England, are fully equal, on the average, to the largest and heaviest Brahmas I ever met with, anywhere. This is another strong recommendation in tlieir favor. Americans will never get over their fancy — as a rule — to possess the biggest fowls to be had. The great xizt of the Shanghaes has always been the leading character- istic which the Yankee breeder most admires ; and no matter how perfect the Brahma, the Bufif, the White, or the Partridge Cochin may be, in other respects, if he or she do not stand well up in the world, and bring down the steel-yard by his or her generous weight, as well, nobody wants such a Chinese fowl ! The Bufif Cochins will do this. They are very large, weighty, elegant birds, and the portraits we give of Mr. E. C. Newton's, and those on pages 194, 195, give the reader a very fair idea of this magnificent variety, which is much sought after this year : than which no domestic fowls that move (and I do not now forget my fine light Brahmas) ever yet made a more satis- factorily beautiful appearance, on sward, in yard, or walk. A clutch of well-bred Yellow or Buff Cochins, upon a oright green lawn, for instance, in the sunshi.ie of a clear June day, is a goodly sight to see, if we are a judge of golden beauty, or have an eye for color. In England I saw hundreds of these magnificent groups, UJ •X. is: u o c -2. o Q o A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 193 and the favorite color for Cochins, there, is now the Buff, as a general tiling. All the breeders have turned their attention, more or less, in this direction, within a few years, and some superb samples of this variety have been produced, first and last. A mong the importations that have been made to this country, the gentlemen whose names I have mentioned in the early part of this chapter have succeeded in getting out (at round figures) many superior breeding birds of this class ; and it is very clear, from the active demand that is current for them and their eggs this year, that the Bufis will become a favorite color with us, ere long. You can scarcely do better, than with this fowl. They are not yet plentiful, latterly, among us, and good samples are held at high prices, yet. But they breed rapidly, and the matter of price will quickly regulate itself. The following drawing is taken to represent the mag- nificent Buff Cochin prize-cock of D. W. Herstine, of Philadelphia — and the hen upon the next page is a portrait of another of the trio of first premium birds of this variety, at the last New York Exhibition (1870.) But these pictures, though they give the general con- tour of these splendid fowls, do not do Mr. Herstine's stock justice, in our opinion. We give place to the illustrations, however, and with the assurance to those who want really choice fowls, of this strain, that if pro- cured of Mr. H. out of tfds blood, tliey will get finer birds than these cuts represent ; though the pictures are very fair, in their way. 194 btjbnham's new poultet-book ; BUFF COCHIK COCK. A PRACTICAL, TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 195 J>V^>-^ ^-^■-^ ii- » BUFF COCHIN HEH. 196 BUENHAM'a NEW POULTET-BOOK ; A breeder in Norfolk County informed me, in March, tliat he had sold all the Buff Cochin eggs he dai'ed to contract to deliver this spring, at ten dollars a dozen, from a superior clutch of near twenty Buff fowls he shewed me. And very fine ones they were, too. He has no Buff fowls to sell, and good ones can only be liad at higher pricesthan those at which almost any variety of ' fancy ' fowls are selling, this year. But they may now be had of the New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and westei-n breeders, in this country, as is indicated in connection with the superior illustrations contributed to this volume ; and, generally speaking, these gentlemen may be relied on, in their representa- tions. Every mother is prone to think her favorite bantling the prettiest and best in the world ; and chicken-dealers who become attached to any specialty in tiieir way, incline similarly to the belief that their Fowls are the most economical, the most beautiful, the most desirable to buy, or to breed. If this commendable difference of opinion did not exist, to stimulate competition, and keep up a laudable regard for the various fine breeds of Poultry we have to choose from, there would be little interest felt in the fowl-trade, to be sure ! And so we speak of this magnificent Buff Cochin with some earnestness, because we deem it, in- every particular, a rare variety, in its beautiful perfection. For the present, in consequence of its noted superior qualities, this fowl will be taken up by fanciers, mostly. But there is no good reason why it should not be A PEACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 197 bought and bred and multiplied, by every farmer and poor cotter in the country, as one of his varieties of poultry stock, since — whether he desires to reproduce YEAR OLD BUFF OR YELLOW SHANGH^S. it for sale to amateurs and small breeders, or for the better and higlier and more useful purpose of con- 198 burnham's new poultbt-book. tributing to the general improvement of the feathered stock of the country, or even for market uses only — this fowl possesses all the qualities needed, to fulfil his highest expectations. For a cross upon the ordinary native fowl of the interior, the Buff Cochin may be considered as good as the best of the Chinese race. The blood is strong, the size ample, the laying qualities excellent, and no fowl is more hardy than are these. To mix with the barn- yard Poultry (where pure breeding is not sought for) the farmer who has not tried the experiment we now hint at, will surely find it in his account at the year's end, if he introduces a few of these noble birds among bis common poultry. CHAPTER XVI. THE HOUDAN, CREVEC(EUB, AND LA'pLECHB, These are the notable French fowls, which have been imported into England largely, in the last half dozen years, and since the close of the American war into the United States, by fanciers, in considerable numbers. The high-sounding names of these birds — to wit, Crevecoeur, Houdan, and La Fleche, gave them a sudden pof ularity in England, and they came as quickly into favor in this coiuitry, when their merits had' been briefly made known, after their introduction among us. 199 200 buenham's new poultry-book; When the author was in France (1867) he met with myriads of these fowls, scattered over the country, and the novelty of their facial appearance, with the horned comb, the white cheek, the towering crest, together with the superb metalic color, and the famous strut of some of them, arrested Jiis attention, wliile he .was looking about among the poultry in that country ; and he thought these lively birds, as seen " upon their native heath," were altogether ' French-y,' when he first met with them. But although the writer went largely through the country villages where poultry-raising is carried on, he found no enthusiasm among the French people, over their French fowls. None whatever ! I met with no Frenchman who knew (or cared) anything about "pure" Houdans, La Fleche, or Crevecoeur — though they dwelt in these three poultry-districts, and had bred these fowls all their lives. And very few natives can be found there who take any extraordinary interest in fowl-breeding, except for marketing, or in raising eggs for the albumen they can extract therefrom, and always find a ready profit upon, for the print-manufactur- ers' use. I saw large numbers of these " French " fowls, about wliich so much has been written and said in late years in England and America, in the north and western Departments of France, as well as around Mulhouse, in the east. At Rouen, (where one sees ducks that are ducks, by the way,) about Rheims, at Villelaie, near Paris, at Houdan, in La'fleche and Crevecoeur districts^ A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 201 Drcux, Nogeiit, etc., I met with large numbers of these horned, shining black or flecked, active, pretty birds — wliich the owners would gladly sell at four to five francs each, in gold — for the best of them. But they have gone over to England, been well bred, and have sold at almost fabulous prices, in the past five years, there, as in this country as well. They are claimed to be first-class layers, generally, disinclined to sit, their flesh is white and tempting for table use, and they are not an expensive fowl to keep. They are a showy, handsome bird, not a large breed- - averaging (in France) less than the Black Spanish, which they strongly resemble, save in the peculiar formation of comb, muff, and head-tufts — and have found many admirers in England and America both — though I really could see nothing in them, abroad, that would tempt me to bring a cage of them home, at a cost of less than a dollar apiece ; as I might have done, and had my choice of specimens among thousands. Still, there be many who fancy them ; and, as I have already remarked, they are being nicely bred, both here and in Gi-eat Britian ; where I looked for, but found only a few isolated trios, and these for the most part at the poultry bazaars about London and Liverpool. Probably there are more fine French fowls of the three varieties named herein, now in the United States, than there are in Eng/and; and I am informed by several gentlemen who breed them, that the demand for both chickens and eggs of this present popular modern breed increases, largely, season after season, among us. 202 burnham's new poultby-book ; Prominent among the fine specimens of PrencT. birda in America, are those of Messrs. G. H. Warner, of New Yorlc Mills, Isaac Van Winkle, of Greenville, N. J., J. P. Buzzell, Clinton, Mass., Geo. Smith, HoUiston, Mass., G. W. Bradley, Hamden, Conn., Hamilton and Kirkham, New York, Geo. A. Deitz, Chambersburg, Pa., E. C. Newton, Batavia, 111., D. L. Stage and Co., Schenectady, N. Y., Henry Howland, Chicago, 111., G. W. Pelter, Batavia, Ohio — and others, with whom I am unacquainted. But there are many who are breed- ing this stock carefully, and v/ho think very highly of it, thus far. In reference to these French Fowls, of wliich this gen- tleman breeds the three varieties — Houdans, Creve- cceurs, and La Pleche — Mr. Van Winkle of Greenville, N. J., expresses a very favorable opinion. Ho has a su- perb stock of these fowls, and avers that '• tlie Houdans are one of the mostvaluable breeds of poultry introduced into this country for many years — exhibiting unusual fertility, maturing early, very hardy, both as adults and chicks, their bodies being large and compact, flesh white, etc.," and this fancier speaks from experience, after faithful trial with them. Of the Crevecceurs, Mr. Van W. remarks that " in giving my opinion from experience on the merits of this variety of French fowl, since I have kept them, (and I have closely studied their points), I find tliem to be large birds, good layers of unusual numbers of large eggs in autumn, when most otlicr birds arc in moult — of a greenish metallic blacli, in color, having heavy A PIUCTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 203 crests that give them a remarkably handsome and original appearance, while they arc very tender to eat, and most excellent to cross with other fowls." The beautiful engraving on page 199 will give the reader a good idea of Mr. Warner's and Van Winkle's Houdans. In reference to tlie third variety, ia^ecAe, this breed- er declares it to be " the finest domestic fowl known in France — where it has long been deservedly the favorite among both breeders and epicures ; very large, hand- some birds, of upright stately carriage, jet black in plumage. The comb is unlike that of any other fowl, growing from the head like two horns, with pleasant symmetry of form, but peculiarly characteristic of this elegant showy bird. These, too, are very prolific layers (as are all the French fowls,) the La Fleche producing tremendous sized eggs, usually — while, for the table, I consider them altogether unexceptionable.'" Mr. G. H. Warner, of New York Mills, Oneida Co., who was the winner of the New York State Poultry So- ciety's large gold medal prize, in 1869 for Houdans, says of the French fowls, that " were I to keep but two varieties of Domestic Poultry, I would select one of the Asiatic breeds, which we find to be good winter layers, good mothers, and a good table fowl; and my other choice would be the Houdan — in which we find a most excellent layer. They mature early, and, as in each of the other best known varieties, we have an abundance of delicate white meat, in this fowl — which is, also, a non-sitter." To Mr. Warner's fine French stock, of all three varieties, have been awarded the N. Y. Poultry 204 buenham's new poultry-book; Society's Gold Medal, and other leading premiums, for their comparatively superior merits. Mr. Taylor, of Waterloo, N. Y., writes that " this va- riety are becoming very popular, both as layers and ta- ble-fowls. They are of large size, weighing, when fully grown, cock six to seven pounds ; hen, five to six pounds. They have proved, with us, the hardiest and therefore the most useful of any of the French fowl, and in our opinion, the farmer cannot select a variety that will pay him better, both in eggs and flesh. They have short legs, a round, well proportioned body, and top- knot falling backward. They are bearded and have five toes on each foot, the same as the Dorking, and are fully equal to that variety as table fowls." Many fanciers deem these among the choicest varie- ties yet imported into the country, for their size and iu view of their laying qualities. The editor of the Amer- iean Agriculturist, at New York — whose opinions upon poultry is excellent, and whose judgment, too, is more sound than the average of agricultural editors, in this direction — has given all three of the popular Fi'ench varieties a fair trial, and commends them, very highly. They are certainly an ornamental fowl, and in a late number of the journal referred to, the editors who of- fered handsome prizes (upon their own account,) at the N. Y. State Poultry Fair in 1870, thus speak of the Hcudans. " They are a French breed, a little less in size than the other famous French fowls, but not les!» valuable, being decidedly the hardiest and most prolific, riie Houdans combine two valuable qualities — the pro- A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 205 duction of flesh and eggs — each in a liigli degree of ex- cellence. . . . They have been thoroughly tried in this country, and prove excellent in every respect. A good cock weighs 7 pounds, a good hen 5 1-2 pounds. The quality of the flesh is fully equal to that of the Dorking." This is strong praise, from one who has tried them. Another good authority describes the La Fleche as bearing " a strong firm body, well on its legs — appear- ing less than it is, because the feathers are close ; black plumage, having many points of resemblance with the Spanish fowl, from which I believe it to be descended, by crossing with the CreveccEur. It has short-grained, juicy, delicate flesh, and puts on fat easily. As layers, they are superior to any breed except the Spanish ; but for the table, they are not so good as the Dorking." They have a peculiar upright double comb, protruding from the head like two fleshy horns with a sliglit top- knot at the back of the crown ; and are a stylish fowl, good layers, and the chickens are easy to rear. Of the three French varieties, -the Oreveaceur is the largest, and the best, says another authority, " while it is better known than the others. It lays a large num- ber of eggs, of good size — like the Black Spanish — and resembles that fine fowl, but for^its unique head, crest, and short legs. This variety has the liorny style of comb, too. Its legs are black or dark-skinned, its meat excellent, and it is a stately, sober-looking fowl, with a good carriage and fine plumage." Thus much in favor of these French breeds, the Crcve 206 bubnham's new potjltet-book ; coeurs, La Fleche, and Houdan fowls, which I have fancied will hardly stand the test of time with us. A friend in Salem, Mass., who paid the sum of eighty dol- lars for a trio, two years ago, in New York, (of the Cievecoeurs,) wrote me not long since, " I have sold tliem all, and cleaned them out ; 1 have had enough of them. No more French birds for me." Another fancier who has tried them two years, writes me — "I am dis- a[)pointed with the French fowls, and am tired of them. 1 very much prefer the Brahmas." And so do I, indeed ! 1 know but little of them personally, but I do not fancy them. The coy maiden frankly declared to the distaste- ful Dr. Fell : "I do not like you, Doctor Fell, The reason why, I cannot tell: But this alone I know full well, I do not like you, Doctor Fell!" With due deference to other fanciers' opinions, I say — I do not like the French Fowls well, The reason why, I cannot tell; But this alone I know full well, I do not like the French Fowls well. Other breeders who have tried them thoroughly, ai'e of the exactly opposite opinion, and so, chacun a son gout ; every one to his taste, as the venerable dame re marked, when she kindly kissed the cheek of her favoi Lie cow. nAEK BRAHMA HEN. WADE'S STOCK, PHIL'A. CHAPTER XVII. THE DARK BEAHMAS. This very popular variety of the race of Brahmas. has within the last few years come to be widely dissemi- nated over England and the United States ; and, on several occasions, specimens of these dark Brahmas have carried oif the prizes, over all competitors, among the ShanghaB tribe, at our Poultry Fairs. On this branch of the subject matter of our New Poultry Book, namely, Dark Brahmas, we submitted to the Editor of the. New York Poultry Bulletin, some time since, the following article ; which appeared in ihat excellent journal, in the month of December, 1870. 207 208 buenham's new poultry-book ; ED'S. BULLETDf. Gentlemen : The wide spread interest at present evinced, in Mi country and in Europe, in favor of the Asiatic breed of fowls, in- duces me to offer you a few lines on the subject of the so-called " Brahmas " of the present day. I know something of this fowl, (or ought to !) and find myself justly accredited by Mr. Tegetmeier, iu his exhaustive and superb " Poultry Book," with having introduced into England, from this country, the first dark Brahmas ever seen there; which Mr. T. describes, in said '• Poultry Book" as the enter- ing of "Anew variety upon the scene." " M. Tegetmeier is relied on as authority upon the subject of modern poultry history, I believe, and I think very deservedly so. In this matter, at all events, he is correct. Until the famous trio of "dark Brahmas," which I sent to Mr. Baily of London, in 1853, reached him, there had been no Dark Brahmas (or dark " Grey ShanghsBs," as I then called them,) ever seen in England. Previous- ly, (in 1852), I had sent to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, a flock of nuUure Light Brahmas, which were hatched early in 1851, of course, for they weighed over 20 lbs. the pair, when shipped from the United States by me. The parent birds these one-year-old fowls came from, were over two years old; and I had bred the stock two seasons b^ore I sent out the splendid specimens which I selected to present to the Queen. This would carry us back to 1849 — which was the year I came into possession of my first grey Chinese fowls ; from which, I solemnly believe all the earlier stock was bred, both in America and England, in connection with the fowls of Mr. Virgil Cornish, and Mr. Hatch ; which latter turned up to public view in the years 1850 and 1851. "But neither of these gentlemen claim, (or ever claimed,) that so early as 1851, they had any but the light colored Brahmas ; though I observe that Mr. Cornish hints in a late letter that he noticed in his stock a tendency to throw darker chickens after a while. And now will you permit me to state what is my firm belief, as to the present color and apparent character of the so-called " Dark Brahmas," of to-day ? " In all the samples I have seen, imported of late years from Eng- land, and I think no one here claims to have imported the "Dark" variety from anywhere else, I detect all the characteristics of the dark birds I sent out there, originally — with the single exception of the mottled black breast and lower buJy fuathui-s in some strains we A PRACTICAL TEEATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 209 have received here, from English breeders, — since 1866, for example. " They are very fine fowls. So were the first ones I sent over to England. I don't Itnow that the English breeders have latterly im- ported from China (or elsewhere) fresh stock, to breed with what they received from me, first ; and of which, subsequently to 185'i and '53, I sent hundreds there, of fine samples. But, if they have done so, Ihavenever heard of the fact. And, least of all, has there ever oc- curred a second importation of Brahmas (or any other n.imed fowl) from the port whence is said to have sailed the ship with the first fowls on board, to wit: " Luckipoor,from up the mouth n' 'Ve lirama Pootra river; " the name of which ship, or captain, or the sai/or who furnished the fowls, cannot be told by anybody. " But all this is of small consequence, now. Those fowls were good ones. They have shown it in the twenty years since they were first bred here. But they were Chinese birds — they came from Shaughse, or Hong Kong as mine did ; and they were, and are nothing else. I know full well, when and where this "Brahma" name originated. I was one of that very " committee " alluded to by Mr. Cornish, who, in consultation, adopted this cognomen — though against my own personal protest, at the time. I knew, then, that the " Lucldpoor, up the Brahma Pootra river" theory was nonsense. And I claimed that the fowls should be called what they were — " Grey Shanghses ; " for they came from Shaughse, China, and were simply grey, in color. I was over-ruled. It is just as well. But these are facts. " I am firmly of the opinion that this recently marked dark-breasted Brahma strain of fowls, which is so greatly admired among some fanciers, and of which several trios have of late come out from Eng- land, are skilftilly bred in Ireland and England from the dark China hens they have had there since 1853 and 1854, with the dark plumed Grey Dorking cock ; producing this variety (so closely resembling the latter in many points, ) and upon some of the first of which, raised in England, there not unfrequently appeared the notable fifth toe of the Dorking, now bred oif again, by cautious selections. The Light Brahmas hold their own wondrously ; the newly-fledged dark varieties may continue to do as well, for years, for the blood of both is strong. But I shall not change my opinion in this matter, until [ 3an learn or unlearn more than I now know of the " dark Brahma ' strain of the present time." Yours respectfully, G. P. Buknham. Melrose, Sept., 1870. 210 bubnham's new poultry book ; The comments upon my communication, published by the Bulletin editor, were both fair and good-natured ; but do not change the facts embodied in my letter. I merely proposed to say that the first Dark Brahma fowls ever seen in England (and I sent several cages of fine ones out there, subsequently) were from my yards, in Melrose. That they were good ones, that this variety became immensely popular, that I was authoritatively given due credit for these shipments in the proper quai- ter, that the enterprise paid me well, and that that very stock was bred and distributed all over England, and finally sent hack to the United States, from the very breed- ers I sold mine to — are simply matters of history. "Having said thus much as to my Dark Brahmas, I have done with discussion upon this point. Cuts No. 4 and 5 are engraved from the original picture by Harrison Weir (in the London Field) of a pair of the noted trio of Dark Brahmas first sent to Eng- land by me, to Mr. John Bailey, Mount Street, London. This pair were exhibited at the Birmingham Poultry Show, took the first prize, and were sold at the close of the exhibition to Mr. E. Taylor, of Shepard's Bush, foi one hundred guineas — over |500 ! Mr. Bailey paid me $100 for this trio, a few months previous to the Bir- mingham Fair. The Brahmas I now breed are of the same stock, precisely, as well as those of the Light vari- ety, (see cut No. 3,) which I sent the same season from Melrose to Hee British Majesty, Queen Victoria. They have taken many first prizes at the lairs both in England and America, where they have been shown in A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 211 competition, and have proved first class, uniformly, when bred in their purity. This stock is pronounced, on both sides of the Alluii- tic, to be the largest and finest poultry in the known world, and hundreds of breeders and fanciers attest to the fact that, whon properly cared for, they are the best, either as layers, for the table, or as breeders. I )iow keep but few fowls, and make a specialty only of raising the great Asiatic fowls — the Brahmas, the Partridge and the Buff Cochins — of which I can supply selected specimens, to order. These fowls are good enough for me — and I have tried all kinds. The " Dark Brahma " we have in this country at the present time, and which is a very fine fowl — some strains being superior to others, however — has been brought into especial notice only since 1865-6. The editor of the New York American Agriculturist as well as of the Bulletin, have been largely instrumental in bringing the merits of these noble birds to the attention of the lovers of good poultry, and the different importa- tions that have come out from England, from Messrs. Bailey, Tebay, Cooper, Beldon, Boyle, Baker, Taylor, Bates and others, have proved generally very good and satisfactory birds ; which have received through the medium of the excellent and widely circulated journals mentioned, deserved encomiums, from time to time, to the great benefit of the importers, and to the poultry- loving community throughout the United States and the Canadas. But as I hinted in my communication last quoted — 212 btjenham's new poultry-book ; there are unmistakable evidences, in some of these sam- ples of" Dark Brahmas," of what I met with while in England in 1867, ami there first noticed — to wit, the palpable presence of the Gray Dorking blood. Tiie black mottled breast, square form, dominique feather, is de- cidedly Dorking-ish. I saw several specimens of these " Dark Brahmas," so called, upon which I detected the fifth toe, which belongs inevitably to that race, as is well known. (See " Gray Dorking," page 220,) I have not seen this peculiarity here, yet. That all these dark Brahmas are bred with Dorkings, in England, I do not mean to suggest, by any means, and possibly few or none of those that have been imported into this country latterly from Great Britain, have been thus contamin- ated. But my original " Dark Brahmas " were not black-breasted. They were dark mottled gray, and the neck and outer wing feathering was silvery white. lu other respects they were like the light Brahmas, in form, etc. Now all these Dark Brahmas, mark, come from Eng- land and Ireland — latterly. Has any one in America imported from Shanghae, or from the Brahma-poutra River, that discharges itself into the Bay of Bengal " (!) or from Cochin China (! !) or from ani/ where on earth, else, except Great Britain, during the past five years, any Dark Brahma fowls ? Not one ! If they have, I have never heard of the fact, and shall gladly stand corrected, upon learning such importer's name. We do not get then, in all of these " dark Brahmas," the gen iiine thing, I apprehend. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 213 Wc give in cut No. 12, a very fair illustration of these black-breasted Dark Brahmas — the color of whicli is too dark to suit our own taste ; but which strain of blood is certainly A'ery popular among Amei-ican fanciers. C. C. Loring of South Boston imported some very good specimens of this variety, which have become well known, and Philander Williams of Taunton, Isaac Van Winkle of Greenville N. J., J. M. Wade of Phil- adelphia, and other enterprising poulterers and fanciers have imported other samples, of similar stock ; the pre- vailing color of the cocks (as is delineated in illustra- tion No. 12,) being of the very darkly flecked, or quite black breast, thighs, and under feathering — while the neck-hackles, saddles, and upper wing-coverts are sil- very white, splashed with pale straw-color. These male birds all partake in form of the hunchy Dorking fowl, manifestly. The color of the hens, how- ever, is even, and good. But, as we have bred the Dark Brahmas, for years past, and as they were first introduced by us, into England, we contend that none of these birds which have latterly come under our obser- vation, are as fine in form, carriage, or color, as were the originals, from which we have for so long a period successfully and satisfactorily bred this variety. And this more strongly confirms us in the opinion that the Dorking has been mixed with these recently imported " Dark Brahmas ; " for we can plainly see that the sim ilarity of /o?'m, as well as deepened color of the Dork ing, is strikingly developed in these samples. 214 buenham's new podltrt-book ; It is notoriously known in England that my Brahma stock and that of others sent there from the United States, has been bred to the black-breasted Gray Dork- ing cock, to produce the coveted " dark mottled body " some of these best specimens show. When, by and bye, tl'e ' fifth toe ' shows itself, here, on our dark Brahmas, then — nous verrons! Meantime, " blood will tell." The strong Chinese char- acteristics largely predominate in the " dark Brahmas " that I have seen here thus far, and I sincerely hope they will continue to produce their like ; for our American fanciers have now expended a deal of money on this variety ; and they ought (as I trust they have) to have secured pure-bred birds. This mottled-breasted Gray Dorking is a spendid fowl, and a great favorite, justly, amongst English fanciers. But I don't care to breed for a Brahma fowl one that has a taint of even the excellent sable-bosomed gray Dorking in it. When I want the latter, I will breed the Dorking, pure, if I can procure the stock. But I have yet to be convinced that the crossing of these two breeds improves the heathen Chinee-Brahma, though you may thus get the black breast, for a time. I am looking for it constantly — and I hope yet to see (if my suspicions prove correct) some account of the progeny of this new dark Brahma stock, down into the fourth or fifth generation, if possible, di- rect; whereby we may learn whether or not the fiftli toe, the long tail, or the smooth leg of the Dorking crops out at last among these chickens ! The Dark Brahmas that liave been exhibited within A PRACTICAL TREATISK ON UUmKSTIC FOWLS. 215 the past two or three years at our American Poultry Fairs, have certainly been very fine — except for the reasons 1 have sug)2,ested — that they are a little too ■ & *^m PEA-COJIB DARK BRAHMA8, AND GAME BANTAMS, AS BRED BT D. L. STAGE & CO. SCHENECTADY, N. T. Jai'k for my taste. But they have given great satisfac- tion, and, as far as heard from, have bred truly, il 216 BtTRNHAM'S NEW POULTRY-BOOK; is said. Cut No. 5 is a portrait of one of the Dark Brahma hens T sent to Mr. Baily, of London, the pre- mium bird ; and the picture is an admirable one — delineating the best contour of this noted fowl. I was not surpi'ised, a few days since, to receive a let- ter from a leading breeder of this variety, who has im- ported several trios of Dark Brahmas, who is a thor- ough stickler for purity of blood, and who has paid roundly for his specimens imported from England ; from which letter I quote the following expressive words — in support of these last suggestions of mine. He says " I have seen enough of Cooper's, Boyle's, and Beldon's fowls, not to purchase any more of them. I can beat any of the English Dark Brahmas, infinitely, with my own — and I have now six different English strains of dark Brahmas ! " Has my worthy friend begun to discover in the English strains the ' cloven foot,' alias the fifth toe, of the black-breasted Grey Dorking, possibly ? On page 215 may be seen the likeness of another superior male specimen of this noted breed, from im- ported stock. Tills represents tlie stock of Mr. New- ton, and those also from the well know establishment of Mr. Wm. H. Pond, Milford, Conn., 0. H. Edmonds, Melrose, Mass., and others. These Dark Brahmas are believed to be of perfectly pure China blood, and chick- ens bred from them come up admirably, thus far. This fowl stock lias taken leading premiums at the Fairs in 1869, and 1870, and the progeny promises finely, thus far. A PRACTICAL TUIOATlSE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 217 Cut No. 6 represents a third group of superb Dark Bralimas, from the imported stock of D. W. ller- stiue, of Philadelphia. These, like the others, present the prominent characteristics of the true Brahma, in feature, form, and size — and those who have bred from the descendants of these fowls, pronounce the chickens perfect. All this is highly satisfactory. May they continue to do so — is our hearty wish, for the credi- of the English breeders, as well as for the benefit of American purchasers ; who, as a rule, prefer this strain of fowl without the excellences which may attach to the Gray Dorking, in its pure state. The imported Dark Brahmas of C. C. Loring, of Boston, have attained to very considerable notoriety, and both chickens and eggs from his stock have given great satisfaction. We have yet to see any better sam- ples, however, than those bred last year and this by Mr. Mark Pitman of Salem, and Mr. J. Graves of Reading, Mass. Mr. E. J. Taylor of Waterloo, N. Y., breeds the Brahmas, light and dark, the Buff and Partridge Cochins, a few of the choicest Games, and one or two French strains, with great care and success. He in- forms us that he packs eggs for incubation carefully in diy saw-dust, and finds that they hatch a fair per- centage, lie adds, '• I breed only a few varieties, to which I give my attention, and I speak from experi- ence when I say that these few combine all the good qualities, while they arc free from many of the faults of other varieties, many of which 1 have discarded, after 218 buenham's new poultry-book. testing, at different times, in favor of those I now keep. My breeding stock has been selected with great care, and in accordance with W. B. Tegetmeier's standard, acknowledged the best. I have several breedcs, im- ported from Cooper and Beldon ; but I have also m\ own home-bred stock — equal to tlie others in size and fine points — while my Games are from celebrated strains, renowned alike for their courage, stamina, and beauty." DAKK BBAHMAS. Of these Mr. Taylor writes us that " this noble variety are becoming popular very rapidly, and are wortliy of all that is said and written in their prtiisc. They are exccUeut layers, especially in winter, good sitters and mothers, and very good for table use. I have one cock and eight hens of this variety, all of w hicli A PBACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 219 are elegantly pencilled and free from Vulture liock. The cock, at eight months old, weighed nine pounds two ounces, and is indeed a noble specimen of his class." Mr. Taylor informs us that he takes especial pride in his yard of light Brahmas, and thinks that no one can produce a finer lot of breeders than he now has in stock of this favorite variety — either for pedigree or exactness in pencilling. Mr. T. purchased of Isaac Van Winkle Esq., his entire stock of the " Duke of York " strain, and a portion of the celebrated " Auto^ crat " strain — both these being from the splendid im- ported stock of E. C. Comey, of Quincy, originally. Mr. T's Buff Cochins are said to be very superior, from prize birds, and equal to the best. But this extensive breeder deems the Partridge Cochins altogether unex- ceptionable. His Buffs are imported directly from the yards of J. C. Cooper, and are pronouncnd to be among the choicest of this race now in America. CHAPTER XVIII. THE ENGLISH GRAY DOKKING. I CALL this superior fowl the English Gray Dorking, because, like the Houdau, La Pleche, etc., already de- scribed as natives of France, this bird is indigenous to Great Britain ; and all early English writers set down this really fine variety, par excellence, at the head of the list of domestic poultry. This opinion ruled, how- ever, prior to the introduction of the Queen's Cochin Chinas, or my Bralima fowl:., into merrie England ; since 29f> A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 221 when, 710US avons change tout cela! At the head of this chapter wc give an authentic portrait copied from an excellent English poultry book, published in 1850 ; wherein this variety is described minutely. Englishmen may be permitted best to know the char- acter and value of their own native productions. In re- gard to the Borldng Fowl, the editor of the Parmer's Gazette (in 1859) says of the particular bird above il- lustrated, that its owner, " Mr. Nolan brought the cock figured above, to our office on the 23d of January, when we had him weighed ; the bird was in moult, and his condition much reduced. He weighed, in that state ten and a quarter lbs., and we have no doubt that when in full plumage and condition, he will weigh nearer 14 lbs. than 12. We can also state from our own knowl- edge, that the common roadside cock, even in the wild- est district in Ireland, would weigh alive, from 7 to 9 lbs." This statement was brought out in reference to the account given of the male Dorking fowls average weight, by the Rev. Mr. Dixon, author of " Ornamental and Do- mestic Poultry ;" who therein states that " a fine Dork- ing cock weighed only about 7 pounds." The cocks of the Gray Dorking breed at one to two years old, in good condition, will average fi'om 10 1-2 to 12 lbs. weight, hens of same age, 7 to 8 lbs. They have moderate length of leg, averaging about that of the Shanghae race, short, plump, roundish bodies, ample tails, square, full dark plumed breast, and their meat ia rich, white and juicy. As a table fowl they have no su- 222 bubnham's new poultry book ; perior;and here we come to the important point already alluded to, as it appears in some recently found " Dark Brahmas," probably crossed with this strongly mai'ked bird. •' Their plumage is gray or mottled, the cocks hav- ing black or dark speckled breasts, and the feet being fur- nished with the distinctive markings of an additional, or fifth toe. They originated in Surrey county, England, and are described by other early authors, as a vei-y largr breed, with five toes, being good layers and sitters.' There can be " no fowl better calculated to enhance the profits of the farm-yard than this, from their goodly size, abundant flesh, and their uniformity in breeding. What we want and expect in this fowl is size ; and these Gray Dorking birds have it, in perfection." Columella, who wrote about poultry as far back as sometime in the first century, describes the Gray Dork- ing of to-day very accurately, and classed it then as " the best fowl of his time — speckled in color, dark-breasted, of fine plumage, and possessing five toes." Columella also wrote this advice hundreds of years ago about the Dorking : — " Let the white ones be avoided, for they are comparatively tender." And Mr. Courtney, who im- ported the Grays in '43, says " the whites are bred out ; the Gray Dorking variety is now the rage, and are alto- gether, perhaps, the best barnyard fowls in existence." It will be seen by the life-like engraving we give (cat No. 8.) that the male Gray (or true) Dorking of which we have been speaking, is a very distinctly marked and formed bird. The breast is black, mottled or flecked with white, his comb is either upright or rose, he is sliort- A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 223 legged, and square-bodied ; most of tlicse characteris- tics predominating in a greater or less degree, in the new-fashioned " Darlc Bi'alimas ;" I'egarding which latter variety even the ever careful editors of the American Agriculturist remark, in March 1871, that they "have useful characteristics, very clearly resembling the Co- chins," but " their plumage bears a striking resemblance to that cf tue Gray Dorking, in color ; having, how- ever, the different fluffy, downy texture of the Chinese fowl." The plumage of the late prize Gray Dorkings at the N. y, Poultry Show thus referred to in that admir- able journal, and illustrated upon the same page, does indeed " bear a striking resemblance " to the plumage of the prize Dark Brahmas. The color and markings upon breast, flanks, wings, saddle and neck — are almost identical ! But the Gray Dorking (see Herstine's fine illustration, cut No. 8) is now preferred in England, by many breed- ers, over all others, and this chosen variety has had a wondrously steady reputation, there, for centuries. There can be no doubt that this fowl is thus deservedly popular in the Island that produced it, luckily ; and the samples which have reached this country have always attracted attention, from their great size and beauty of plumage. But when the excitement began to turn in 18M '5 towards the Queen's " Cochin Chinas," and suli- seijuently totk another surge in favor of the " Brahmas," and then towards the Buff and Partridge Shanghses, or Cochins, the Gray Dorking was forgotten for the time, even in England, comparatively. But a use was soon 224 burnham's new poultey-book ; found for this temporarily neglected-, though ever re- liable bird — among fanciers. Thus it was thought to be a " happy idea " in the in- dividual who first conceived and adopted the plan of utilizing the strong blood of the Gray Dorking, whose speckled plumage somewhat resembled that of the dark colored Brahma, in England, by breeding this Gray Dorking male to grey China pullets. The result was highly satisfactory, in the first generation — for, though the Gray Dorking blood was known to be so well established that it will mark its imprint on any race of fowls known — to the surprise and gratification of the breeder, the blood of the China bird proved to be so much the strongest, that this cross produced only an " improved Brahma," instead of the half-anticipated improved Dorking. But the ' cloven foot ' perplexed them. The fifth toe came out upon some of the very best specimens grown in Europe, at the outset. Through breeding these hens back to the grey Shanghae male, however, this imper- fection disappeared ; and, persistently followed, the sought-for improved " Dark Brahma " of our later day was in some instances gained. The Gray Shanghses at Her Majesty's Poultry-house were bred in this way, to the Gray Dorking, for a time, as was admitted by the Queen's poultry-keeper, himself. But this was tried as an experiment, merely — as many other experiments are constantly being tried there. Yet might not some of that very progeny from the royal aviary at Windsor, have found its way into the hands of dealers in London, A PBACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 225 or elsewhere, readily ? The product of the first cross was very fine, and the thus " improved " Gray Shangliaes were really splendid looliing specimens of Englisli " Dark Brahmas." In the hands of the uninitiated, or not over-careful sellers of poultry, in England — for there may possibly be such dealers in that country — might not tlie thus Gray Dorlting-ized Grey Chinese fowl be rendered a very saleable " Dark Brahma," for the nonce ? I thinlt so. But I may be mistaken. Still, the Gray Dorking, in its purity, will always stand upon its feet alone, as one of the very best varieties of Domestic Fowl in the world. It is a large fowl, too. When well bred, the weight of both cocks and liens average as heavy as the largest. Its meat is un- rivalled. They lay good sized eggs, and a goodly num- ber of them, annually. As sitters and as mothers they are faultless. In plumage, they are showy and stately, until they get to be aged — when they ' hunch down,' and become soggy. But, taken all in all, this favorite bird can scarcely be excelled, for most of the qualities that are desirable in a fowl of the very first class, uni- formly. Mr. D. W. Herstine, of Philadelphia, an extensive and spirited breeder, furnishes Cut No. 8, for our pages (among other very good ones) and he writes us that while he "is an advocate of' pure breeding, as a rule, yet if a cross is desired for the farmer or large poulterer, none is in his judgment more desirable than the Gray Dorking, upon any variety — for general utility, and satisfactory results to the breeder. But for a prime 226 bubnham's new poultry-book ; cross, the great Dorking fowl upon the Brahma or Cochin, is unexceptionable ; and will prove the most largely profitable to the producer, botli in weight of progeny, at a given period, and in weight of eggs, regularly." The popular character of this Dorking fowl, wlncli has for centuries been a deserved favorite on the other side of the Atlantic, and superb specimens of wliich have in late years been imported by several gentlemen into the United States, affords us ample evidence of its genuine merits ; and we are well aware that for a cross upon our native or other breeds of fowl-stock — where strictly pure blood of any variety is not sought — this fowl has no superior among us. CHAPTER XIX. THE GAME FOWL, AND ITS USES. Epicures insist that no domestic bird known equals the G-ame Fowl, for the spit. Cock-fighting amateurs (in that line of "the fancy,") affirm, with equal empha- sis, that this is the only one for the pit. We will take it for granted that both these assumptions are correct. We have eaten this toothsome fowl-meat, frequently, but never raised a game chicken, or fought one ; though, in our time, we have been present at more than one contested main, where hundreds of these spunky, 227 228 buknham's new poultry-book; beautiful, active belligerents have gone in and won — or lost, the fiercely and hotly-fought battle, a V outrance. We shall not venture into ecstacies over the pug- nacious qualities of this fowl, inasmuch as individu- ally we look upon this use of one of God's creatures as equivocal ; and the worthy Mr. Bergh has taken tlie matter of cock-fighting under his care, as a leader in the charity of that benevolent institution known as the " Society for the Prevention of cruelty to Animals," with a view to the extermination of this " sport " in the northern States. When he succeeds in putting a stop to this popular amusement, he will undoubtedly let the public know it ! There be those who raise this fine Fowl in quantities for both pit and spit, and with rare skill, among our poultry fanciers ; and our Book would certainly be in- complete without a chapter devoted to this (in many phases) remarkable bird — which is a distinct variety of the race of fowls, and altogether peculiar to itself. Its eagerness for combat, its unyielding courage under fearful punishment, and its plucky, daring, hardy, saucy character, from the shell to its death, are but its natural tendencies. Those who have never seen these courageous little creatures in a matched battle, can have no idea of tlie amount of abuse they can endure in the arena. But the sport has now fallen into disuse in our immediate Christian community, though it is practised largely in other parts of America, especially at the South and West, we are informed ; and thousands of these Game A PR.\CTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 229 Fowls are annually raised, bought and sold, by breeders who have the better strains of fighting-stock, which are sent out in all directions in this country. The origin of cock-fighting is Grecian, but the Cubans and Spaniards have always largely indulged in what they term tliis " pastime." At Athens, this amuse- ment was made a political, and at one time partially a religious institution, and was kept up there for a period, for the avowed purpose of " improving the valor and courage of their youth." The Romans fought Quails, as well as Cocks. For the information of our readers, we annex a brief history and description of this Fowl, and the uses to which it is put, written hy one who is better acquainted with this particular branch of chicken- raising than we pretend to be. " It is not known when the ' pitched battle ' was first introduced into England. We have no notice of cock- fighting earlier than the reign of Henry II. It is de- scribed then, as the sport of school-boys, on Shrove Tuesday ; the theatre was the school, and the school- master was controller and director of the sport. The practice was prohibited under Edward III., but became general under Henry VIII., who was personally at- tached to it, and established a cock-pit at Whitehall, to bring it more into credit. James the First was so fond of cock-fighting, that, according to Monsieur de la Bodenie, ambassador for Henry IV. to the King, he con- stantly amused himself with it, twice a week. Under ' the good Queen ' Elizabeth, this rough sport was not less in vogue, and the learned Roger Ascham then A practicalTtreatise on domestic fowls. 231 favored tlie world with a treatise on the subject. There was at that time a pit in Drury-lane, Horse-ferry road, and Gray's-Inn-lane, St. James's Park, and anotlier in Jewin-street ; but the practice was a second time pro- hibited, by an act under the Protectorsliip. The Dublin pits are of a more recent date, where the Meatlis and Kildares often proved the powers of their cocks. The fights were managed by men who made a liveli- hood by it, and were called handlers : they alone were admissible within the " magic circle " of the fighting arena. " A cock-pit, like a race-course, in a sporting point of view, is for every person ; and selection of company is entirely out of the question. The noble lord and the needy commoner, were both at home, after they had paid their tip for admission, and persons who enter the pit to sport a crown, bet a sovereign, or to put down their pounds, are too much interested upon the main, to consider who they may choose to " rub against " for the time being. " Cock-fighting was kept up with great spirit at New- castle. At one of their late meetings, the cockers at the above place, in point of extent, exceeded everything of the kind known in Great Britian. Upwards of 200 cocks were fought, and the fighting was generally good. A remarkable circumstance occurred on the Saturday before fighting. A match was made for 20 sovereigns, l)etween Parker and Reed, feeders, and won by the latter after a hard contest. Parker's cock, however, came round so soon after, that his party made a second 232 burxham's new poultey-book ; match, to come, off, oa the following Monday, for a like sum, which was again won by Reed, after a severe battle — a circumstance, pcrliaps, altogether unknown ill the annals of cocking. It is also calculated that, at tlie termination of the races, which finished with coclc" ing, upwards of 1,000 cocks had met their death. New- castle, therefore, challenged tlie world for cock-fighting. Cheltenham, Chester, Gloucester, Norwich, Lancaster, Preston, Stamford, &c., &c., were celebrated for their cocks. The patrons were the Earl of Derby, Sir Wil- liam Wynne, Ralph Benson, Esq., &c., &c. " The exterior qualifications of a cock are, head thin and long, or, if not, very taper ; a large, full eye ; beak crooked and stout ; neck thick and long (a cock with a long neck has a great advantage in the battle, particu- larly if his antagonist is one of those cocks that will fight at no other place but the head) ; his body short and compact, with a round breast (as a sharp-breasted cock carries a great deal of useless weight about him, and never has a fine forehand) ; his thighs fine and thick, and placed well up to the shoulder (for where a cock's legs hang dangling behind him, he never can maintain a long battle); his legs long and thick, and if they correspond witli the color of his beak — blue, gray, or yell jw — a perfection ; his feet should be broad and thin, with very long claws. With regard to his car- riage, lie should l3e uprigiit, but not stifHy so ; his walk should be stately, and not plod along, as some cocks do, with their wings upon their backs, like geese ; his color rather gray, yellow, or rose, with black breast ; hia A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 233 spurs rough, long, and looking inward. As to tlie color he is of, it is immaterial ; there are good cocks of all colors ; but he should be thin of feathers, short, and very hard, which is another proof of his being liealthy. A cock, with all his stoutness, length, and thickness of leg, rotundity of breast, "• fine forehand," firmness of neck, and extent of wing, ought not to weigh more than 41b. 8 or lOoz. ; if he happens to have an ounce or two more in his composition, he is out of the pale of the pit, and is excluded by match-makers, from " fighting within the articles." A bird, to be a bird, " fit for the white bag, the trimmed wing, the mat, and the silver spur," must be light upon the leg, light fleshed, and large boned, but still no more than 41b. 8 or lOoz; " A cock-pit was a large, lofty, circular building, with seats rising, as in an amphitheatre ; in the middle of it was a round, matted stage, of about 18 or 20 feet in diameter, and rimmed with an edge eight or ten inches in height, to keep the cocks from falling over in their combats ; there was a chalk ring in the centre of the matted stage, of a yard diameter ; and another chalk mark within it, much smaller, which was intended for the setting-to, wlien the shattered birds were so en- feebled as to have no power of making hostile advances towards each other. This inner mark admitted of their being placed beak to beak. A large and rade branched candlestick was suspended low down, immedi- ately over the mat, which was used at the night-battles. The birds were weighed and matched, and then marked and numbered ; the descriptions were carefully set down 234 buenham's new poultry-book; in order that the cock should not be changed ; the light- est cocks fought first in order. The key of the pens, in which the cocks were set and numbered, was left on the weighing-table ; or the opposite party might, if he pleased, put a lock on the door. The utmost cai'e was taken that the matched fowls should fight, and that no substitutes should be intruded." Sometimes the first blow is fatal, at another time the contest is long and doubtful, and the cocks show all the obstinate courage, weariness, distress, and breathless- ness which mark the struggle of experienced pugilists. The beak opens ; the tongue palpitates ; the wing drags ou the mat ; the legs tremble, and the body topples over upon the breast ; the eye grows dim, and even a per- spiration breaks out upon the feathers of the back. When the battle lasts long, and the cocks lay helples-ff near or upon each other, one of the feeders counts ten, and the birds are separated, and set-to at the chalk. If the beaten bird does not fight while forty is counted, and the other pecks or shows signs of battle, the former is declared conquered. And except when one or the other is killed outright, which frequently occurs, this ends the battle between these two — and another matched pair are brought in, to go through this routine, " to death or victory." The flesh of the Game fowl is white, tender, and del- icate ; the eggs rather small, mostly inclining to a light buff. Cockers have numerous names for the different colors — such as piles, black-breasted reds, silver- breasted ducks, dark grays, mealy grays, blacks, span- A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 235 gles, cuckoos, gingers, red duns, smoky duns, among all of which good birds may be found ; but the following an; considered superior to any parti-colored birds — namely : dark reds, dark black-breasted red, dark black-breasted birchin ducks, black-breasted duck-wing grays, clear mealy grays, dark black-breasted grays, and red duns. The general appearance of the Game hen is quite iii character with that of the cock. In one respect, 'he is- a more important personage, as it is an axiom amrng cock-masters that the produce of an ill-bred hen is worthless, no matter how superior the cock may be j 236 btjenham's new poultry-book. but that an indifferent cock and superior hen may pro- duce good birds. It is not indispensable that the eggs should be buff-colored : that generally received idea is a popular error. To enter into further minutiae of the fighting charac- ter of this fowl, would be to furnish little that would interest my readers. Suffice it to say, the cock is con- fined for a month in a small wooden pen, with but little light ; fed at various periods of his incarceration with different kinds of food adapted to bring about the condi- tion of wind and limb required for the battle, and to fit him finally for the cock-pit previous to the setting-to, when they are frequently pruned and trimmed in the shape as seen ou next page, and placed in the ring, to be spurred and battered to death. The rules of the arena for matched game fowls above set down, governed the English and Irish pits. In the American ring the regulations are different, and heavier birds are bred and fought here. The general ideas, however, are followed out, and the amount of this sort of business indulged in at various points in the United States can only be guessed at, from the large sales made every year by those who breed this kind of fowl care- fully in various sections. Hundreds and thousands of these bii'ds, male and female,. are purchased, however, by gentlemen who never think of entering them in a cock pit ; their remarkable laying, sitting and table qualities being first-class, and rendering them very de- sirable for crossing upon native or other breeds. One thing is very certain, to wit, that in our exhibition A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 237 GAME COCKS TRIMMED FOR BATTLE. rooms, notwithstanding tlie attractions that the larger China varieties afford, the A'isitor's attention is always arrested by the show in the Game pens, and everybody is delighted with the beauty and proud carriage of these martial looking birds. Mr. Hewitt says " among any of the truly bred Game fowls, the superiority of gait, and general contour strikes tlie eye of parties, even the most indifferent and uninterested ; and from this cause I have almost universally noticed that the avenues appropri- ated to the Games, at our poultry shows, are those most commonly thronged by visitors. And this fully proves how much a good display iu these classes tends to the pecuniary success of such exhibitions." At the present time, a great many American breeders have gone to raising Game fowls, and frequent fresh ira- 238 burnham's new poultry book ; portations are being made by fanciers in this country, who have turned their attention latterly to this variety, in some instances as a specialty in poultry. From the pugnacious disposition of this fowl, it is not well to breed it contiguously to other varieties, however : and >•} breed it well, only prime stock should be used, and he utmost care given to the business. GAME COCK AND HEJST. Those who have tried the game fowls of S. J. Bestoi and S. C. Colt, of Hartford, Conn., are unanimous in the declaration that no strains of blood in New England of this variety are bred with greater care, or which excel these in all the attributes that go to make up the best of the race. These fanciers take a becoming prido A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 239 in importing and producing the choicest Ijinds of games, and they have uniformly taken first premiums whenever they have competed at the fowl Shows, with their ele- gant birds of this species. Samples of this stock, bred originally in their walks, have also frequently carried off prizes, when exhibited by purchasers of their fine strains ; and they very confidently challenge compari- son, for beauty of form, feather, carriage, pluck and re- liableness, with the progeny of their superior Game stock. Messrs. Bestor and Colt have in their possession upwards of two hundred premiums which have been awarded them for their exhibited fowls, consisting of medals, plate, monies, diplomas, etc., and it is but just to state that all who have dealt with them have been more than satisfied with what they so carefully send out from their well conducted yards. There are others who breed this beautiful variety, but we know of none who have been so successful, and who take more earnest pains to keep their Game stock up to the fighting standard, so uniformly, as do these gentlemen ; and the above spirit- ed engraving — drawn expressly for them, from a Game cock and hen upon their own premises, gives a good idea of the style of their favorite birds. The spirited illustration to be found in cut No. 9 is a truthful likeness of the ever popular Black Eed Games, bred to a nicety. Messrs. Dudley, Brothers, of Augus- ta, N. Y., write : "we are making the breeding of the Game fowl a specialty, and have added to our previous variety, five kinds during the past year. Though our experience is not so large as some, yet we find there is 240 btjbnham's new podlibt-book ; great satisfaction in the business, and in knowing that we breed pure bloods. It is important that those who undertake this work sliould have a knowledge of the val- uable " points " in such fowls, and then they should se- lect the very best to be had. The Game hen should be as large as can be found, so that the chicks should bo good sized. The cock should be of the right color de- sired, since the progeny will more generally take their color from the male bird. Early chickens of this breed, like others, are the best, as they then have time to ma- ture, or nearly so, before our cold weather sets in — and such chicks have proved with us to be more hardy, and less liable to disease. "We have not been troubled with vermin or sickness in our birds, but always deem it best if we send off fowls, to have them pass through quar- antine, before putting them with others ; so that if not sound, they may be cured before contaminating their new mates. Precaution of this kind is not troublesome, and ensures greater satisfaction to both seller and buy- er. We have satisfied ourselves that careful breeding tells, and we are sure that such a course can be render- ed profitable in the end." Col G. W. Meacliam, of North Cambridge, Mass., has expended a good deal of money in importing from the most noted yards of England and Ireland, several choice strains of sturdy Games, wljicli he breeds with cautious nicety and skill ; and gentlemen who covet first-rate birds of this variety, can rely upon obtaining genuine bloods of this dealer. Col. Meacham takes pride in hav- ing the very hest that money can procure, from abroad, No. 12. LATELY IMPORTED DARK BRAHMAS. Bred by I. Van Winkle, Jog. M. Wade, Philander Williams, J. Graves, G. P. Bumham, C. H. Edmonds, Mark Pitman, etc. 241. . A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 241 and does not halt at their cost, when he knows he can ohtahi the tliinf>-, on either side of the Atlantic, to im- pi'ove his already well supplied yaids at SomeivJllo. He breeds some other fine varieties — among them be- ing the Chinese fowl ; but none excel him for reliable and well trained Game birds. /^ td' If/ ^ "if, " ' .' 'I A DUCK-WING GAME COCK. G. W. Pelter, of Batavia, Ohio, makes a specialty of Game Fowls, also, and has what is esteemed in the West the leading variety — and the favorite in that sec- 242 bdenham's new poultey-book ; tion . — known as the " Derby White " game ; imported in '62, and bred by A. Oskamp, up to '69. They vary in weight from 4 1-2 to 6 lbs., and for style, symmetry and true ^anig qualities, these are said to be unsurpassed. Mr. Felter writes me that, in his experience, he has found that " the care of young chicles is of the utmost importance, soon after their hatching ;" and adds, " I have long been a lover of fine poultry, but until I prac- ticed it, did not appreciate the following mode of bene- fitting these delicate little creatures — not being for some time aware that every chicken taken from the sit- ting nest, is at first very lousy. I now carefully grease them, the day after hatching, under wings and on the head, and also the mother-hen in the same way and at the same time, using common fresh lard, and repeating the operation in two. weeks. The vermin thus. destroy- ed are a source of great trouble and evil to both old and young fowls. I think this has much to do with produc- ing ^apes in chickens ; and this application of the lard, seasonably, will be found an excellent prevention against this troublesome disease." Mr. Pelter's plan is an old but good one. A better one, however, is to sat- urate the nestbox (inside and at bottom,) just before you set your hen, with kerosene oil — and you will find no lice on your newly-hatched chicks. The following breeders have superb Game birds, all .jf the best blood and varieties to be had in America. Their stock is imported from England and Ireland, and these dealers are constantly renewing their strains from the best yards in Great Britain. They are expericuced A PHACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 243 in the reproduction of the various styles of poj)ular Game fowl, and inform iia that they can supply orders for first-class birds. S. J. Bestor, and S. C. Cult, Hart- ford Conn., have a splendid stoclc. Isaac Van Winkle, Greenville, N. J. has paid attention to importing and raising superior bloods, and has recently received from Ireland fresh stock. D. L. Wilbor, of Boonsboro', [ovva, has fine strains, which are well kept up. J. W. P. Hovey, Evanston, Ill's., keeps good stock. C. S. White, Elmira,N. Y., and Geo. Whiston, Buffalo, E. J. Taylor, Waterloo, N. Y. P. W. Hudson, North Man- chester, Conn., makes Ganie-fowl-rearing a specialty. Col. Geo. Moacham, North Cambridge, breeds superior Games, and C. H. Edmonds, Melrose, Mass., will breed the Duck Wing Games this season, and has procured his stock out of prize birds. All these fanciers can sujiply first-class Game birds ; and here we leave them and their favorites to " fight it out, on this line," with the concluding remark upon this bellicose subject, that it it hardly surprising that the Yankee should take to this spunky and beautiful variety of domestic fowl, thus eagerly, since he so naturally inclines to the belief, that, with the right kind of material, fashioned within his own province and supervision, he can " beat all creation," in anything ; and it is certain that the Game Fowl has come to be bred to a high state of perfection on this side of the Atlantic, where hundreds of fanciers of this belligerent little tribe announce themselves ready at all times to test their stock against competi- tors, with any length of gaffle, for amusement, fame, or money. 244 BURNHAM'S NEW POULTET-BOOK ; Messrs. J. Y. Bickuell & Co., of Westmoreland, N. Y. are extensive breeders of most of the popular varieties now extant among us, and have in late years been the largest contributers to the N. Y. State and other ex- hibitions, as well as among tlie leading prize-takers, for good specimens of their valuable and well-bred stock. Messrs. Bickuell & Co. enjoy a deservedly good reputa- tion among a numerous class of patrons, and they have sent out from their capacious establishment large num- bers of prime fowls, bred from their imported and other choice strains of bloods, that have given the highest satisfaction to their customers. Of the Asiatic fowls, they have some first class breeding-stock — the light and dark Brahmas, the Buffs, and the Partridge- Cochins — upon which they pride themselves. ^^ CHAPTEE XX. THE BLACK SPANISH, AND GUELDEES. We pass by the Malay, the Kulm, the Bucks County, and the Chittagong Fowls, with a mere reference to the names of these old-style and formerly acknowl- edged "breeds — " one of these being claimed as the original Java, or gallus giganteus of early authors — because we have few of them around us, at present, and nobody seems to be interested in them ; since we can obtain better, finer, and more profitable varieties, 245 246 btjenham's new poultry-book; among the more modern kinds now to be had, in al- most any direction, in the United States and England. Three of the above mentioned varieties were formerly deemed good ones, and we have imported of one kind, and bred that and the other two kinds — to our entire content. They are all illustrated, and dilated on, in the poultry-books of past days ; but they are each and every one coarse, bony, ungainly, uneven birds, and could not be had in this country now, if wanted — that we know of, (which they are not,) and so we say no more about them ; but pass to the next important and desirable variety, in due course ; a celebrity that many breeders and fanciers deem very handsome, and about " the thing " for either a gentleman, an amateur, or a farmer ; and this is the white faced Black Spanish Fowl; See cut No. 7. A few years ago, as we well remember, this showy, white-cheeked, proud-gaited, coal-black bird was all the rage, for a period. Though from being called Spanish, they are popularly supposed to have come from Spain, yet this fowl is from Holland, and is now well known in England and in this country, and justly estimated, gen- erally. It is a medium sized fowl, but lays a large white egg, and in this respect is a very excellent variety. They are non-sitters, too. Tlieir chickens, are raised without difficulty, but when fledged — like their parents they can " fly like eagles," and it is difficult to keep Miera in confined quarters by means of any ordinary licight of fence surrounding their yards, for they are an active, restless, roaming race — and are thus objeo- A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 247 tionable to one's neighbors. They are interminable " scratchers," and will tear up a newlj-laid-down gar- den, faster than it can be repaired, if once they get at it, ill earnest ! Still, this majestic sprightly fowl has very many ad- mirers ; and beautiful specimens — highly bred — may be had of the dealers, almost everywhere now-a-days. An English author thus accurately describes this bird, of which we furnish a very good illustration in Cut No. 7. " I take the Black Spanish fowl to be a truly distinct variety, and everything experience can acquire of it, adds to its character of originality. A full grown cock weighs about 7 lbs., the hen about 6 lbs. ; the cock stands about 22 inches high, and the hen about 19 inches ; the plumage is a beautiful glossy black. I have seen some birds showing the appearance of the highesfeB breeding, which have come from Spain ; the comb is ser- rated, and so large as to usually fall at one side, of vivid scarlet; wattles long ; ear-lobes white ; cheek white, but added to by age ; hackles black, tail splendidly plumed ; legs blue ; flesh and skin beautifully white and juicy ; is a first-rate table-fowl ; eggs white, large and abund- ant ; chickens grow rapidly, but feather slowly. They are not very pugnacious, if kept together, but if separat- ed, even for a day, they cease to associate quietly with their companions. The hens are not inclined to sit, which is perhaps an Irish cause of their becoming sc abundant ; they are everlasting layers, and their eggg are usually hatched out by common poultry. They are 248 BTJRNHAM'S NEW POULTET-BOOK ; now to be had in every quarter ; indeed they are so splendid a bird, that I consider it a crime against do- mestic economy, to have a Spanish hen's time taken up with hatching and rearing chickens, when she might be adding to the stock of lier own genus by her egg every day." I am not an advocate for cross-breeding of any sort, and shall therefore beg to remark that there are mniiy spurious crosses attempted to be made on the Spanin] fowl, which should not be encouraged. And among these crosses, Mr. Ch. Jacquc, the scientific French au- thor and artist, says in his fine work on poultry, " the La Fleche is the tallest of the true French breeds, and A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. '249 has many points of resemblance with the Spanish, from whicli I believe it to be descended, by crossing wi!li the Crevecceui-r There is a strong similarity iu all throe of the French breeds to many peculiarities of the Spanish, though the difference in the shape of combs and top-knols of the others is very apparent. The chickens of this breed should not be attempted to be raised until late in spring-time, towards the warm weather ; for they " come into this breathing world not half made up," as to their feathering; and tht cold or rough weather, until they get their natural coats on, (for four or five weeks after hatching,) retards, oi destroys them. Like the French fowls, the Black Spanish are very superior table poultry. The Guelders, or "Breda" fowls are both clear black, and clear white, in plumage. Mr. Van Winkle of Greenville, N. J., has some very fine samples of this race, which enjoy the peculiar advantage of being en- tirely combless, and crestless. The Spanish fowls are ' ornamented ' with tremendous combs, on the contrary, both the cock and hens — upon the latter, this append- age drooping quite down upon one side ; and, in winter time, it is difficult to prevent this showy summer en- cumbrance from getting frozen, in our northern cli- mate. But the Guelders have little or no combs, very small wattles, and the head thus presents quite a gamey appearance. They are said to be small eaters, as prolific and as hardy as the Houdans, and lay eggs nearly as large as the latter. An excellent fowl for family purposes. From all I have seen of these 250 buenham's new poultey book ; Guelders, I think tliey are very like the " Guelderlands " ihat were formerly so popular and so plentiful in Essex County, though I should say they did not average so large a fowl as those of the present time. The " Sicily" bred for several years in Cohasset and vicinity, fi'oui imported stock, though varying from the Guelders in color, were not dissimilar to these, in other particulars — size, fecundity, form, small combs and wattles, hardy, and admirable layers. The few persons that have latterly tried the Guelder Fowl, deem them superior, and as bred by Mi-. Van Winkle, whose other stock we have already, alluded to — they are very fine. Mr. Van Winkle furnishes us with the following minute description of this bird, which he thinks '' is sure to become, when better known, a liighly popular and valuable addition to the best stock in the United States." He says : — "They are a breed of fowls very little known in Eng- land or America. They were first found in Holland and Belgium, and were called Guelderlands, after a province of that name in Holland, lying south of the Zuyder Zee." Mr. Van Winkle of Greenville, N. J., has kept for several years the White, Black, and Cuckoo varieties. He speaks of them as superior to any of the French Fowls, and in some respects prefers tliem to the Houdan. He adds, " They are a fowl of medium size, with full prominent breasts, and large flowing tails. Tiieir pecu- liar characteristics are in the head, which is destitute of either feathers, crest, or comb, which is very peculiar A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 251 in sliape, being hollowed, or depressed, instead of pro- jecting, with two prominent spikes on each side of the back of tlic comb. To brood them to the standard, they shonld not have any comb whatever, except the two little spilces projecting. Olieeks and ear lobes red, wattles red, and in the lock very long and pendulous. The beak in the white ones should be of a milk-wliite color. The thighs well furnished and vulture hocked, and the shanks of the legs feathered to the toes — though not heavily. The plumage is close and compact, like the Game fowl ; wliich makes them appear in size much smaller than they really are, and is of pure white, or of pure black. There is also the Cuckoo colored. This last color has been successfully bred by me through crossing a Black Guelder Cock with a White Guelder Hen. The Guelders are well adapted to our cold and changeful climates. Not oven the Asiatics are better able to withstand the Nortliern climates than arc the Guelders. Tliey are very hardy, and less susceptible to sickness than any otlicr class of fowls, are strangers to Catarrhal affections, or Roupe, are small eaters and lay a large, smooth shelled egg, and seldom incline to sit. They will througliout the year lay more eggs than any other class of fowls, in my experience, and es- pecially in cold winter weather ; and their flesh is as delicate and as juicy as the Houdan. Mr. Tegetmeier thiuks " it would be difficult to say wliich do better, tlie Houdan or Guelder chickens." And says " I like the breed so well that I class them next to the Houdans." I class them ahead of the Houdans in egg producing and hardiness, and consider them equal to these in flesh." CHAPTER XXI. THE DOMINIQUE, LEGHORN, SPANGLED HAMBUBGS, ETC. The fowl that is popularly known as the Dominique, ia undoubtedly the veritable domestic bird so pointedly described by the machine-rhymester as "The old gray hen with the yellow leg, That lays her master many an egg;" though this variety has long been denominated a mere 'barn-yard fowl,' for the reason that it. is so coui' monly known all over the country, either in its purity, or from its admixture with our native farmers' poultry. But we noticed in a Massachusetts agricultural paper, not long ago, an editorial on the merits of this breed, which concluded with these expressive words : " Wc have tried most known varieties, and we incline to tlie opinion, from a goodl: experience with the feathered 252 A PRACTICAL TKEATISB ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 253 race, that one must go a long way to find a better fowl for the fai'mec's use, tlian is this same Dominique." There is much of trutli in tliis plain statement. Dr. J. C. Bennett says of them, in his work on Poul- try : " I know of no fowls that have stood the test of mixing, without deteriorating, better than have tlie Dominique. They are said to have come from the Island of Dominica, but I doubt it, and incliue to the opinion that they took their name from being ' tenants at will,' of some feudal sovreignty. Why it is that such perfect bloods should have escaped description by poul- terers, I am unable to divine. It is true, they are rather small ; but that is the worst that can be said of this breed. They were introduced here by the French, and are not a Dutch fowl." Mr. Pierce of Danvei'S, Mass., who bred these fowls years and years ago, as we well remember, like many another good breeder in old Essex County — where they were for a long period very plentiful, and as highly es- teemed — says, "Taken all in all 1 believe them to be one of the very best breeds of fowls we have ; and I know of none that changes so little by in-and-in breed- ing. They are first rate layers, and though they do not come to laying so early as do the Spanish, I think them far better sitters and nurses." The hens are not large, but lay good sized eggs, and a great many of them. As mothers none excel them. Their meat is excellent, and they are very handsomely plumed, where they are purely bred. The color is a mealy, regular gray, inclining to a blueish cast, when in 254 buenham's new podltry-book ; fresh, full feather. Mostly, the cocks have single combs, biit some are double combed ; and Col. Hovvland of Chicago breeds them rose-combed. It is said that some have flesh-colored legs, but we liave seen liundreds — lye, thousands of them, with the clear bright, yellow leg, alluded to by tlie poet. They are a remarkably handsome fowl, larger by considerable than the " Bolton Grays," or Dutch " Every-day Layers," and their plumage (though more softly shaded) is not unlike the feathering of that pretty fowl. The barred feather of the Dominique is a peculiar formation, however, which always shows itself in any cross of these fowls upon others. As a race or breed they are distinct, and, with care, thousands may be produced, from the same fami- lies, year after year, without change in their appearance. They breed to a " feather " in color. In England they have the " Cuckoo Fowl," as they term it there, from the fancy some have of tlie resem- blance of their feathers to those on the cuckoo's breast, and these are identical with our Dominique. But they are so hardy, so even, so steady in reproducing their like, so homelike, so motherly, so easily kept, and so generally liked by fariners, that they will always be favorites with those who are content with a medium- '"ized, good layer, and a bird that they can always count in — if kept by themselves — " as a sure thing," in tie poultry line. Cut No. 10 gives an admirable representation of tliis popular fowl, and the engraving is beautifully executed, too ; showing a pair of Dominiques illustrating thia A PRACTICAL TREATBB 0^ DOMESTIC FOWI^S. 255 splendid stock. We nii,rec willi the editor whom wo briefly quoted a i)ngo or two back. " One must go a long way to find better fowls generally for the farmer^ of its size, than the pure-bred Dominique." The Silver-Spangled Hamlurg (see Cut No. 11,) is ,^ very elegant bird to look at. It is sometimes called 256 buenham's new poultey-book ; " Silver-penciled Dutch " too. It comes from Holland, originally. There is the golden, spangled Hamburg^ also ; a sub-variety of this Hamburg Fowl ; and botli ai'c very beautifully formed and plumed birds. They are comparatively small, however, thougli like all mi- nor-sized poultry, they are excellent, steady (sometimes called everlasting) layers. They are busy creatures, when abroad, the littla spunky cocks crowing frequently, and the hens cackling riotously, upon laying an egg, for instance. But they are easily kept, small feeders, hardy, and healtliy — though the chickens, which are for the most part raised under other breeds of hens, (for the Hamburgs seldom incline to sit) are tender, and must be bred with some care to bring to maturity. The pullets lay early, and keep right on, all winter, if they have good warm shelter. The cocks Weigh 4 to 6 pounds, the hens 3 1-2 to 4. They have the rose- comb, also. Their heads are smallish, and the female is a gamey looking bird. They are not pugnacious, however. As layers, they are first rate, though the egg is small. But they keep at it wondrously, all through the season, and can be kept, if they have good summer range, about as easily and as clieaply as so many pigeons. The " Silver Spangled Hamburgs,'' as they are bred by J. C. Sidell, of Englewood, N. J., portreyea so beautifully in Cut No. 11, are as fine as any we ever saw, and we liave seen and handled vast numbers of these tasteful little creatures, in our time. We call this strain of Sidell's very perfect, and do not doubt that his stock is choice. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 257 The Qolden Spangled Hamburg is another variety of this breed, the color of the feathering being brilliant yellow and black, instead of silvery white and black, as in the first named. The Cock of this breed is beautiful, and his plumage is remarkably fine. This is sometimes called the Golden Pheasant, from its markings beiuf^ similar to the wild cock-pheasant. These are rose- combed, too, and the carriage of this proud little fowl is very aristocratic, as he struts about witii his pretty hens, in his rich coat of shining golden feathers, tipped and shelled and barred with their uniform lustrous spangles and mottling of black. The hackles are of a reddish coppery hue, as are the breasts and back, usually. Altogether, they are a magnificently plumed fowl, and their general characteristics are similar to those of the Silver-spangled, already noted. Several breeders of the Golden and Silver Spangled Hamburgs sent us communications for this chapter, which did not come to hand in time, however, for this edition. We were favored by one or two gentlemen who breed this fowl with small illustrations of their birds, but the cuts came to hand too late to be used, as we intended. The engraving on page 255, and the largo cut of Mr. Sidell's Hamburgs will give the reader a clear idea of the plumage and character of these pretty fowls. They differ from the two varieties of Spangled Polands only in being devoid of crest or top-knot ; tlieit size, form, and colors being very similar. Mr. E. J. Taylor, of Waterloo, N. Y., sends us some 258 BDRNHAM'S new PO^T^TBT-BOOK. fine drawings of the diflferent varieties of fowls he breeds, which will be found in the appropriate places. The Golden Hamburgs are fully described in Ihis chap- ter, by J. C. Sidell, in detail, but in regard to tlie above birds, Mr. Taylor, says " my Golden Spangled Ham- burghs took first premium at the exhibition held in New York city, December, 1870. For beauty, and as egg producers, they cannot be surpassed by any other variety of fowl. They are called by some the Dutch everlasting layers, and, according to my experience ■with them, are worthy the name. They are strictly non-sitters, small eaters, and excellent table fowl, although not very large." The Bolton Grays — a still smaller fowl, but entirely distinct variety — we will close this chapter with a brief description of. These came originally from Hol- land, also, and their plumage is wliite body-feathers, minutely speckled and splashed with clear black. It is the original " pencilled " style of plumage, of which so much is heard, of late. These are nearest like the Silver Spangled, as already mentioned, in general contour. But they are a smaller, and an entirely distinct race of fowl, well known hoth in England and the United States, as marvellously abundant layers of smallish eggs, and non-setters. They are pretty pets, the male weighing about 4 to 4 1-2 lbs., and the hen about 3 1-2 lbs. These four varieties — the Dominique, the Golden and Silver Hamburg, and the Bolton Grays, each have many admirers ; and the breeder who produces the stock clean and pure, can always find a sale for these, at fair rates. A PEACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 259 Of the beautiful Spangled Hamburgs as represented by cut No. 11, Mr. J. 0. Sidell, of Englewood, N. J., says: " This truly valuable breed commends itself to favorable consideration by possessing the im- portant characteristics of beauty and utility. Its origin is obscure but they have been bred in the North of England a long time under the name of Gold and Silver "Pheasant fowls," Gold and Silver " Mooneys," and " Red Caps." They are not entitled to the name of Hamburgs, it having been given to them at Birmingham, Eng., from their resemblance to the "Pencilled Dutch," and they formerly bore the name of "Dutch every-day-layers." The Lancashire Silver Mooneys have a silvery-white ground-color, with large, round green- ish black spangles or moons, on the tips of the feathers. The true Mooney code, generally has a hen-feathered tail, and small deaf ears, not pure white, but strealced with red or pink. The haclde is silvery white, and free from yellow tinge ; some of the cocks have full feath- ered tails, but they are seldom pure white, being either black, or white streaked with black. The hens should have pure white body- feathers, tipped with large round black spangles ; the hackle white, striped with black ; the tail silver on the outside and darlcer on the inside, tipped with black rotmd spangles ; the deaf ears are of a leaden color, or what is termed "opaque-white." The Yorkshire " Silver Pheasants," have smaller spangles, some- what crescent shaped ; the haclde of the cock is white, frequently has a yellow tinge, and is tipped with black ; the tail is white, tipped with black spangles in both cocks and hens ; the cock's breast is deficient in the spangUng which is exhibited by the Mooney, being much dark- er ; deaf ears white, and in the hens generally brighter than in the Mooney hens. The Golden Mooneys are of a rich golden-bay color, each of the body -feathers having a large, round greenish black spangle on the ?nd. The haclde is striped with black ; the tail is black in both sexes ; the upper part of the breast of the cock, is generally greenish black, and on the lower part, spangled with large, round moons ; the deaf jars small, not pendant, and not always pure white. The Yorkshire Pheasants are differently marked from the Mooneys ; the spangles being crescent shaped, somewhat of the character of acing; their deaf ears are generally pure white, and their combs are .arger and looser. The bay -ground color is frequently mossed ; tail black in both sexes. In the cock, the spangles on the breast run up 260 buenham's new poultbt-book ; the edges of the feathers, resembling a lacing, and cause the breast to have a streaky appearance. In England it is usual to exhibit Mooney hens, with cocks bred be- tween Moouey and Pheasant fowl?; this is because the Mooney cock is small, seldom has a pure white deaf ear, and generally has a dark breast. The deaf ear is a special point in Hamburgs, and no bird with red one= would stand any chance of winning at an English Show, no matter how perfectly he might be marked. All Hamburgs should have rose combs, with a " peak " behind, ana be rather square in front; it should be full of small "spikes," and without a hollow or depression ; this describes a perfect comb ; but it is frequently the case that many of the chickens of a brood (especial- ly the cocks) will have combs not entirely answering the description; sometimes there will be no depression in the centre, but no peak be- hind: these are termed "nub combs;" again, the hollow will be a glaring one, but the peak will be a model. A comb falling over so as to obstruct the sight, is a disqualifying defect. The legs should be blue, and any other color is not admissable. There is a variety of golden spangled Hamburg called Red-caps, which differs materially from the Mooney and Pheasant Fowls, being larger and not possessing such beauty and regularity of spangling. The cock's breast is dark, and the most striking feature of the breed is the remarkable development of comb, the cocks showing them sometimes three inches wide in front, and between four and five to the extremity of the peak. The hens have combs as large in propor- tion, which are rarely erect as is the case generally with the Mooneys and Pheasants. They lay larger eggs than any of the Hamburgs and as many of them, and are more hardy, standing the cold of our win- ters as well as Brahmas. It will be seen that no breed taxes the skill of the fancier to produce what are called " Exhibition birds " more than Hamburgs. Birds may frequently be seen with exquisitely perfect markings, perfect comb, and a blood-red deaf-ear; others with black breasts, but all other points in perfection ; others, with almost every point, but much below the average size, and again, single-combed birds, generally aeautifuUy marked, are met with ; they may be bred from birds in which no possible evidence of a single comb is apparent, but it is rare- ly the case that many chicks of a brood will show other than rose- eombs. There is probably no breed which will lay a greater number A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 261 Of eggs in a year than this. Each hen will produce about 225 per annum, which, altliough they are small, the aggregate weight will perhaps be found to exceed that of some of the larger breeds. If Hiuuburgs were bred merely for their beauty, as Pheasants are, tliej would still find plenty of admirers ; but when their extraordinary egg- producing qualities are talvcn into consideration, the question of lu-iifit comes into view, and with many persons the economic merits of a fowl are the ones to which the most value is attached. Ham- bm-gs are excellent table fowls, the flesh being tender and of fine flavor; but as all the essentials have never yet been combined in one breed, they cannot be expected to compete with their larger and clumsier rivals as candidates for the spit, the stew-pan, or the gridiron. In breeding *hem they shovdd not be hatched before the weather in the spring is settled, as they are not so easy to rear as Brahmas or Cochins. All chickens thrive better for being kept free from damp- ness, and Hamburgs ai-e no exception. The e^s should be put under other hens, as this is classed among the non sitting breeds, although occasionally a hen will show an inclination to sit and sometimes will hatch and rear a brood with commendable care. They are impatient of restraint, and should have a wide range. If it is inconvenient to let them be unconfined, the fence of the yard should be at least twelve feet high and not more than two thirds as many fowls kept in the same space that could be devoted to Brahmas or Cochins." The illustration given herewith and thus ftUly described by him, represents specimens bred by Mr. J. Clarence Sidell, of Englewood, N. J., who probably breeds this variety of fowls to a greater perfec- tion than any other fancier in this country. Tlie Crested fowls — such as the Polands — are out of date with us, latterly. The White LegJioms, and White Dorkings are bred and fancied by many. Both of the latter are excellent layers, and most large dealers can supply them. (See cut No. 12.) The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher is a lover of White Leghorns, and in a gushing spring article in a late issue of the 2V. Y. Ledger, entitled, " Oh for the country," thus discourses upon chickenology. " The day is bright; 262 burnham's new poultry-book. the sky has sunken back to tlie uttermost, and the arch seems wonderfully deep above your head. Little cloud- ships go sailing about in the heavens, as busily as if they carried freight to long expectant owners. It is a day for tlie country. The city palls on the jaded nerve. 1 long to hear the hens cackle. There are lively times now in barn and barnyard, I'll warrant you. If I were lying ou the east verandah of a cottage that I wot of, I should see the white Leghorns, wind blown, shining in the sunlight, searching for a morsel in and out of the shrubbery, the cocks crowing and the hens crooning. The Leghorn, of true blood, leads the race of fowls for continuous eggs, in season and out of season ; eggs large enough, of fine quality and sprung from hens that never think of chickens. Foi- a true Leghorn seldom wants to set. They believe in division of labor. They pro- vide eggs, others must hatch them. Other fowls may surpass them on the spit, or gridiron, but as egg-layers, they easily take the lead. They are hardy, handsome, and immensely productive. As it is just as easy to keep good fowls as poor ones, thrifty housekeepers should secure a good laying breed. Not every pure white fowl is a Leghorn. There are many White Span- ish sold as Leghorns. They may be known by their s^ray or pearl-colored legs. The pure Leghorn has a yellow leg, a single comb, quite long, and usually lap ping down. This breed ia well known about New Zork, but no description of it can be found in English Poultry books. Indeed, we are informed that Tegetmeier, the standard authority, but recently knew anything about them, and then from a coop sent from New York. f-~ ^"-l N \ i. 264 burnham's new poultry-book; " The Brahmas and Cochins have good qualities. They are large, even huge. They are peaceable, and the Cochins do not scratch — an important fact to all who liave a garden, and who desire to let their poultry run at large. They are good layers, admirable mothers, yield a fiue carcass for the table, but the meat is not fine, though fairly good. But a more ungainly thing than buff Cochins the eye never saw. A flock of Leg- horns is a delight to the eye. One is never tired of watching them. Their forms are symmetrical and every motion is graceful. But the huge poddy Cochins waddle before you like over fat buffoons. They are grotesque, good-natured, clumsy, useful creatures, good layers, but with a great love of setting. Every Cochin hen would like to bring out two broods in a season ; while the white Leghorns fill their nests with eggs, and then think their whole duty done. We keep Cochin hens to set on Leghorn eggs. Better mothers cannot be. " I hear my hens cackle ! These bright spring days are passing, and the concert of the barnyard is in full play, but I am tied up to the pen. Patience ! I shall be green eixough in a few weeks. The city shall not always prevail. In due season, I shall go to grass. Already I smell it. The odor of new grass can be perceived but only for a few days in spring. It should be noticed then, for it is unlike any other perfume, and will be per- ceived no more until another year. How happy are they that dwell among open fields ! Or how happy they might be, if they but knew their privileges ! " GOLDEN SEBKIGHT BANTAMS. CHAPTER XXII. THE GOLDEN SEBRIGHT, AND OTHER BANTAMS. '* Proud of his plumage and his spurs, The feathered coxcomb struts, gallant and blithe As any beardless cornet of dragoons ! " This exquisite diminutive representative of a distinct breed of tlie domesticated feathered tribe, takes ac- knowledged precedence over all the small fowl, denomi- nated Bantams. The Sebrights are said to have had their origin in India — Sir John Sebright, the M. P. for Herts England, having, it is stated, brought this beautiful variety out with In'm from that country, some years ago. Among the sales that were made at auction at an early Poultry Show in London, it is recorded that Sir John run the price of one of these small hens of his up 265 266 BURXIIAM'S NEW POULTRY-BOOK; to 29£. sterling (§145) and bought her in at that figure, rather tlian part with her ! And the London News announces, in February 1847, tliat two hens and a cock of this petite variety sold for 50£. Is. or rising $250! These, and similar prices, were paid in England — not by Yankees, however. Specimens were introduced into this country from Great Britian twenty-odd years since, and they came at once to be a great favorite. Formerly we had the little yellow Nankin, the red Game, the pure white Pantelet, or falcon-hocked, and the mottled Bantams. But all were much larger than the Sebright, and far more irregular in color. Subsequently we had the ' Black Spanish ' Bantam, see page 245, very small and beauti- ful, with white cheek and high thin comb. Then we had the Silver Sebright, (just like the Golden, in mark- ings) but the finest of all this diminutive race, ever seen in this country. They have been bred but rarely here — for they have been found very delicate, while chickens, and troublesome to bring to maturity. Still, there are some breeders who take pains with them, and succeed in producing beautiful specimens of these iiallant, proud, important pigmies of the feathered race. The Bantams should have no tuft, and some of the Sebrights have single combs, which is a blemish, the highest bred birds requiring the full rose-comb ; hen- tailed — that is, devoid of the long sickle-feathers of the old-style — wings well down in the flanks, and droop- ing, with perfectly clean delicate dark-skinned legs. Both the flesh and flavor of their meat is fine, but they A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 267 arc so small that this fnruishes but a tit-bit, in that particular : and they arc bred only for fancy, as a mlc. They are abundant layers of small white eggs. The black-breasted red, if trimmed of his comb and wattles, is a perfect miniature representative of the Game code, and in his way, quite as spunky. KED GAME-BANTAM. This is the nearest approach to the Bankiva Cock, or wild cock of Java ; and so like it, in some individuals, as to be difficult to distinguish them. The black variety, called " Black Spanish " Bantam in this country, from its perfect resemblance to that fowl, has all the pugnaci- ty of its congeners. The whole of the clean-legged tribe are recommended as good mothers. The Nankins are those in use at the great aviary of the Earl of Derby, for hatching out the various sorts of Quail, Par- tridge, and Pheasants, to which Mr. Thomson has added Cantelo's Incubator ; and few in Great Britain, can boast of so much success or experience, as that experienced ornithologist. The white are precisely the same as the others, only different in color. James Walters, of Windsor, gives a rather unflattering account 268 bubnham's new poultet-book ; of their destroying their eggs ; others have kept them, and never discovered this fault. The Booted, Pantelet, or Feather-legged Bantam, should not escape notice. They are of all colors ; those with the greatest quantity of feathers on the legs, are usually spotted, red, black, and white. Some have feathers three inches long on their legs, so as to impede their walking. These are becoming scarce, and even promise to become extinct ; the objection, of the fan- ciers, is, that their leg feathers getting damp, is apt to addle the eggs put under them for incubation. They, however, have their advantages, as they seldom do an injury by scratching, and are. frequently kept as orna- mental pets about a garden, which is all that any of these pigmy birds are good for, of any variety. The " Sebeights " have deservedly taken the lead among this tribe, altogether. Some fancy the Silver, but most American breeders raise only the Golden Sebrights, see cut No. 13. G. H. Warner of N. Y. Mills, has this variety in great perfection. Edwin N. Rice, Clinton, Mass., has produced some fine Game, and Sebright Bantams. Geo. Smith, HoUiston, Mass., also, of the latter — very handsome birds. Ezra Dib- ble, New Haven, Ct., breeds the White Bantams, said to be very perfect, and among the smallest in the world. E. J. Taylor Bros., of Waterloo, N. Y. breed the Se- brights, finely. Thos. Gould, Aurora, N. Y., and E. P. Howlett, Syracuse, also supply these of both varieties. The Sebright portraits which head this chapter, are ti-uthful likenesses of prize birds, which took the first A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 269 premium at the New York State Show, in 1869 and '70. G. W. Felter, Batavia, Ohio, breeds the Golden Sebright, as does also J. E. French, Abington, Mass, and some others, whose address has not reached us. As we remarked above, the Bankiva fowl (the wild Cock of India) so closely resembles what we call the common black-breasted Red Bantam, that it is believed by ornithologists that this bird is the original progenitor of the Bantam race — if not of most of our domestic fowl. The eyes and throat of the Bankiva are bare of plumage ; the comb large, of irregular shape ; two wattles hang from the lower mandible ; the head, back, and sides of the neck, surrounding the bare skin upon the throat and the rump, are covered with long, rounded feathers, of a clear and brilliant golden orange. Below the hackles, the upper part of the back is bluish-black, and the centre of a rich, deep chestnut. The greater coverts are steel-blue, with a broad margin of chestnut; the quills brownish black, edged with reddish yellow. The hen is of a dusky gray, and resembles our common poultry more than any other wild variety ; they inhabit the forests of India, and from them it is thought that the common barnyard varieties, so generally disseminated all over the western world, came direct, originally ; as they frequently even now mix with and cross the tame birds on the borders, though they are never themselves domesticated. The Sebrights will always remain a favorite pet fowl, from their rare beauty of plumage, and uniformity in oreeding, when properly cared for. They command 270 bubnham's new poultet-book. good prices everywhere, at this time, and a clutch of these exquisite little birds is certainly ornamental, together. But the males should not be allowed to run loosely among other breeds of fowl, if tlie fancier wishes to keep his breeding stock pure. They will readily cross any other fowl — large or small. CHAPTER XXIII. MANY MEN HAVE MANY MINDS. Fortunately for the furtherance of the general ob- jects of poultry breeders, as well as for the purposes of the Societies fostered through their good intentions, tlie many men engaged in this and other countries in fowl- raising, have many different minds as to the intrinsic merits and value of the varieties of domestic birds now current among us ; and, while the mass of American ureeders are inclined to favor some strain or color of the great Asiatic fowl, others make a speciality of I'aising the diminutive Bantams only, and will have no other upon their grounds — while there are not a few enthusiastic admirers of fancy pigeons, simply ; a por- trait of one exquisite variety of which, from the " White Calcutta Pan-tail " stock of Messrs. Bestor and Colt, of Hartford, Conn., heads this chapter, and a most extra- ordinary fine specimen it is, too. 271 272 bdbnham's new potjltet-book ; Then there be those whose favorites are the White Dorkings, White Leghorns, and White Aylesburys, for ducks. Dr. Eben Wight, of Dedham, Mass, an old and experienced poulterer, was an ardent fancier of this white plumed style of birds, and bred them many years, to a great degree of perfection. The beautiful aristoci-atic Black Spanish are deemed by thousands of amateurs, and gentlemen of nice taste, to be the only domestic fowl fit for a genteel estate. They are inter- minable layers, and are deservedly a favorite in many quarters. The Dominiques are considered by hundreds of farmers and country breeders as the only right thing for their use. Within the past few years, the showy but moderate- sized French fowls — the Houdans, Crevecoeurs and La Fleche — have come into very considerable notoriety among us, and these birds are now being bred in various parts of this country with zeal and admiration by those who favor novelty in poultry raising. The majority of those who have carefully experimented with this class, pronounce favorably upon their good traits, very decid- edly ; inasmuch as they have proved great layers, non- sitters, and easy keepers, while for the table, tlieir meat is certainly unexceptionable. All these promising qual- ities are in their favor, and it is not surprising that these should have their friends, largely, among those who breed for the general improvement of poultry around us. Then we have a number of fanciers who import and breed with cautious nicety the sprightly and beautiful Game fowl — of which there are numerous varieties — A PRACTICAL TBfciAUSJii uiN uuivIESTIC FOWLS. 273 as the Shawl-Game, the Grays, tlie Black-breasted Reds, the White Georgians, the Earl of Derby strains, the magnificent silver and golden Duck-wings, the Red and smoky-duns, the Spangled, the Piles, the Mealy-Grays, the Ginger-reds, etc., which are favorites not merely for their good figliting quality, but tliat the hens are the best of mothers and tlie steadiest of sitters — and their meat is unrivalled, at almost any age, young or old. Referring to the French fowls once more, briefly, hav- ing expressed our own personal opinion in regard to that tribe, we very willingly state that some of tlie lead- ing New York, Philadelphia, and Western fanciers who have given them a fair trial, speak very decidedly in their favor — for some reasons — and write us earnest- ly regarding their good character. Mr. Van Winkle, of Greenville, N. Y., who has bred all three of tlie vari- eties, informs me that his Crevecceurs are large birds, and since he has had them he has carefully studied their characteristics Knd tested their performances. He finds them excellent layers of large sized eggs, and a goodly number of them. They lay in the fall mouths, he adds, when other fowls are moulting. Their meat is as fine as that of a capon, and he deems them a su- perior bird — from their strong blood — to cross upon otlier fowl, for general use. In Mr. Van W.'s opinion, the Houdan is one of the choicest breeds of foreign fowl that has been brought into America for many years, on account of its extraordinary fertility, its early maturing, and the general hardiness, in his experience with them, of both the adults and young birds. These, he says, 27 J: burnham's new poultry book ; " are compact in form, their meat is rich and white, they are admirable layers, and are the most valuable fowl we have, in my experience." Eut among the great multitude of buyers, at this time, the Chinese fowl — as either the Brahma, the Buff, or Partridge Cochin, and the Red, White or Blaclf Cochin — are far in excess in general demand, over all other varieties, taken together. The uniformity of great size attained by this race ; the truthfulness with which they breed year after year ; the greater weight of eggs they yield in a season ; the quiet disposition of these birds ; the ease with which they are kept and managed, either at large or in confinement ; their thorough hardiness, even amidst our coldest winters : their fine plumage and stately appearance, when in good trim and well provid- ed for ; their unchanging characteristics from genera- tion to generation ; and their general uniform good qual- ities both as layers and breeders, render them beyond comparison the most desirable and the most salable domestic fowl we liave ever had in America. And they are to-day more popular, more largely sought after, more extensively bred, and more deserving for either the fancier or farmer's use, in view of all their striking qualities of excellence — than any variety we ever shall have, (in our judgment,) in the United States. This may seem over-partial ; but it is our confirmed opinion. Another gentleman in Massachusetts, who lias tried the French strains, commends them to us highly. He writes : " I have had all tliree of the varieties, and jave bred them two years now, v.'itli fair success and A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 27o good satisfaction. Tliey are unique in form and plumage, liandsome birds upon the green, the best of layers, but do not care to sit often, and they are fair in size : not a large fowl, but averaging like the Black Spanish. I have found the French fowls very good hiyers, I must say, and I am much pleased with thom, so far." A friend in Rhode Island informs me, per contra, that he bought a few of them, and gave them a trial. " I was so greatly taken with their pretty odd appearance, when I saw them in New York," he writes, " that I purchased a few, and took them home. You know how I breed my fowls. I gave them a good chance, and hoped to do nicely with them. But I did not succeed. In my experience with them, the chicks are tender, and do not come up well. The hens are fair layers, cer- tainly, and the cocks are stately proud fellows ; but I would not give a trio of good Light Brahmas for three trios of the French-men. I have seen worse fowls, but 1 have seen many better ones." We have received several other letters upon this same subject, for which we cannot find space, however. The amount of com- ment to hand we think is decidedly in favor of this fowl, however; yet we incline to the opinion that breed- ers do not know sufficient of the French birds as yet, in this country, to give an opinion as to what they may prove here, by and bye. They unquestionably possess some rare good qualities, and we wait to see how they may turn out, hereafter. The Gueldres or "Breda" fowl described by Mr. 276 bdenham's new poultkt-book ; Van Winkle, of Greenville, N. J., is a superior variety. The Silver and Gold-spangled Hamburgs, accurately delineated by cut No. 11, and so well depicted by J. Clarence SideU, in Chapter XXI, are another favorite race with many fowl-fanciers, and not without good reasons,, too. In their showy and parti-colored plum- age, the Spangled Hamburg rivals the pheasant, and is called in England, oftentimes, the Hamburg, or Pheas- ant fowl. The same colored fowls, with the heavy crest and muff, (of the " Poland " variety,) were largely bred in America some years since, and, with the exception of their tufts, were almost exactly like this superb Hamburg variety. Pine samples came here years ago, from the yards of Prince Albert, as a present to Hon. Daniel Webster, among the first received in America, if I remember rightly. A portion of these fowls were afterwards sent by Mr. Webster to Col. Jaques, of Tenhills Farm, Medford, to breed; and the Colonel turned out, for a few years, the finest birds of this then taking variety that ever were produced in Massachusetts. These crested fowls — the Black, the Golden, and the Silver-laced are all good layers. Bos- well states that " the whole crested breed are much esteemed by the curious, and reared" with care." And Buffon says, " There can be little doubt that all the fowls with crests have originated from intercrossing with the Paduan or Polish." It was from the crested variety of fowls that Mowbray stated he " obtained from five liens in eleven months, five hundred and tliree eggs; weighing, on an average, one ounce and five drachms, exclusive of the shells." A PR/\CTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 277 DR. BENNETT'S " INDIAN GAMES." Tlie above are likenesses of a pair of Dr. J. C. Ben- nett's so denominated " Wild Indian Game " birds ; a foul he produced several years ago. from a cross of the Irish game cock with a very gamey hen he procured, I think, from Calcutta. The progeny were very unique and remarkable birds, and proved quite popular for a time, among the fanciers of this species of fowl. I have heard notliing of them of late years, and take it for granted that this so-called " breed" did not hold out. Wc here reproduce the original drawing of the first " Bramapooters " exhibited and thus named by Dr. 278 btjenham's new poultey-book ; POETRAITS OF DB. BENNETT'S THREE OEIGINAI. " BRAMAPOOTEKS." Bennett in 1851, at the Boston Fowl Show. The slip;h( top-knots we have alluded to, will be found at the back of the heads of these birds ; and the portraits are faith- ful, though drawn on a small scale. In other respects it will be observed that the figures very nearly resemble the light Brahraas of to-day. But this trio were bred (as we know) precisely as has already been stated in the pages of this work. There are still a few other named varieties, that here and tliere find a casual admirer ; but beyond those enu- merated in these pages, there are none that are now bred A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. "iV to any extent. The " Silky " fowl, tlie " Rumplcss," tlie " Creeper," the •' Frizzled," and a few others, are little known and less cared for among fanciers general- ly, at the present time. Of the varieties we liave noted, a good selection can be made of large or small domestic birds. And these may be had in almost any county in the United States, now-a-days, of those whose taste and inclination prompt them to raise one or another of these various breeds. There are certain technical terms applied to fowls, not universally imderstood, which we will here briefly ex- plain. The " neck-hackles " are the pendant feathers around the neck. " Saddle-feathers," or " back-hackles " are those upon the back, falling down over the flanks. " Wing-coverts " are the feathers upon the upper and middle parts of the wings. " Flight-feathers," the long end plumes of wings. " Sickle-feathers " are the longest drooping sickle-shaped plumes in the cock's tail. " Broody " is the inclination to sit. "Crest "is the same as "top-knot," or "head-tuft." "Fluff," or " fluffy plumage, " is the term for the soft cushiony feathering on the sides and stern of the Cochins. "Moult" is the annual shedding of the feathers. "Rose-comb " is a full wide oblong comb, peculiar to the best bred Sebright Bantams, the Dominique, Ham- burg, or White Leghorn fowl. " Pea-comb " is a small compact triple comb, seen on the Malay, and contended foi by most breeders now as requisite to perfection in the hens of the dark or ligjit Brahma. It is a central comb, with a smaller one on each side, upright. " Ser- 280 burnham's new poultry-book ; rated comb " is the straight thin upright comb, with the rising projections like notches or the teeth of a coarse saw. " Vulture-hock " is applied to the form of feather,-^ that droop and grow backward on the thigh, below the hock joints of fowl — as on the Pantalet-bantams, the Ptarmigans, etc. " Carunculated " represents the un- even warty exterior flesh upon a cock-turkey's head and neck, and that upon the Muscovy drake's, also. We have said little on the subject of fowl-diseases, for the reason that in our own practice we have con- stantly aimed at prevention, rather than attempted to cure a sick bird. The latter course is attended, ordi- narily, with more trouble than the fowl is worth ; but it is easier to prevent sickness occurring, to any great ex- tent, among poultry — and I have in this volume ad- vised such measures as to their food, care, shelter, and general management, as will usually keep fowls in high health. Still, they will sometimes get ill, and it not infrequently occurs that a favorite bird may be saved from death, througli doctoring. Gapes among fowls will spread, astonishingly, and roup will be readily comnmiiicuted from one to another, more especially wlien your poultry is kept in confine- ment, or in limited quarters. Swelled crop is another trouljlesome complaint to which fowls are subject, oc- casionally. Colds are very common, too. A cure for gapes, if adopted when first discovered, is a teaspoonful dose of common sweet oil, given two or three days in succession ; the oil destroys and removes the little gape- worms from the gullet. Another good remedy is to A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 281 place ordinary whole grains of wheat in a phial, and pour upon them sufficient kerosene to cover them in the bottle. The grain will in twenty-four hours absorb the oil. Give one of these wheat-grains daily, three days, (at night and morning) to your gapey chickens, and it will kill the worms in their throats. In cases of roup, castor oil and alum is very good, for internal affection, and the latter, in solution for washing the head and nos- trils of such affected bird. Cholera (as it has been called) iu fowls has been very destructive in Pennsylvania, the past year. Mr. G. A. Deitz, of Chambersburgh, says, " this fearful disease among fowls has swept some yards of every fowl in many parts of the State, and 1 have heard of none, as yet, or found as good a remedy as cas- tor oil and alum. One or two doses of castor oil, say a tablespoonful at a time, will generally cure the fowl ; and, at the same time, place alum water where the fowl I an drink it. With it I have cured the worst cases of cholera, and found it also a good remedy for cold, or light cases of roup; as this mild remedy seems to put the whole system of the fowl in a healthful condition." An excellent preventive to disease, is placing of a bit of common assafoedita at the bottom of the water- vessels, for poultry. Colds contracted from long ex- posure to bad weather, will break down many a good bird. But vermin permitted in your fowl houses, is worse than all else. Never suffer a drooping or sick bird to remain with the well ones an hour, after y ju dis- cover the fact. Remove it; nurse it, (if you are inclin- ed for any reason,) and save, or restore it, if possible. 282 eurnham's new poultry-book ; But I accept a " short shrift " with such subjects, as 1 have already stated. If they don't come round quickly, my rule is to relieve them from their troubles, and give them decent burial. And this kind of ' happy despatch ' docs not occur often, on my premises. Every housewife thinks she knows how to cook eggs appropriately. If any one has not tried the following plan, we can commend it as a very good one. Have your eggs for cooking, fresh, though these require a little more time to boil. To render them soft, delicate, and highly palateable, drop them into the water inat until it boils. Leave them from three to four minutes, boiling vigorously, and eat from the shell, with an egg-spoon. If you wish them for salad, boil them as above, ten minutes. Then immerse them in cold water, and roll tlvem gently upon a table or board, and the shells can be quickly and easily removed. As to fancy pigeons, we have no space in this volume to devote to this interesting class of beautiful birds, which are so widely bred and so greatly admired, in cer- tain quarters. We have placed at the commencement of this rather desultory chapter, however, a remarkably effective drawing of perhaps the most unique and most generally esteemed variety of this tribe, the White Cal- cutta Pau-Tail — as bred by S. J. Bestor, of Hartford, Conn, and which particular strain of this favorite blood is pronounced by judges to be par excellence, the most perfect as well as the finest that has ever been seen in this country. Their purity of plumage, extraordinary carriage, elegance of shape, and unusual size commend A I'UAUTIUAL TKESllSK^OinK)M10STIC FOWLS. 283 them very markedly ; and those who have seen them have aptly described these Fan-Tails to be more like miniature swans, in their g'racel'ul and proud move- ments, than like anything of the pigeon species. We have made but brief allusion to tiie Ptarmigan the Paduan, the Jungle, the Russian, the Javas, and one or two other wild varieties of fowl, about which we know so little that is of general interest — because we do not deem it essential in this work to repeat the speculations of ornithologists who have studied the early history and genealogy of these birds — but no two of whom agree in their accounts of these fowls ; a matter at this day Df very little consequence, however. MALE WILD TURKEY. CHAPTER XXIV. THE AMEKICAN WILD TDEKET. The Turkey is an American ' institution,' as every- body knows, and the enormous number of these birds that are annually devoured in the United States is al- most incredible. We devote a couple of chapters to this splendid representative of the feathered race, gathering our accounts and directions as to its history, feeding, hatching, rearing, etc., from the best authorities extant, having had little personal experience with this fowl, ex- 284 A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMKSTIC FOWLS. 285 cept in the way of eating it ; at which performance, we have in our time been blessed with the opportunities to do our share, perhaps, first and last. This bird is a native of the wilds of North America, and for excellence, in its domesticated state, stands at ihc top round of the roost, as head representative of the farm 3'ard featliered tribe. Tlie ivild turkey is found all over this country, north, west and south — in greater or less profusion. Its plumage is close, brilliant, and of a metallic lustrous hue of bronze — formed of glossy chestnut, green, black and brown. The feathering of the male is the most showily brilliant ; that of the female being dull, comparatively, and monotonous. All authorities aver that the wild cock-turkey averages larger than the domestic bird — some specimens having been found to reach fifty pounds' weight, wlien secured in their native forests ; and " its great size and beauty," says Audubon, " and its value as a delicate and justly- prized article of food, render it the most interesting of the birds indigenous to the United States of America. The flesh is even more delicate than that of the domes- tic Turkey, and the Indians so value it that they call it " the white man's dish." Other authorities describe the wild male when fully grown to be " nearly four feet in lengtli, and more than five in extent of wings. The bill is short and robust. The head, which is small in proportion to the body, and half the neck, are covered by a naked bluisli corrugated skin, on which are a number of red, wart-like elevations on the superior portions, and whitish ones on the inferi 286 buenham's new poultky-book ; or ; interspersed with a few scattered bristly hairs, and small feathers which are still less numerous on the neck. The naked skin extends farther downwards ou the sur- face of the neck, where it is flaccid and membranous, f jrming an undulating appendage, on the lower part of which are cavernous elevations, or wattles ; a wrinkled, fleshy, extensible carbuncle, hairy and pencellated at tip, arises from the bill at its junction with the forehead. When the bird is quiescent, this process is not much more than an inch and a half long. But when excited by love or rage, it becomes lengthened, so as to cover the bill, and fall over it. The body is thick, somewhat long, truncated feathers, dusky beneath, but to this dusky portion succeeds a broad, effulgent, metallic band, lihangiiig now to copper-color or bronze gold, then to ■violet or purple, according to the incidence of light. The lower portion of the back, and the upper part of the rump, are much darker, with less brilliant gold re- flections. The upper tail coverts are of a bright bay color, with numerous narrow bands of shining greenish. The under tail coverts are blackish, glossed with cop- pery towards the tip, and at the tip are bright bay. " The wings are concave and rounded, hardly passing the origin of the tail. The smaller and middling wing coverts are colored like the feathers of the body. The spurious wing is plain blackish, banded with white. The secondaries have the white portion so large that they may be described as white banded with blackish, and are, moreover, tinged with j'ellow. The tail meas- ures more than a foot and a quarter ; is rounded and A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 287 composed of cislitocn wide fcatlicrs. [t is capable of being elevated so as to resemble a fan, when the bird parades, struts, or wheels. " The wild turkeys do not confine themselves to any particular kind of food. They eat maize, all sorts of berries, fruit, grasses, beetles, and even tadpoles, young frogs, etc., their more general pi'edilection is for the acorn, on which they rapidly fatten. The males, usual- ly termed gobblers, associate in parties, numbering from ten to a hundred, and seek their food apart from the fe- males ; whilst the latter either move al:)out, singly or with their young till nearly two thirds grown, some- times consisting of 70 or 80, all intent on avoiding the old males, who, whenever opportunity offers, attack and destroy the young, by blows on their skulls. " Early in March they pair, and in April the female makes her nest in the ground, of dry leaves and twigs, Hid into this receptacle the eggs are deposited, some- imes to the number of twenty, but more usually from nine to fifteen. They are whitish, spotted with reddish- brown, like those of the domestic bird. Their manner of building, number of eggs, period of incubation, etc., appear to correspond throughout the Union. " The wild hen-turkey is not easily driven from her nest by the approach of apparent danger. But if an en- emy appears, she crouches low and suffers it to pass. A circumstance related by Mr. Audubon, will show how much intelligence they display on such occasions. Hav- ing discovered a sitting hen, he remarked that by as- suming a careless air, or talking to himself, he was per- 288 buenham's new podltbt-book. THE FEMALE WILD TURKEY. mitted to pass within six feet of her ; but if he advanced cautiously, she would not suffer him to come within twenty paces, but ran off thirty yards, with her tail ex- panded, when she paused, on every step, occasionally uttering a chuck. They seldom abandon their nests, on account of being discovered by man ; but should a snake, or other animal suck one of the eggs, the parent leaves them altogether. If the eggs be removed, she again seeks the male, and recommences laying. The mother will not forsake her eggs when near hatching, while life remains. She will suffer an enclosure to be made around, and imprison her, rather than abandon her charge. Mr. Audubon witnessed the hatching of a brood, while thus endeavoring to secure the young and mother. " In proportion to the abundance or scarcity of food, V-=^^^B>- No. 14, THE MAMMOTH BRONZE TURKEY. Bred by G. H. Warner, Wm. Simpson, .Tr.. Jos. M. Wade, relter, E. J. Taylor, and others. 288, fi. ^ A PRjiCTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 289 and its good or bad quality, they arc small or large, meagre or fat, and of an excellent or indifferent flavor ; in general, however, their flesh is more delicate and bet- ter tasted than that of the tame turkey. They are in the best order late in autumn, or in the beginning of winter. A gentleman residing in Westchester County, New York, a few years since procured a young female wild turkey, in order to make the experiment of crossing the breed ; but, owing to some circumstances, it did not succeed, aud in the ensuing spring, this female disap- peared; in the following autumn she returned, followed by a large brood ; these were quite shy, but were secur- ed in a coop, and the mother allowed her liberty ; she remained on the farm until the succeeding spring, when she again disappeared, aud returned in the autumn, with another brood. This course she has repeated for sever- al successive years." The domesticated turkey's habits and needs are of more consequence, in our treatise, however, and the above accounts are given because they possess extraor- dinary interest, from reliable authority, as to this bird in its wild state. CHAPTER XXV. REARING THE DOMESTIC TDRKET. Six or eight liens are sufficient to assign to one male turkey, though twice that number are bred to a male, often. The hens lay, ordinarily, a couple dozen of eggs, before they incline to sit — which they evince by steal- ing away from the rest, and seeking a nest out of sight, in the nearest woods, if there be any, or in any out of the way secluded place. When ready to sit, she will cover twelve to fifteen eggs, advantageously ; but she needs to be watched, lest she lay these eggs beforehand, secretly, abroad. She sits persistently, after she commences, and from twenty- nine to thirty-one days. She should be undisturbed, for the domesticated turkey is shy and timid. The male should be removed from her, as he inclines to break up the nest, and destroy the eggs, if he is permitted to be about. When the chicks are hatched, the hen tur- key proves a good careful attentive mother, but delights in wandering away with her new brood, at the earliest opportunity, when permitted to do so. Take the young chicks from the nest, give them no food for six or eight hours, then feed them on hard 290 A. PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 291 boiled eggs, chopped fine, and bread crumbs, at first. It is best to house both mother and young for a few weeks, unless the weather is dry and fine. Their second food may be mush, cooked, of barley or oat- meal ; and feed often, four or five iimes a day, daily. Fiuely cut up liver, or meat soups is good to mix witli their second feciling. They should be kept clean, while in confinement, and a layer of fine, dry gravel, or sa:>d, left for them, with a fresh tuft of short, sweet grass. When the chicks are three or four weeks old, coop the hen abroad for a couple of hours, daily, in fine weather,, with a moderate sun. When six weeks old, coop out of doors, daily, for a fortnight, that the chicks may ob- tain strength before the hen is set at large. When half grown, and well feathered, they become sufl[iciently hardy, and, in a good range, will provide themselves throughout the day, requiring only to be fed at their out-letting in the morning, and on their return at evening. If confined to the poultry-yard, their food and treatment are similar to the common cock and hen. Turkeys would prefer roosting abroad, upon high trees, in the summer season, could it be permitted. Breeders complain of the difiiculty of rearing turkeys. That can be obviated, by keeping the chicks dry ; they will not bear to be draggled through the ditches and wet grass, or subject to the rain ; and after shooting what is called the red, (which, at a certain age, be- comes the color of the head,) they become hardy, and evince a desire to perch in the open air — which should not be allowed, till they are two or three months old. 292 buenham's new poultry-book ; Open sheds are consequently best suited to them, with roosting-bars, fixed as higli as convenient from tlie ground. If you can take the chicles from any one of your hens, and add them to another clutch, the hen from which you take them will speedily begin to lay, and have a second clutch about July. They evince their wild pro- pensity, if in the neighborhood of a wood ; they will stray away and procure their food, at all seasons of the year. A turkey loses a third of its weight when ready for the spit. Live weight, 21 lbs ; dead weight, 14 lbs. Turkeys are said to be difficult to rear, but with due care and attention, which, rightly considered, in all things, give the least trouble, they may be produced and multiplied with no loss ; and the same may be averred, with all truth, of the rest of our domestic fowl ; the losses and vexations annually deplored, arising almost entirely from ignorance and carelessness. Turkeys, under a judicious system, may be rendered an object of a certain degree of consequence to the farmer. In Rhode Island and Connecticut, large numbers of domestic turkeys are kept, and annually raised for market, as well as in the north and at the eastward. In the cold season, particularly, they come into market plentifully ; though, as an article of food, they are con- tinually in use, in all our cities and large towns, throughout the year, both at the hotels and eating- houses, as well as for private family use. The turkey does not come to its full size until the fifth or sixth year, or not perfect plumage until the seventh. It has A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 293 been ascertained beyond a doubt, that a single service of the cock is sufficient for the whole season, but there may be cases in which it has been unsuccessful. The male turkey (see cut No. 14) should be of the largest size procurable, for breeding purposes. He does not attain his vigorous growth until the third or fourth year of his age, and a cock two or three years old is much better than a yearling, for your breeding hens. It is best to change your male bird every season, by which means stronger chicks are had, and your two year old hens (and upwards) will be found best also. Keep them up well, with good feeding during the winter. Not to fatten them, but to have them in finer breeding order in the spring. If set early (in April) the young ones have more time to grow, prior to Thanksgiving and Ciiristmas, when the demand and price obtained for good poultry is greatest. They love freedom, and will roost on the fences, rails, or in the trees, in preference to any sheltered place, even in the cold seasons. In very hard weather, in winter, they may be advantageously protected. But they are fond of out-of-door life, and suffer little from ex- posure, apparently. The hen is a good sitter, and she will usually hatch out all, or most of the eggs under her. Her nest may be given her in a sheltered place, where she will not be likely to be disturbed by other birds, or night vermin. If they have a neighboring wood to range in, when the chicks are old enough to be trusted with the motlier abroad, they will do nicely, with little daily feeding, 294 buenham's new poultry-book; otherwise. In the fall, feed them twice a day, with dry corn, and boiled roots and potatoes — with cooked Indian meal, which is excellent for their growth and en- la rp,ement. In most places where turkeys are raised, the farm is large, and they have ample " scope and verge enough " to roam, at will. In confinement, from the outset, turkies could not be raised, at all satisfactorily ; and it would cost far more than they would ever come to. The farmers, however, who make a business of this, in the interior, are satisfied with their returns, it is to be presumed, inasmush as they continue to follow up the business, year after year ; and the demand for this un- I'ivalled kind of domestic poultry increases annually. Very good prices have ruled of late years, in the prin- cipal markets, and the raising of turkeys probably pays. The broody hen-turkey shows her desire to sit by clucking somewhat like the common hen, and remains in her nest until her breast-feathers come out freely. When she has hatched her eggs and the chicks have been taken care of, as they must be' for five or six weeks, at first, heed should then be taken that, for at least as long again, the young are kept both dry, and out of the hot sun, too. Either wet exposure or undue heat will injure or destroy them. In their wild state they are reared in the forests, mainly, where it isn't wet, and where the hot sun does not reach them. And a hilly farm, with woods for ranging grounds, is the best location for the purpose of raising turkies upon. The Frenchman loves his wine, and all classes, down A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 29/i to the poorest peasant, use it as a beverage. They tliiiili the turkey loves it, therefoi-e ; and so they advise mix- ing the food of the young chicks witli wine. Bread soaked in wine tliey advise, at first. Our people haven't this article so liandy, and so substitute sour milk with the young chicks' food. Indian meal should never be given them without cooking, and not at all until they are some weeks old. Shallow vessels, with but little depth of water, should be kept where they can have plenty of it, and fresh, without wetting their feathers. Dampness, wet, rain, and exposure to the hot sun, kill more than any other causes, after the turkey chicks be- gin to be able to wander about, as they so quickly incline to do. House the young birds, invariably, until the night dews are off the grass, too. When you come to the fattening — in the fall — when they are five to six months old, feed them with any substance that will fatten other poultry, and give them all they will eat up clean. They put on flesh rapidly, then, and soon be- come fit for roasters. If you so manage as never to allow them to be low in flesh, it is much the best way, since you can then dispose of them advantageously at any size or age after four or five months old. Some turkey-raisers recommend to " wash the young chicks in a strong decoction of' tobacco, if they droop." This is said by others to be an excellent way to kill them, as quickly as the veriest executioner could desire ! An old ui>couutry farmer, who has raised thousands of turkeys, in New Hampshire — and good ones, too — for the Boston market, writes me thus: 296 burnham's new poultey-book ; " I never meddle with the young turkey-chicks at hatching, for half a day after all are safely out. Then we put them in a dry place (which is indispensable) and afterwards feed them frequently, a little at a time, half a dozen times a day, till they are a fortnight old. The hen is cooped, and not till the young ones are five or six weeks old, do we let her out ; and then not till after ten o'clock in the morning. Keep them clean, vary their food, always avoid letting them out in rainy days, till they get strong and well formed, and there is no trouble in bringing up, to good account, your broods of turkeys — ia the country, where they can have range, (woods, or good pasture grounds,) at the proper age. After they " shoot the red " safely — which is a tender season with them, we do not lose one in twenty birds. And we simply look after them sys- tematically, and feed regularly. At harvesting, they pretty much take care of themselves, in the fields. We fatten quickly, and kill off from the middle of Novem- ber to December 20th, as you know." Avoid giving anything that is over-salt to the young birds. Mix their food with skim-milk, curd, &c. Give the hen pure fresh water, as well as good food. She will take good care of the little ones, ordinarily, but all the better for being kept in good condition. In the spring, obtain a fresh male, by exchange, or other- wise ; let him be over two years old. Breed your old hens, which are far the best, and go on again. And you will not find it difficult to raise good turkeys. Among the prominent raisers of fine breeding stock A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 297 of Domestic Turkeys, we may mention tlie Brothers Murdock, of Mciidan, Couu., T. B. Smith & Co., Plantsville, Couu., E. J. Taylor & Bro'., Waterloo, N. Y., VVm. Simpson Jr., of West Farms, N. Y., (very tine,) D. W. Horstine, Philadelphia, A. Pailor, Newton, Iowa, and C. N. Palmer & Sons, Gallipolis, Ohio ; of either of whom Turkey-breeders may always readily procure prime specimens of this race, to replenish their poultry-yards with — and the male bird of which tribe should be used only during a single season, on the same farm — to procure the best results. Several fanciers have sent us the announcement that amongst their stock they are now giving a share of their attention to breeding the mammoth Bronze Tur- key — a cross of the wild cock, with selected domestic hen-turkies ; thus producing the largest fowl we have ever had in this country, beyond comparison. Enor- mous sizes have been reached with the male birds of this cross, within the past few years ; one firm inform- ing us that pairs of these turkies have attained the extraordinary weight of sixty pounds, at fifteen months old ! They are large, very showy, and handsome — hardy, and as easily reared as the twenty-five pounds per pair turkies. The plumage is of a glossy black, shaded with glittering bay and brown, giving the general hue of a rich bronze. The hen's plumage is similar, except that the tinge is not so brilliant as in the male. In some sections, this colossal bird is being brought to great perfection, through careful manipula tion among those experienced in rearing them, and the 298 bubnham's new poultry-book; fine portrait from life, which we give in cut No. 14, will give the reader an idea of the proportions of a stalwart representative of this grand favorite among the domes- tic feathered race. Messrs. C. N. Palmer & Sons, of Crallipolis, Ohio, are this year breeding a goodly variety of fowls, from the best strains of imported stock procurable, and amateurs in the western states can obtain of these gentlemen good birds of most of the leading varieties. In addi- tion to the Brahmas, Cochins, Houdan, and Black Spanish, they have the monster Bronze Turkies, of which they raise fine samples, and also the large white Bremen Geese, Crested (or Cuban) Ducks, and some other varieties. They have selected their fine breeding stock with great care, and give their attention to re- producing all their poultry in its purity. In the Poultry Bulletin for May, " Topknot " gives the following concise recommendations regarding his method of raising turkies, and thus states his experieuce with the mammoth Bronze turkey, which is now being bred with great success by that gentleman and others, in different parts of the country. He states that " the Bronze turkey is a great improvement over the common variety. The cocks weigh at maturity 40 lbs. and hens 22 lbs. Hens in their second year are the best for breeding. I prefer using a young tom, as old ones are so heavy they are apt to skin the backs of the hens. When the turkeys are about to lay, place a few old bar- rels on their sides, and make nests in them ; put in a few nest eggs, and partly cover the entrance with brush A PIIACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC F0WI5, 299 to make it privato. I remove the eggs every evening, and when the hen wishes to sit, fix a good nost by put- ting some aslies and fresli hay on it, and give her about 17 eggs. Tlie young ones will require no food the first day after they are liatched. Tiie best food for them is curd with young onion tops chopped fine and mixed witL it. I generally give them hard boiled eggs the first few Jays. They require feeding little and often, every two hours, if possible ; after they are a week old they can have some cracked corn, and oat and wheat grits. In fact, this mode of feeding is just right for all kinds of young poultry. Do not fail to give fresh cool water three times a day ; milk is good for an occasional drink. If they have any lice on them, rub on some dry flour of sulphur, and they will soon be free from them. When the turkeys are hatched, I put them in a coop and have a yard around it, which is made by nailing four boards together. This makes a little fence to keep the young turkeys from straying ; it should be about fifteen inches high ; it is moved around every few days, on short grass. The old and young are shut up in the coop at night, in storms, and when the grass is wet ; at all other times they have their freedom of the little yard. The old one will not go off and leave the young, and does better for not being confined. As soon as the young are able to fly out, they may be allowed to roam and scratch for grasshoppers, and it is surprising how many they will devour, and how they thrive on them. I generally set the first clutch of eggs under hens, seven to nine each ; the turkey will then lay her second clutch in the course 300 buenham's new potjltry-book ; of a few weeks, if not allowed to sit, and they are not too late to make fine birds. Last season, I tried a third clutch, but they were too late to be profitable. I weigh- ed my first brood of last season's turkeys, with the fol- lowing result ; they were just eight months old. Eight gobblers weighed from 23 1-2 lbs. to 29 1-2 lbs. each, and averaged 25 1-2 lb. Six hens from 13 1-2 to 15 lb. each, average a little over 14 lb. The Common tur- keys of the country will hardly average these weights ; so your readers can form their own opinion as to the merits of the Bronze Turkey." CHAPTER XXVI. WILD, BREMEN, TOULOUSE, AND MONGREL GEESE. The ' Canada goose,' is the American Wild Goose ; every where known upon this Continent, as well as in Europe. It is a very handsome water-fowl, (see cut No. 15) with its black head and neck, and its sable tail and rump, and dark brown back — while the rest of the feathering is a dingy but decided gray. The regular migrations of this widely known fowl are noted as the forerunner of coming Spring and Winter, as they sail north or south — from season to season. Wilson, the celebrated ornithologist writes that " except in calm weather, tlie flocks of American wild geese rarely sleep on the water, generally preferring to roost all night in the marshes When the shallow bays are frozen, they seek the mouths of inlets near the sea, occasionally visiting the air or breathing-holes in 301 302 btjenham's new poultry-book. the ice ; but ihese bays are seldom so completely frozen as to prevent their feeding on the bars at the entrance.'" Breeding the Wild Goose with the Common Goose of our poultry-farms, produces only mules, that will not breed again ; but there is no difficulty in crossing this bii-d with the others, if a male wild goose can be had, which is difficult except in case where one is wounded, and secured alire. Colonel Thayer, of Braintree, Mass., informed the American Agriculturist, some years ago, that he was thus successful, and bred a fine gander on his premises. He says — "A few years since, a neigh- bor of mine shot at a flock of wild geese, while they were passing to the south, wounded one in the wing, took it alive, and very soon domesticated him. He became very tame^ and went with the other geese. I bought him, and kept him three years, and then mated him with an old native goose. They had several broods of young ones, and the old goose became feeble, so much so that she could not sit long enough to hatch out her eggs. I accordingly put them under another goose, where they did very well. In the fall of the year I gave her away, and mated the wild gander with another. In the spring following, about six months after, I heard that the old goose had got better, and was in good health. She was brought home and put into my poul- try-yard. The wild gander and his new mate were at a distance of about eighty rods, in another pasture. As soon as the old goose was put into the yard she made a loud noise, which the wild gander heard. He immedi- ately left his new mate and came down to the yard, A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. S03 recognized his old mate, entered into close (,onvcrsation, and appeared extremely happy in seeing her again." " In their spring and autumn migrations, wild geese are well known to the inhabitants of the interior as well as the coast and great lakes of America, from our lowest latitudes, and have been seen as far north as has yet been approached by our most intrepid navigators, and tlien pursuing their journey northward. The English at Hudson's Bay depend greatly on geese ; and in favora- ble years, kill three or four thousand, and barrel them up for use. In a good day, a single Indian will kill two hundred. The feathers are an article of commerce, and are sent to England. Their food is tender aquatic herb- age, and a marine plant called sea-cabbage, together with grain and berries. Their flight is heavy and la- borious, generally in a straight line, or in two lines ap- proximating to a point thus, > : in both cases the van is led by an old gander, who, every now and then, pipes his well known honk, as if to ask how they come on, and the honk of " All's well" is generally returned by some of the party. When bewildered in foggy weather, they appear sometimes to be in great distress, flying about in an irregular manner, over the same quarter, making a great clamor, during which the inhabitants deal death and destruction amongst them. The wound- ed birds are easily domesticated, and readily pair with the tame gray goose, and their offspring are found to be larger than either ; but the markings of the wild goose predominate." The Bremen, or Embden, Goose (Cut No. 16,) was 304 burnham's new poultry-book; originally introduced into America in 1821, 1 think, bj Colonel Samuel Jaques, of Tenliill's Farm, Medford, llass., and was bred by him for many years, with great success, on his fine estate near the mouth of the Mystic Kiver. The name Embden is that of a town in Holland, where they first came from — but Col. Jaques was never inclined to multiply names, unnecessarily ; and as he got his original stock of these monster white birds from Bremen direct, he called them Bremen Geese. They are in all particulars like the common geese, except that they are very large — year-old ganders fre- quently weighing 28 to 35 pounds each, alive. The quality of the flesh is superior, and they are so ponder- ous and heavy that they move about but sluggishly, and thus put on fat very readily. Mr. Sisson, of Warren, R. I., five years after Col. Jaques imported his Bre- mens, had three direct from the same port. He says, in the N. B. Farmer, " their properties are peculiar. They lay in February, sit and hatch with more certain- ty than the common goose, will weigh nearly, and in some instances quite twice their weight, have double the quantity of feathers, never fly, and are all of a beautiful snowy whiteness." Dr. John C. Bennett furnished the author with half a dozen of these monstrous geese in 1851, that averaged 51 1-2 lbs. per pair. And in 1852, I received through a German friend a pair direct from Bremen, that weighed on shipboard 55 3-4 pounds, alive. I sent these two geese to Felix Ducayet, Esq., of New Orleans, with four others, for which he paid me fifty dol- lars the pair. They are a beautiful fowl, and resemble A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 305 the white swan upon the water, at a short distance. The B'-emens are now bred in their purity, I believe, by C. N. Pahucr & Sons, Gallipolis, Oliio, D. W. ITcrstine, Philadelphia, T. B. Smith, Plantsville, Conn., and a few other f);entlemen, but they are not now so commonly bred in Massaclmsetts, as formerly. The Toulouse Goose, (see cut No. 16,) as its name implies, is from Prance, and is known from the ordinary dark gray goose of this country by being much larger, and its color darker, as well as uniform, in the different samples imported and bred here. Its abdominal part is very large, and hangs down prominently behind, some- times almost touching the ground, as they clumsily waddle about. Dixon, in his Poultry Book, says " this variety of goose, wliich has been so much extolled and sold at such high prices, is only the common domestic, en- larged by early hatching, very liberal feeding during youth, fine climate, and perhaps hy age. I am in pos- session of geese, hatched at a season when it was diffi- cult to supply them with abundance of nourishing green food, that are as much undersized as the Toulouse goose is oversized ; they are all domestic geese, never- theless." But, although I have seen hundreds of good samples of the Toulouse Goose, and thousands upon thousands of our natives, I never saw one of the latter that approached the enormous size of the French goose — and I doubt very much if there be not an error in this statement. I I have seen specimens of the Toulouse Geese that 306 bubnham's new poultry book ; would draw 42 pounds to the pair ; and, in the yard of Col. Jaques, a few years ago, that gentleman showed me pairs that were heavier than this, even, by a pound or two, I was informed. It is of some importance to the farmer, who has the facilities for keeping water- fowl, that he have the best breed of geese attainable — even if he cross them (in the first instance) upon tlin common goose ; for the increased weight and size — at an early age — produced through this process, teZZs, in the fall, when he comes to Christmas-ize his ' yearlings,' or the goslings of the same year's raising. We have no doubt that the Toulouse is a distinct variety, and we are certain it is a very fine one. The breeders of the Bremen, whom we have named in this chapter, furnish the Toulouse, also, we learn ; and we can safely com- mend this splendid bird to all who go for size, easy keeping, hardiness, and truthfulness to their like, if bred together, in the raising of first-class geese. The great African Goose, (Cut No. 16,) is another of the large birds of the genus anser — said by some authors to be the largest of all we have had in this country, from abroad. It has been called the " Knobbed Goose," from the peculiarity of possessing a hard knob on its head — a sort of brown fleshy substance, formed from the base of the bill, backward. It has a large dew-lap, also, under the throat, down the neck. It ig called the " Swan Goose," from its sire — the " Hong Kong," the " Brown Cliina," etc. Its color is not un- like that of the Toulouse, but darker brownish. The ganders of this variety are enormous fellows. Thirty A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 807 pounds' weight is not unusual, for a tlircc-year old. We have seen none of this once famous and popular bird for some years. They were formerly bred in Weymouth, Braintree, and Randolph, Mass., finely, but tlie race has disappeared i'rom among us, in tiiis neighborhood. " It is somewhat larger," says Brisson, " than the tame goose ; the head and the top of the neck are brown, deeper on the upper side than on the under ; . . . . oil the origin of the bill there rises a round and fleshy tubercle ; . . . . under the throat also there hangs a sort of fleshy membrane." Klien regards this goose as a variety of the Siberian, which is the same with the Guinea goose. " I saw," says he, " a variety of the Siberian goose, its throat larger, its bill and legs black, with a black depressed tubercle." By whatever name it should be known, it is a remark- able bird, and we have been surprised that it has been suffered to " run out " around us, when we are informed by the breeders of this variety to whom we have alluded (in Massachusetts) that it was " no more trouble to raise this, than the common goose ; while its weight at same age was double, and its meat really better than the mongrel." The other varieties of Geese — such as the " White Chinese," "the Barnacle," the Egyptian," etc., are little known, and less used among Poulterers, and we make no farther reference to them. These three varieties we have described can be chosen from for breeders to advantage, and we will conclude this chap 308 bdenham's new poultry-book ; ter with a description of the habits and needs of the Common well known native Goose of the country — the ' Mongrel — ' that is bred everywhere so largely in the northern states of America. A noted old English breeder of Geese, suggests tht following directions, the result of long experience, which we deem both practical and applicable to the raising of these favorite water-fowl in our own country ; where so many thousand of these birds are reared for disposal in the city markets of America, annually. He says of the Toulouse Goose, that the abdominal pouch peculiar to this variety (of which we have spoken) " which, in other geese, is an indication of old age, exist, in those from the shell. Their flesh is tender and well-flavored. It is quite certain that their cross on our domestic goose, would be found a most valuable acquisition." He then adds that " there are two prevailing colors amongst our Domestic (or Mongrel) Geese — white and gray." This applies with us also, uniformly. He says, farther, " we have a large, white variety, usually termed Embden (or Bremen) geese, which are very superior, from their extra size, and additional value of the feathers. If you wish a gray goose, by all means cross with the Toulouse, than which nothing can be finer. One gander is sufii- cient for five or six geese ; the goose lays from ten to twenty eggs at one laying ; but by removing the eggs as fast as they are laid, and feeding her well, you may in crease her laying to fifty eggs. If well cared for, you may have three clutches in the year. The care neces- sary, is good housing and feeding. " You will readily A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. S09 perceive when a goose is about to lay ; she carries straw to make a nest ; when that is observed, she should be confined, lest she lay out. If you induce her, by con- finement, to lay her first egg in any particular place, she will be sure to deposit the remainder of her clutch in the same nest. Her inclination to hatch is indicated by her remaining in the nest longer than usual after laying. The nest may be of straw, with a finer lining, dry hay, or moss ; and be sure it is sufficiently deep to prc^•ent the eggs rolling out. About fifteen eggs is thought a sufficient clutch. The less the goose and her eggs are tampered with, the better ; she sits from twenty- seven to thirty days. The gander never molests her on the nest, but acts as a sentinel to repel intruders." It will be necessary to see that the goose be fed while hatching, as, if she find a difficulty in providing food, she may be kept too long off her nest, and perhaps at length desert it. The goslings will not require food for twelve hours after leaving the shell ; their food may be bread, soaked in milk, porridge, curds, boiled greens, or bran, mixed with boiled potatoes, given warm, but not hot. Do not allow them to be subject to rain, or cold wind ; keep them for at least forty-eight hours after hatching, /rom the water, which would be likely to bring on cramps. Although so fond of water, if you wish to keep your geese well, you will have to house and bed them at night, dry and comfortably. Grass is essential to the well-keeping of geese, their favorite being the long, coarse, rank grass, rejected by cattle, and therefore, through the goose, is turned to profit 310 burnham's new poultry-book; The goose is easily kept, but if intended for market, they require, in addition to green food, some boiled potatoes, mixed with bran, given warm, but not hot. To fatten goslings for market, give potatoes or turnips, bruised with barley or oatmeal, at least twice a day. Mr. Cobbet says, the refuse of a market garden, would maintain a great many geese, at a very small cost ; but, in addition to the green food, they would re- quire boiled or steamed potatoes, given warm ; or oat- meal, peas, or maize, beat up with boiled potatoes, car- rots, or turnips. An objection has been made to allow- ing geese to run over a pasture, their excrement being acrid and unwholesome. But common geese in this country are raised upon premises usually of no great value, otherwise ; and the traveller upon the railways going into New York city, for example, for the last ten leagues, will remember the myriads of geese that dot the cheap places upon either side of the track, which are annually raised theie by the poorer classes, for the neighboring market ; to which fact, as a single instance, the reader is pointed in proof of the ease with which this bird is multiplied among us, if one has the fancy. It is not a difficult thing — with almost any kind of ac- commodations — to raise geese. CHAPTER XXVII. THE AYLESBURY, ') The Aylesbury (see next page) is the largest and most beautiful variety of pure white Duck we have in this country, and the most valuable, at this time. It was imported from Europe many years ago, in limited numbers, and has been very considerably bred, in differ- ent parts of this country. It is a great favorite with fanciers of ornamental water-fowl, and justly so, and may now be had of most of the leading dealers, in the Eastern and Middle States. Those who have bred this splendid variety say, that no Duck is more easily raised that this, and from its large size, it is useful as well as ornamental. They are productive of beautiful white soft featliers, the meat is white, delicate, and savory, and the Aylesburys always command a ready sale, in market, for their acknowl edged superiority of size and quality. 3U 812 buenham's new podltrt-book ; ^^ •*^ 7 / 1 * 1 V No. 15. -CANADA" OR AMERICAN WILD GOOSE. 313. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 313 "When judiciously fed, they will weigh at maturity seven to eight pounds each — and will average (male and female) about twelve pounds the pair. They arc very profitable layers, while they are easy keepers, not being usually so voracious as the common Duck. They are not so noisy either, and come up to their weight rapidly, at a less age than the others. It is quite a dis- tinct variety. Mr. John Giles, formerly of Rhode In- land, bred the Aylesbury among the earliest in this country. He describes those he brought out with hiin from England, as being " pure white ; with white bills ; their flesh is of a beautiful white ; their weight eight to ten pounds per pair, when fully grown." Mr. Mowbray wrote many years since, that " the great white Ayles- bury ducks are a beautiful and ornamental stock. They are early layers and breeders, and are in great demand. Many families derive a comfortable living from breed- ing and rearing ducks ; the greater part of which — the early ones at all events — are actually reared by hand by cottagers." All authoiities agree that this bird is the finest duck we ever had in America. A New York agricultural journal pronounces them " the only variety which real- ly rivals the Rouen as a useful and economical bird. These are a pure English variety, good feeders, and by some decidjdly perferred to the Rouen." Tlie Rouen Duck (see cut opposite) takes its name from the city of Rouen, in France, where it is bred largely. Epicures pronounce its meat first class, and like the Aylesbury, it is a prolific layer of large eggs 314 buenham's new pooltry-book ; A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 315 [ts color is much like the wild duck, and the drake's, especially, is very showy and beautiful. Tlie female is of a splashed dark brown and black, even and regular in form of the feathering. The drake's head and neck is a beautiful green, with a white ring around it at the base The breast is a rich brown, and the rest of the body plumage similar to the plumage of the wild mallard. It is a heavy, waddling, sleepy kind of fowl, and puts on flesh and fat quickly. They are very hardy, how- ever, and the Common Duck of the country everywhere shows the markings of this fowl, with which it has been extensively crossed, for years, among us. Tliey la^ steadily from the beginning, sometimes dropping fifty to seventy eggs without missing a single day — then laying every other day, perhaps, for months longer. They are good sitters, but hens are better to set their eggs under, they are so heavy and clumsy. The " Cayuga Black " Duck is another large variety which breeders in New York State reproduce, most largely. The late Dr. Eben Wight of Dedham, Mass., formerly raised upon his place good specimens of all three of these varieties — though, (as he fancied the white Dorkings) he preferred the white Aylesbury to all other varieties of duck. The Cayuga was first known, we be- lieve, upon the shores of Cayuga Lake, in Central New York — whence its name — and it is now bred there in considerable numbers, very successfully. Its size will average fully that of the Rouen, and it is a clear black duck, for the most part, in its purity. The Summer, or Wood duck, is the most beautiful in 316 buenham's new podltet-book ; plumage of all the race we have here. It is much smaller than the others, and is a wild bird. I have never known it to be domesticated, though Col. Jaques of Medford, some years since showed me a flock he had, (whose wings he had jointed to keep them from flying away,) which he attempted to tame and breed; with what success I never learned. Wilson describes this as the most beautiful of all our Ducks, which has no superior for its riclmess and variety of color. It is called the wood duck, from the circum- stance of its breeding in hollow trees ; and the summer duck, from remaining with us chiefly during the sum- mer. It rarely visits the sea shore, or salt marshes, its favorite haunts being the solitary, muddy creeks, ponds, and mill-dams of the interior. The summer duck flies in flocks of not more than three or four together, and most commonly in pairs, or singly. Their flesh is inferior to tliat of the blue- winged teal. They are frequent in the markets of Pliiladelphia. Among other gaudy feathers with which the Indians ornament tlie calumet or pipe of peace, tlie skin of the head and neck of this duck is frequently seen covering the stem. We have also the Canvas-back, Red-head, the Blue- winged Teal, the Muscovy, etc., but the mass of ducks furnished for our markets are the native Domestic Duck ; which is too well known to need a description, and too varied in color to be described in detail. They run from wliite to black — speckled, spotted, gray, and llouen colored. These can readily be traced to the A PRACTICAL TBEATISB ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 317 wild originals, and are easily multiplied. The Domestic Duck will find its own food, for the greater part of the year, if it have sufficient scope of water to furnish it with aquatic plants ; or, if permitted to ramble, the beechmast and acorns furnish it with nutrition, meadows and pasture grounds afford it insectivorous matter, and if an occasional feed of boiled potatoes, with a little grain be given, it will flourish. One drake is sufficient for five or six ducks. They begin to lay in February, when they require additional food. They usually lay cither at night, or early in the morning — a circum- stance that should be attended to, as, if permitted to ramble away, when about to lay, they frequently drop their eggs in the water ; but, if confined a few times, they incline to lay in the same place. The time of in- cubation is thirty days ; after which the young follow the parent, and should be kept from the water for a couple of days. Soft food agrees with them ; barley- meal and water, mixed thin, or chopped egg and oat- meal, is a favorite food. The illustrations we give of the Ducks are from Messrs. D. L. Stage & Co. of Schenectady, who breed the finer varieties, purely, and whose birds have taken prizes at the American Poultry shows, frequently, we learn. Both the Aylesbury and Rouen Duck are largely bred by others — Mr. Warner, of New York Mills, Messrs. Murdock of Meriden, Conn., T. B. Smith & Co. of Plantsville, Conn., Isaac Van Winkle, Greenville, N. J., D. W. Herstine, and J. M. Wade, of Philadel- phia, etc., being among the principal poulterers who give attention to these fine water-fowl. CHAPTER XXVIII. In the final chapters of my " New Poultry Book," I liave thought it pertinent — at the risk of its being deemed somewhat egotistical, perhaps — to state some- thing of what 1 know about Poultry, in a general way, and what I have learned, in my long experience, as amateur, importer, and breeder of Domestic Fowls. I learned, at an early date in that experience, that it is not profitable to place too much reliance upon the unsettled opinions, or loose statements — often made in entire good faith, nevertheless, of a great many people who deal in poultry, and particularly of some who make this occupation a specific business. J have since learned that the ideas and notions of 318 A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 319 certain persons of this class are inclined to be bigoted, and that tlicir judgment is warped, through selfishness frequently ; but oftcner tlirougli positive ignorance of the business in which they engage — for their own per- sonal aggrandizement, alone — heedless of what may be the interests of others, in the same line of trade, who may be abundantly able to compete with them. I have ascertained that few men engaged in the fowl- trade are disposed to enlarge their usefulness by dis- seminating their choice stock, at reasonably moderate prices, so that the farmer, the poor man, and tlie multi- tude can avail themselves of the benefits of the " im- provement" they nominally propose to undertake in (he character of the poultry-stock of this or other countries, through the introduction of new varieties, and fresh blood, from abroad. I have found that the breeder or fancier in Europe or America, is yet to be discovered, who will take three pounds sterling for his birds, so long as he can obtain five ; or accept ten dollars, while he can get fifteen, or twenty ! And I do not hesitate to admit that like the others, I was long troubled with this same affection ; for the reason, I suppose, that this predilection is inherent in the chicken-raiser, in all nations, alike. I have become satisfied that it does not pay to give one's time to breeding specimen fowls for the exhibition room, alone ; more especially, if the breeder happens t j be a moderately modest, honest ' outsider ; ' wlio — though he may be able to contribute a cage or two of the best samples shown, does not luckily chance to be- 320 buenham's new poultry book ; long to " our set," or " our ring." And there be manj' earnest striving amateurs who have had the op- portunity to share with me in acquiring this item of information, to tlaeir cost, during the past score of years in this country. I have found out that Poultry Societies are most ex- cellent institutions, in their way, when well managed, and fairly conducted towards all their members, indis- criminately — and that Fowl Exhibitions have proved both beneficial and profitable, where they have been regulated justly and generously, in the interests of the whole, rather than for the aggrandizement of a few of their more fortunate, and so influential members. I have made it certain, in my own mind, that the "judges" at Poultry exhibitions in the United States — though usually honest and fair meaniug^men — are not selected so much for their experience in these matters, and their competency to pronounce upon the genuine merits of the fowls placed in competition for their de- cisions, as they might be ; and that we have in Ameri- ca, to-day, but few men who will undertake this duty, and decide a case for themselves, individually, upon any nice point, without being affected by " outside pressure," or the opinions of co-laborers on the Committees. 1 have proved the fact, to my entire satisfaction, that the poulterer who permits fowls of different varieties to run promiscuously together in the fall and winter, and only separates them in the spring, a month before breed- ing them, can never afterwards restore his pullets to pure breeders, again. Hens thus jeopardized, are con- A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 321 taminated, for life ; and no known natural law will ef- fect a recovery from the injury, communicated through this careless process, altogether too common among fanciers and amateurs who subscribe to the doctrine that the presence of any desired male with the female, for a few days, or weeks, only, (prior to setting her eggs) is sufficient to insure pwre-bred chickens from such fowls 1 I have observed that the dealers generally have found from experience that eggs sent from their establish- ments for hatching, to any great distance, cannot safely be warranted, however cautiously they may contrive to pack them ; and honorable men admit now-a-days, that there is a risk in such transportation, owing to the rough treatment they must almost invariably encounter en route. This being the exact truth, buyers must" take their chances," and be satisfied, as a rule, that though eggs so forwarded may be in perfect condition, when shipped, the receivers cannot count confidenlly upon getting the same number of chickens from them as there are eggs in the boxes. I have become convinced that poultry dealers, as a class, are prone to deem the particular variety or strain of blood they possess to be better than that owned by others ; and I have not been obliged to travel out of my way to meet with more than one gentleman who really believed in this theory, and was honest in his declara- tions ; yet who did not think there were any pure Cochins in America, until he imported a few, recently, from England ! I have learned that in the details of this business, as 322 buenham's new poultry-book. in many other affairs of life, it is a very easy thing to be mistaken, in our estimation both of a rival breeder's stock and his real intentions. And that the more we cry down the chai-acter of a competitor's poultry, be it p;ood or indifferent — the more business we make for him, and the less for ourselves, as we go. The harder you rub a rusty copper, the brighter the old coin will shine. I have become convinced that this goodly world of ours is large enough for us all, and that there is suffi- cient room in it for us to get on, comfortably, witli- out elbowing or jostling our neighbors ; and, at the same time, I have found from experience, that while a deal of money may be made by attending courteously to our own affairs — a deal more can be made by decorously leaving the concerns of other people alone — even in the chicken trade. Well tried experiments have taught me that " prize birds," either from the English or American show- rooms, are not generally to be relied on as the best fowls to breed from. Enterprising fanciers, who con- trive to put into the exhibition-hall their superior pair or trio of imported or high-bred specimens, are obliged to cram these birds, ordinarily, to bring them to perfec- tion in size, plumage, and condition, for competition. Oftentimes these fowls are aged, fat, and dropsical, and the eggs of such forced samples don't throw chickens that come up to their parents in fine quality, by any means ; and, oftener than otherwise, these immense, showy hens will be found to lay no eggs at all, after A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 823 being thus forced and stuffed, on two or three occa- sions. It is within my own experience that show-birds tlius purchased — at enormous figures — have in tlio last named particular disappointed the buyer, altogether, having never given him an egg, after he placed them triumphantly in his fine fowl-house ! And so lately as in the 3'ear 1870, at one of our leading shows, the owner of the first premium fowls, in a certain class, was offered twenty-five dollars for a dozen eggs from the two prize-hens ; but, up to May 1871, neither of them had laid one. Yet this same trio, placed again in com- petition in any show-room in the United States, would again bear away the highest honors ; for, to look at, they were, in all respects, certainly extraordinary fine fowls. In this connection, experience has exemplified, to my thorough satisfaction, that the Brahma or the Cochin fowl need not always be the . largest, the highest upon its legs, or the weightiest, to be the most desirable to breed from. Points tell. Fine chickens may be, and are raised, from medium-sized cocks and hens, if they are judiciously fed, and wisely cared for. But an ob- servant writer in a late number of the Rural New Yorker, says that he discovered in a recent coop of prize-birds there, that " the adipose tissue of these fowls was alarmingly in excess, and he thought that apoplexy would soon follow," in their case, from the stuffing process to which they had evidently been subjected, be- fore they left England, where they had been forced up 824 burnham's new poultry book ; to great weight, and from whence they had receublj been imported, for this very occasion. I have seen the plan so many times and oft-repeated at exhibitions, where the successful fancier has borne away the palm by showing such fowls, and I have my- self so frequently been the victim of misplaced confi- dence, in this respect, at heavy cost, that I feel I am doing but a simple act of justice to others, when I state that / have learned not to pay the high prices such birds readily command, with a view ever to be able to breed from them such progeny as will give either me or my patrons satisfaction. And I am certain that other zealous breeders have, within a few years, through their expei'ience, arrived at this self-same con- clusion. I am no longer in doubt as to the fact that there are now in this country plenty of men who can, and do, breed first-class poultry, as well as you or I can do it — reader ; and if you chance to be one of those who do not agree with me, in this opinion, I trust you may quickly and hopefully be brought to see the error of your way — as I was — several years since. I have not yet learned the address of the sailor who ' brought into New York the first Brahma fowls, in a iship that came direct from up the Brama-poutra River — " ' which, I wish to remark, and my language is plain ' — " is a stream that discharges its waters into the Bay of Bengal." And, as an inquirer after truth, I shall take it kindly in any brother-poulterer who will give me this information — if Jie ever learns it — though I really don't think he will. ' Which is why I remarlc that this statement is dark ; which the same I am fre( to maintain.' I have conclnded, from what I have had to do with poultry — of all descriptions — imported, home-bred, and crossed — that the most valuable fowl for all the purposes of the fancier or the farmer, in America, is the Chinese strain, whether it be adopted from among the Brahmas, the Cochins, or the Shanghaes. And notwith- standing the decisions and Reports of Poultry-Show Judges that " there are more profitable breeds than this," I still think that time will show this assumption of Committees to be erroneous. I have learned that this matter of the ' decision of judges ' is a very important one, and that it ought to be so contrived that disinterested, competent, willing, un- prejudiced, intelligent men only should be placed upon such Committees ; and that unfortunately we find precious few such persons in the poultry societies of this country, while in England, even, they are quite as rarely to be met with, so far as I can gatlier. I have informed myself that the " Cochin China " and the Shanghae fowl are not precisely the same bird, and I have long since been of the opinion that calling a breed of fowls by any outlandish or new-fangled name, simply, does not change the character and merits or de- merits of the bird so afflicted — while it answers no useful purpose, either to the breeder, or the fowl, first or last ; and only serves to aid in bringing the business of poultry-raising into disrepute, and ridicule, both at home and abroad. S26 bubnham's new poultry-book ; I have ascertained that with the right sort :f man- agement of good stock, the finest fowls in this world can be raised in these goodly United States of ours; and that repeated experiments have proved that birds of the choicest kinds to be had in England, sent over to this country and bred here as fowls ought to be bred, have been returned to that country so improved (in all essential particulars) not by crossing — but by legiti- mate breeding — that the same stock has scarcely been recognisable there. This is one thing the Yankee can accomplish, sure. I have determined that in my judgment we can — and so we ought to — breed poultry in America that will beat the world, in all the desirable qualities that go to make up a tirst-class fowl, for the spit, the pit, or the gentleman's lawn ; and it is in no spirit of boasting that I make thiu statement, since the fact is well known, and acknowledged, on both sides of the Atlantic, by those who are the best able to judge of the truthfulness of this assertion — one candid English writer in the Loudon " Field " using the frank expression that " since Biother Jonathan mad", the Brahmas, I wish he would make us something more." I have found out many other things of kindred character, in relation to the handling, exhibiting and breeding of poultry, which I will not trouble the reader with, for the present — for chicken-raisers will soonei or later learn all these matters from their own indi vidual experience and observation, as I have acquired the information here submitted. CHAPTER XXIX. TWENTY-FIVE GOOD RULES FOR POWL-BREEDEBa. In conclusion, I set down the following five and twen- ty rules and hints, in brief, for the benefit of those who may not be familiar with all these matters ; which I deem highly important, however, to be observed by those who would breed fowls well and successfully. I. — WHO TO PDBCHASB FEOM. In selecting poultry or eggs for incubation, apply for for what you seek only to a known reliable breeder, who will faithfully send what you order, and pay him for. There are plenty of such dealers to be found now-a-days, in this country. n. — ABOUT TBAIfSPOKTING EGGS. Never send to a distance for eggs for hatching, when you can procure them near home ; as the danger, of in- juring by transportation is imminent, in conveying this delicately formed article over our railways and rough roads. rU. — HOW BEST TO SET A HEN. When you get your eggs, set them at once, and don't handle them more than is absolutely necessary, until you can place them under your hens. Then let them alone for three weeks, and " take your chances." 327 328 BUENHAM'S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ; rV. — LET THE YOUlfO ONES AliONS! When your young ones are hatched, don't meddle with them, for four and twenty hours, in your impatience to see them eat. As a rule, they will eat enough to sat- isfy your most ardent desires in this direction, after- wards. V. — TO CUKE EGG-EATma FOWLS. To prevent fowls eating their eggs, blow half a dozen, and fill the shells with a mixture of yolks and cayenne pepper, or kerosene. Close them up, and place these eggs where the offenders can try this decoction. A single taste will content them ! VI. — GIVE FOWLS AMPLE EAU GE. Release your old fowls early in the day, if you have a range or yard, for them ; and the larger the better, if you keep them in quantity. Ample runs, or walks, for poultry, seven or eight months in the year, are almost indispensable. Vn. — ADOPT A EEGITLAB SYSTEM. However you feed, do it in a cleanly manner, upon system, and whatever else you do, be sure they have dean fresh water, and plenty of it, at all times. This is a pre-requisite to assure their health and prosperity. VUI. — WHAT TO DO TO HAVE EGGS. Supply them with plenty of gravel, ground bones, pounded oyster-shells, ashes and powdered sulphur to roll in, and both gi-een and animal food — wheu con- fined — if you expect them to lay eggs, or keep in or- dinary health, meantime. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 329 IX. — DON'T WET A SITTING HEN'S EGGS. Never adopt the stupid whim of the ignorant, about wetting your eggs, in tlie hen's nest for ten days after slie sits. Who " wets eggs " for the hen that steals her nest? or that sits and hatches in tlie wild state ? X. — SET THE FRESHEST EGGS, ALWAYS. Procure your eggs for setting from the freshest you can find ; and never buy, until your hen is ready to cover them. By following this rule, you will get more chicks, and meet with less disappointment, always. XI. — YOU MUST CAKE FOE YOUR FOWLS. Adopt a regular system in breeding poultry, and re- member that any kind of live stock, to be made to pay, must have its due share of care and attention. In pro- portion to the cost, no stock pays so well as this. XIL — HOW TO AVOU) VERMIN. To prevent the presence of vermin, give fowls raw onions, chopped fine, occasionally ; and dampen your roosts and nest-bottoms weekly, with kerosene, or spirits of turpentine. Your fowls will thus never be troubled with lice. Xm. — HOW TO CUBE A SICK FOWL. If a bird gets sick, remove it directly from the rest. If it doesn't recover quickly, knock it on the head, and bury it. This is the easiest, surest, and cheapest way it can be ' cured,' and save the others, perhaps. XrV. — LIGHT, WARMTH, AND AIR. Give your poultry light, in the fowl-house, warmth and protection in winter. In summer let them have all 330 buenham's new poultry-book; the out-door enjoyment tliey can get. Tliey do not lore heat, but crave protection from cold winds and storms. XV. — SAVE AND SELL THE MANURE. Place a board flooring directly under your rOosts, to catch tlie droppings of the fowls during the night. Re- move this excrement, daily, and save it. The leather- dressers will pay you six dollars a barrel for it. XVI. — TO BREED PODLTET PUEBLT. If you aim to breed fowls purely, nerer permit a male of another variety to reach your pullets, from the start. Thus, only, can you prevent the female from being contaminated, for all time, to a greater or less degree. XVn. — HOW TO BREAK UP A BROODY HEN. Never adopt the brutal mode of putting a broody hen into cold water, ' to break her up.' Place her in an open slatted coop, with nothing but a roost inside — feed her from the outside — and she will quickly forget her ' fever.' XVUi. — LOOS OUT FOE SNOW-WATBEI Avoid giving «Mow-water to poultry ; it is poison to them. A lump of oil-cake scraps, (to be had at the pork-houses,) is excellent, placed in the fowl-houses, where they can peck it at their pleasure. XtX. — CHICKENS ALWAYS EEADY TO KILL. Keep your fowls in good condition, from the shell, by judicious feeding. They will eat no more than they \7a11t ; and thus you will be able, with a few day's extra fare, at any time, to put those to be slaughtered in the best shape for marketing. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. ^31 XX. — THE BEST SITTING HEN'S NEST. In setting your hens, make it a rule to place at the bottom of the nest>box, a thick fresh sod ; upon which place the straw or hay for the eggs. The moisture from the earthy sod will be found a valuable aid to the more successful hatching. XXI. — don't think tour FOWLS "THE BEST." If you raise fowls for exhibitions, don't imagine that yours " are the best ones " shewn, until the Judges decide this little matter (perhaps against you I) The adage is true — though musty — that "you can't tell who is Governor, till after election." XXH. — PEOPEB AGE TO BREED FROM. Breed from two-year old fowls, for increasad size, of any variety, as well as to insure chicks that will earliest mature. Year-old pullets are very well, but the otliers are best ; and a two-year-old cock is always preferable, if you have one. xxm. — THE FOWLS, not the cages, win! Never expend money foolishly on ornamental coops, for the show-room, but remember that the contents, (not the expensive cage) will give you the award, if deserving — provided the Judges are competent, honest, and fair men, in their decisions. XXIV. — ■ FIRST class WHITEWASH. Whitewash your lien-house three or four times in a season. For the inside, mix half a pail full of lime and water, make a starch of half a pound of floui-, and poui tliis in, while hot; or, a little glue, will answer. For outside work, add a handful of salt and boiled rice to the above, and when dry, see if you can rub it off. 232 burnham's new poultry-book; XXV. — HOW TO PBBSERVE EGGS m WINTEB. To preserve your family supply of eggs, for winter use, lay them down in the fall, or summer, in a liquid composed as follows : one pint of lime, and one pint of common salt, dissolved in four gallons of hoiling water. When cold, put your eggs into this liquid, in a stont jar — and they will keep for months. I have tried this, for years, without failure. These rules are a part of what I have learned in my experience ; and I have succeeded in raising pretty good fowls, and a great many of them, in my time. If my reader will follow out these liints, he can not go far out of the right way ; and I can venture to assure him that he will be able, thus, to succeed to his satisfaction, m " Selecting, Housing, and Breeding Domestic Fowls — " as I have done. CHAPTER XXX. BAISING FOWLS IN QUANTITIES, TO PROFIT. Whatever business pursuit is worth undertaking to do at all, is worth doing well. The stock-raiser who attempts to breed good cattle, horses, sheep or swine, is obliged to devote capital, time, study and care to his enterprise, to assure success, even in a comparative view. And tliere be many who have distinguished themselves, thus, who have found that their animals should be the best to be procured of their class, and that unless the breeder continually devotes himself to their necessities and well-being, competitors in the same line will excel him in production, and win the palm, as a natural sequence to their moi-e faithful or superior management. In the multiplying of poultry, both breeders and farmers in the United States have notably been remiss in carrying out the principle that this pursuit, like any other, should be skillfully and attentively conducted, if success is aimed at ; and it is too frequently the case that the farmer's poultry is deemed of such minor con- sequence, that it is left to take care of itself. But 333 334 buenham's new poultry-book; when the fact is presented that in tliis present year (1871) the market value of the domestic poultry and eggs in the United States approximates the colossal sum of nearly twenty millions of dollars, it will be admitted that this is no mean item to be considered, as a single branch of the live stock interest in this country ; and it ought assuredly to be looked at as one of the leading sources that contribute to the grand aggregate of our national rural wealth. If the farmer who raises his dozen or score or two of chickens, annually, which he indifferently obliges to roost in the barn-cellar or among his trees, at night, and to forage about the" farm by day, for sustenance — who never cares to house his fowls in winter, and gives them no heed in summer, except to gather what eggs he can pick up about the hay-mow, or in the cattle- mangers — would give a tithe of the attention to his poultry that he bestows upon his pigs or sheep, he would realize the difference in the returns that would be forthcoming from his too often neglected fowls. A good deal has been effected through the persistent efforts of societies and a few poulterers in the Eastern and Middle States, of late years, towards influencing the farmers in the right direction, in this business ; and, in many quarters, we hear of the waking up of the country people to their own interests in this matter. With a little extra care in selecting, breeding, and properly providing accommodations for fowls, every husband- man in our land — in addition to a generous supply of eggs for his own family use — could have upon his A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 335 table, at a nominal cost, a brace of good chickens twice or thrice a week, if he desired ; or these same six or eight chickens weekly, could be slaughtered and sent to tlie nearest market, to find a ready cash sale, at a figure that would pay the raiser doubly the sum that he can, at similar cost and with greater labor, obtain for the same number of pounds of pork, mutton, or beef. This being the fact, it is surprising that poultry is not better cared for on the farm, than it has thus far been in America. There is always a call for good chickens in any city market, at remunerative prices ; and eggs will always command cash, at similar figures at any season. There never yet has been a surfeit of either. The demand is unceasing, too, and year by year the statistics show that this demand increases. There is no danger of overdo- ing this thing. Good clean, bright, fat .poultry will al- ways find i-eady purchasers, in our cities and large towns in any quantity ; and thus it behooves the farmers of the country to look at this subject of fowl-raising with an eye to their own pecuniary benefit ; since it can be accomplished with such small effort. Numerous experiments have been tried among the class of men of whom we are writing, the results of which, when the accounts have been accurately kept, have shown that an ordinary clutch of fowls upon the farm has paid a profit of fifty to seventy per cent. oi. the cost, feed and care. What kind of live stock or gardening, or farming, will return any thing like such percentage as this ? 336 btibnham's new poultry-book; And this is not theoretical, remember. In a town in California, contiguous to market, there now lives a poulterer and farmer who has kept several thousand fowls, for some years past, and who is making a reason- able fortune in that country, through this means. The climate is in his favor, of course ; but he makes a busi- ness of it upon system, for marketing purposes, and can raise more pounds of poultry and eggs, he avers, at the same cost, than he can of pork or beef ; and his chickens and eggs bring him twice or thrice the price, per pound, that he can realize from the best sheep, swine or cattle he can raise even in that favored country. Mr. Lewis, in his lately issued ' Practical Poultry Book,' gives an account of a South American poultry farm, carried on by Don San Fuentes, who now keeps some six thousand fowls upon his large estate, and who proposes to double or quadruple this number the coming season. He commenced operations with only two hun- dred birds, a few years ago. But he colonizes his im- mense stock, and they have unlimited range over a ranche of thousands of acres. He keeps some fifty hens and a few cocks, only, in the same colony, how- ever, and scatters these families of fifty or sixty each over the broad extent of his generous sized farm, so that they are kept precisely as we recommend — to wit, in separate small collections. Thus only can numbers be kept, at all. His houses are of the cheapest kind, for the accommodation of this vast congregation of the feathered tribe, and five or six hands are employed to look after the stock, constantly, as Mr. Lcland and CO UJ CO o O (3 z UJ UJ cc m a -z. < UJ~ CO O _i o < o U- < A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 337 other extensive poulterers find it necessaiy to do. This South American breeder collects two hundred dozen eggs a day, and states that his profits upon this product, and the sale of killed poultry, last year, reached eleven thousand dollars. If poultry-keeping on a large scale can be carried on in one place to a profit, there is no good reason why it cannot be accomplished in another section. The farmer who has hitherto raised only his score or two of fowls, may raise a hundred or two, in the course of a season, about as easily. Instead of having twenty or thirty dozens of eggs in a twelvemonth, he may have as many hundreds — with but trifling additional labor, and but slightly increased attention to his poultry. Since then it can be done, why not do it ? Every agriculturist, every fancier, every amateur fowl-breeder can contribute his mite to this desirable project, if he has the inclination. And since no other kind of live stock fays so well, it really seems to our view that it is but a duty the farmer owes to the community, that he gives more and better attention to the multiplying of good poultry and eggs, for general consumption. If the nominal intention of breeders and poultry soci- eties to " improve " the condition of this branch of rural trade means anything, we hope to see their efforts direct- ed to the advancement of the chief means whence this market supply 4)roperly originates — to wit, towards tlie interests of the /arwiers of the country. Quoting once more from the N. Y. Poultry Bulletin, we observe that its talented editor lately insists that the 338 burnham's new poultry book; majority of farmers have always considered their poul- try of little or no consequence, and they have allowed them to run wild and take care of themselves, and de- generate from year to year. Tliey generally let them roost in their pig-pen, on their wagons, or wherever they can find a place. They seldom, if ever feed them, ex- cept it be a little in winter, and allow them to make their nests on the hay, under the barns, and all over the premises. But they very rarely coop them and keep them out of the wet grass, or feed them regularly ; in consequence of which, full seventy per cent. die. This has resulted in reducing the size of poultry and eggs to an alarming degree, so that the farmers' chickens and ducks average from 2 to 4 lbs., turkeys and geese from 6 to 8 lbs. and eggs 10 to the pound, etc. And these plainly stated facts account, in a great measure, for the almost universal opinion current among American far- mers that " poultry keeping don't pay." It never will pay, conducted in this reckless way, and it ought not to pay, so managed ; since if it is not worth the little trouble requisite to keep it in good condition, it is not worth keeping at all. Mr. Leland's poultry establishments, previously al- luded to, are the most extensive, if not the largest in the Northern States. He has over four thousand Brahma fowls in stock, three hundred ducks of different kinds ; four to five hundred turkies, and one hundred and fifty breeding geese. He kills from one to two hundred head weekly, for his great hotel in New York ; and the l)usi- oess pays him handsomely, since he has a quick market A PXJACTICAL TBEATISE ON DOMESTIC F0WL3. 339 through this channel for his poultry, all of which has hitherto been raised for the " Metropolitan ; " from the refuse dry offal of which immense establishment, Mr. Ij. has the advantage of being able to furnish his fowls >>'th a great variety of acceptable food, at small cost, of course. He states that he turns out about three thous- sand chickens every spring. Thus it has been demonstrated, in late years, that j)Oultry can be kept to profit, in quantities, if the right management, care and location is accorded the fowls. Formerly it was found that the attempt to keep and breed this kind of farm stock to any great extent, upon one estate, failed of success ; and it is only a few years since, that Hon. Lewis P. Allen, in response to a cor- respondent who asked his advice as to " how a chicken- houae should be constructed, to accommodate about a thousand fowls," replied as follows: " If my poor opin- ion is worth anything, you will not build it at all. Fowls, in any large numbers together, will not thrive. I have seen it tried, but I never knew a large collection of several hundred fowls succeed in a confined place. I have known sundry of these enterprises tried ; but 1 never knew one permanently successful. They were all in turn abandoned." Thirty years ago, to wit, in 1839 to 1841, 1 planned an extensive range of fowl-houses in Roxbury, Mass., ha ring leased " Williams' Garden," at the foot of Mt. Pleasant, for the puipose of trying to raise poultry on a lai-ge scale. I had a fine establishment, good location, what T supposed was ample space, and I erected twenty fowl-houses, in a circle — connected together under ont 340 bdenham's new poultky-book ; general shed roof, witli small jards attached to each house. I had glass houses, too, a pond on the premises, and every apparent convenience was at hand that seem- ed to be needed. But the enterprise did not succeed, Five hundred fowls were massed upon one spot ; and they soon failed, retrograded, sickened and died. In winter time they could not be kept in good health, with- in the limits of the house-confinement ; and after three years' trial, I gave it up. But the error committed in that instance was in huddling too many fowls together under one roof. Only by colonizing them, a few in a place, scattered about over your farm or estate, in num- bers of not over forty to fifty together, can you breed poultry to advantage, or keep them in health. And to effect this — time, labor, and attention must be given to the object. The thriving merchant rises early, goes to his store, and remains there attending to his business till evening, and thus obtains a good living, or makes money. The mechanic who succeeds in life, begins his work with the sun's rising, and labors assiduously to its setting — to get on comfortably in the world, and lay up something for a rainy day. The artisan devotes ten or twelve hours, daily, to his labors and studies, or he runs behind his more enterprising rivals. The lawyer and the doctor are necessarily obliged to give their days (and nights often,) to their duties, constantly ; and very few in these professions get jich, through either ! The farmer toils from dawn to evening, over his live stock, his crops, or his fields — and obtains comfort and subsistence only by attending to his work industriously and steadily. A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 341 And so every business pursuit in life must needs be followed with zeal, care, skill, and determination — to prove more or less successful. If any one desires to raise poultry to profit, in an ordinary way, he must attend to it, precisely as he would to any otlier business, or profession ; or there is nothing in it, for him. Do- mestic Fowls will not take care of themselves, advan- tageously. They must have siiclter, in 'bad weather ; they must be kept from crowding each other, in limited quarters ; they must be fed and cared for, upon system; and they need constant looking after, during the day, precisely as any other live stock does. And this under- taking should be attempted (on a scale to any great extent,) only as any business, pursuit, calling, or profes- sion is followed if the party interested expects to make the occupation remunerative. The same number of hours daily, regularly, and faithfully, that the shop-keeper, the mechanic, the artisan, the lawyer, the laborer, the farmer, or other stock-raiser gives to his duties, profession, or business, devoted to the care of two or three thousand fowls, upon a suitable location, within reach of market, will yield very much better returns, in proportion to the out- lay of capital, cost of keeping, etc., than will the multi- plying of any live stock grown. There is little of mys- tery, little of difficulty to be encountered, in this em- ployment, and no hard labor. But to succeed in pro- ducing good fowls, or in multiplying this kind of stock, in numbers — your poultry must be systematically at- tended to, and never be left to shift for themselves. And, in this respect, the business of raising fowls is. in 342 burnham's new poultbt-book ; no particular, different from any other calling. It is a good business, a paying enterprize, a healthful occupa- tion, a pleasant employment, and will be attended with satisfactory results — if well followed. Attempted other- wise ^it will only be coupled with failure ; precisely as any business pursuit is certain to fail, if inefficiently, or recklessly left to manage itself. Thus, in plain phrase, 1 hare endeavored to set forth in this New Poultry Book such general rules and advice as I deem useful, pertinent, and practically feasible, for the successful keeping and rearing of chickens and fowls, and the production of eggs . either iii fancy breeding, or the more useful and desirable pursuit of poultry-raising for household and marketing purposes. By reference to our previous pages, the reader may find the names of many of the principal good breed- ers and dealers in this country who raise the finest stock, and who are prepared to supply orders, honorably and promptly, 1 believe. And we are happy in being able to conclude our present pleasant task with the knowl- edge that a new impulse has of late been given to the subject, among us, which I make no doubt will be fol- lowed with largely beneficial results to the poultry in- terest in the United States, in the future. Very likely I leave many things yet to be learned, concerning the matters treated of hei'ein. But, if tiio recommendations I have submitted are followed, poul- try-keepers will not be disappointed in the results at- tainable through an observance of the suggestions contained in this work, which has now reached THE END. 1 EE AND*^=- pOPULAR * * * » Shepard's I ^ ^ H andbooks Price, each. In cloth, 60 cents, except vihen other price 1h given. Forgotten MeanlnCfSi o^ a" Hour with a Dictiooary. By Alfuhh WaiteSi author of Historical Student's Manual. Handbook of Blunders. Designed toprevent 1,000 coraraon blundera in writing and epeakiug. By Harlan H. 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