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 No I. BUFF OR PARTRIDGE COCHIN. 
 
 As Tn-f'd by 1>. AV. Il4'ri>;f in*', C. II. AVariier. I. V:inWinkU', J. 31. Wade, 
 G. 31. Cliaiiipnoy. J. (;rav«'s. JLI. J. Taylor, W. Siuipsoii, Ji'-, etc. 
 
No. 2. QUEEN VICTORIA'S ORIGINAL COCHINS,. 
 
 Drawn in lo4I, by Harrison Weir, London. 
 
BURNHAM'S 
 
 NEW 
 
 POULTRY BOOK 
 
 A PRACTICAL TREATISE 
 
 OJSr SELECTING-, ia:OXJSIN"G}- J^NT> BREEDIICG}- 
 
 DOMESTIC FOWLS, 
 
 AND RAISING POULTRY AND EGGS FOR MiLRKET. 
 
 BY GEO. P/BURNHAM, 
 
 Author of " The New England Poultry Breeder," etc. 
 
 ;/^ 
 
 Illustrated with cuts of different modern popular varieties, from life, 
 Plans of Poultry Houses, Hatching Coops, Cages, &c. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 
 AMERICAN NEWS COMPANY, NEW YORK. 
 N. E. NEWS COMPxVNY, BOSTON. 
 
 1871. 
 
S ^4 - 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by 
 
 GEO. P. BURNHAM, 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 PRINTED BY 
 WILLIA.M H. CHANDLER, 
 
 CORNHILL, BOSTON. 
 
PREK^CE 
 
 % 
 
 The following pages have been prepared to supply an apparent 
 want at this time, which is evinced in consequence of the remarka- 
 ble fresh impetus which in the last few years seems to have been 
 given in this country to the pursuit of the subject treated of — to wit, 
 the raising and improvement of Domestic Poultry. 
 
 Since the close of the late war in the United States, farmers, coun- 
 try gentlemen, fanciers, and amateurs in all directions have entered 
 into the prosecution of this business witli new zeal in America. 
 
 Where fifteen years ago there was one breeder of fine poultry in this 
 country, it is safe to assert there are now a score, or more ; and Amer- 
 can fimciers have provided themselves with the best specimens of 
 poultry probably in the world, to-day. The author is not aware that 
 any work upon Poultry has been published latterly, bringing the 
 record down to the present time, and treating the subject in the 
 modern style he has herein attempted. 
 
 The superior illustrations which adorn the volume, speak for them- 
 selves. For the most part, they are well drawn and nicely engraved 
 for us by Messrs. Bricher & Conant, Boston, and give the character- 
 istics of the fowls they are intended to represent, with rare fidelity — 
 in many instances to the life. Until within a few years', there were 
 no artists on this side of the Atlantic who executed wood-cuts to 
 represent poultry witli any degree of accuracy, or likeness to the 
 originals. At the present day it is not difficult to procure nice de- 
 lineations of favorite birds — in almost any part of the North — as is 
 shown in the beautiful cuts presented in this Poultry Book, though 
 though a few are taken from Harrison Weir's splendid drawings. 
 
 In the appropriate places, the author credits those gentlemen who 
 have aided him with suggestions, or who have furnished some of 
 these fine drawings, themselves, to embellish this work. It has been 
 the intention to treat the many breeders and their favorite stock 
 fairly, and no preference is given where it is not deemed deserving. 
 
 Since the undersigned commenced the breeding of Domestic Poul- 
 try (over thirty years since) many changes among breeders and their 
 favorite fowls have occurred ! He has learned something in that long 
 period, and he now offers the details of his experience — in simple 
 language — to those who will appreciate it, he trusts, in the kindly 
 spirit which has actuated him in preparing this present treatise. 
 
 Melrose, Mass., 1871. The Author. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Chap. Page. 
 
 I. General Introduction 5 
 
 II. On Eggs, and Hatching Chickens 13 
 
 in. Feeding and Rearing Young Broods 23 
 
 IV. Purely-bred Year old Fowl, Upward. ... 34 
 
 V. Poultry-Houses, and Accommodations. ... 51 
 
 VI. Raising Poultry and Eggs for Market. . . 64 
 
 VII. Illustrations of Poultry-Houses 81 
 
 VIII. Fowl-Houses, Coops, Chicken-Cages, Etc. . . 100 
 
 IX. On Artificial Egg-Hatching 121 
 
 X. Patent Incubators, and Improvements. . . 128 
 
 XL Poultry Exhibitions, and Show-Fowls. . . . 137 
 
 XII. Varieties of Popular Fowls'. The Brahma. . 148 
 
 XIII. The Original "CocHiN-CmNA." 169 
 
 XIV. Old and New Partridge Cochins 179 
 
 XV. Modern Buff Cochins. 188 
 
 XVT. The Houdans, Crevecceurs and La Fleche. . 199 
 
 XVIL The Dark Brahma Fowl 207 
 
 XVIII. The English Gray Dorking 220 
 
 XIX. The Game Fowl and its Uses 227 
 
 XX. Black Spanish and Gueldres 245 
 
 XXL Dominique, Spangled Hamburg, Bolton Gray. 252 
 
 XXII. Golden Sebright and other Bantams. . . . 265 
 
 XXIIL " Many Men have Many Minds." 271 
 
 XXIV. The American Wild Turkey 284 
 
 XXV. Rearing the Domestic Turkey 290 
 
 XXVI. Wild, Bremen, Toulouse, and Native Geese. 301 
 
 XXVII. The Aylesbury, Rouen, and Common Duck. . 311 
 
 XXVIII. What I know about Poultry and Fowl-Shows. 318 
 
 XXIX. Twenty-five good Rules for Fowl-Breeders. 327 
 
 XXX. Raising Fowls in Quantities, to Profit. . . 333 
 
BURNHAM'S NEW POULTRY BOOK. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It has beeo 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 greater size, finer quality, and increased 
 productiveness in eggs or fleshy 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 burnham'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 tlie 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 in 
 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 Imn- 
 dred and forty dozen, daily, during that year. Two 
 hotels in Philadelphia exceed tliat 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 ; wliich fowl- 
 houses are now carried on there under their style of 
 
8 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 management, with success and remunerative profit ; 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 
 poultr}^, 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 this 
 " New Poultry Book " may lay claim to having gradu- 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 9 
 
 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 writer has, 
 in his time, bred largely all the varieties of Domestic 
 Fowls tliat 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 facts 
 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 iio work on this subject at present 
 exists that is so simple in its details, so thoroughly 
 
10 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 practical in its sug'gestions, 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 Reaumer, 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 making a husiness of 
 chicken-raising ;" a business which he claims " requires 
 several branches of knowledge, and a great many small 
 experiments, the sum total of which constitutes the sub- 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 11 
 
 ject matter of an art^^ in his opinion ; though M. de 
 Reaumer candidly admits that " all that this art requires 
 we should know, is so very plain, that it is as soon ob- 
 tained 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 
 tliat 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 
 o{ plenty of domestic poultiy 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 the 
 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 burnham's new poqltry-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 
 Poultry-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 wlio 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 tlie 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 of/ancy, 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, Shanghaes, Crevecoeur, La Fleche, or 
 other large Asiatic or French birds. While a few pre- 
 fer the Bolton Gray, the Hamburg, the Poland, or Game. 
 
 13 
 
14 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 The transportation of eggs intended for hatching, 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 tliis 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 
 them by. 
 
 A city editor has lately stated that " 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 liash of wood, leather and iron, must be 
 highly encouraging to tlie 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 writei' 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 purchasers buy them, 
 and accept the attendant risk. Probably it is the best 
 way of disseminating choice stock, as yet known to us ; 
 and, since it is the only mode that can be made availa- 
 ble, whereby the 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 sliipment — to and fro. 
 
 But, as to the safety of transporting eggs, it is a point 
 upon which the experience of l^reeders 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 Qgg^ 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 tlie 
 delicate germ." And we observe upon the circulars of 
 
16 
 
 burnham'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 I'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 the 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 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 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. 17 
 
 supply orders. Other breeders send their choice eggs 
 ill all directions, and it is of course understood that the 
 buyer takes what risk there may be, in this perhaps 
 absolutely necessary way of distributing eggs abroad, 
 from choice stock. 
 
 Tlie best mode I have ever yet known for paclcing 
 eggs, to be thus transported, is a very simple one. 
 First, wrap each egg separately in common soft brown 
 paper ; tlien place the eggs end-wise up, apart from 
 each other, in coarse bran, or shorts ; witli 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 the box " with 
 care," as should be indicated always upon the outside 
 of the box, eggs ought to go tlirough, with an approxi- 
 mation to safety from breaking, or having the life 
 shaken out of them. I simply say, liowever, 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 that is 
 heavier. Your large hens (if you have any) of the 
 
18 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 1 
 
 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 
 Shanghae, 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 ke^p 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 Qgg^ for liatching, by roughly sliaking, 
 jarring it, or turning it over, carelessly. If, as you 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 19 
 
 gather 3'our 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 Bi'ahma fowls, are always double-yolked, 
 and useless. The diminutive eggs, (laid at the end 
 of the litter, usually,) are yolkless, or imperfect, 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 3^ou 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 the 
 box, with a thick sod, the grass side upward ; upon 
 wliich scatter a thin layer of fine fresh hay — and let 
 Iter alone, from the hour you place her. 
 
 The nest should be in a moderately darkened situa- 
 tion, where the hen will not be disturbed, or intruded 
 
20 burnham's new poultry-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 ' lierself 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 ivill 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 tlie 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 tlie chicks are put under a strange mother 
 within twentv-four hours after she hatches her e«i>;s, she 
 will adopt them ordinarily, without any trouble — and 
 she will brood and rear a dozen or fourteen chicks as 
 well as half a dozen. 
 
 On the twentieth day from the sitting, the chicken 
 presents the following appearance 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 
 
 liours." 
 
22 burnham'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 
 the young bird to bleed to death — even if released. 
 Don't handle them ; don't fuss with them. But let Na- 
 ture and tlie hen-mother work, without your bungling 
 aid, and all will go well at the hatching-time. 
 
 The tender solicitude exliibitcd 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 REARING YOUNG BROODS. 
 
 The chickens having now shown themselves, still let 
 them alone for four-and-twenty hours, at tlie least. They 
 do not want any thing to eat for one day after hatching. 
 They should then be removed to a clean, fresli 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 soalved bread, or a hard-boiled egg, 
 broken up fine ; and after the third day, for a week, on 
 oatmeal or barley meal — allowing chem to run with the 
 hen, 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 furtlier ad- 
 23 
 
24 burnham's new poultry-book. 
 
 vanced, (if they were hatched in March) and while the 
 weather has become warmer, they have grown much 
 stronger, too. After this time the hen will take care of 
 them, if shehave 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 
 run under such a shelter, which is ample to protect them 
 from cold whids, rain storms, or the heat of the sun, at 
 times. If the roof is battened, over the 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 
 

 \l\ .% 
 
 I 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE 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 brood. Generally, however, this is 
 the exception. And for this important reason, I 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 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 Up to four or five months old, jou 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 has given 
 them, save the one regular feeding daily. They have 
 been very easily kept — indeed ! 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 th^' 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. 27 
 
 fresh water. An ample box of ashes, with a pound or 
 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 as 
 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 burnham's new poultry-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 
 two of your young cocks for a full year-old male, of 
 different parentage, to proceed with ; 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, first 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 Farmer'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 afford a profitable remuneration for 
 the time and management required for the business ? 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 29 
 
 How 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 shred 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 gi^eat range. Eighteen acres be- 
 long to them exclusively. Then the broods have 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 
 them worms. 
 
 " When the hen has commenced to sit, I take her 
 
30 burnham's new poultry-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 
 wliitewash 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 have such luck is because my 
 poultry yard receives all the scraps from the 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. 
 He 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 this volume — who will thus accom- 
 modate you. From such chickens you can proceed to 
 breed, confidently, without the cliange of males, just 
 suggested, if you prefer this mode ; since the eggs are 
 furnished you from fowls in no wise related, though an 
 older cock than your pullets is preferable. 
 
 1 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 31 
 
 Many breeders make this a " point of honor "with 
 their amateur patrons, for their own subsequent credit, 
 when the buyer sliall come to raise chickens fi'om the 
 stock thus sold, by them. But if eggs cannot thus be 
 had, unless the change in the male bird is made, at the 
 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 burnham'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 Nivernais. 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 /eet? 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 liad, 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 
 let them have enough of the best, always. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PUEELY BRED ONE YEAR OLD FOWLS, AND UPWARDS. 
 
 Id 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, purely. 
 34 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 35 
 
 A youug pullet will lay, in her first litter, ordina- 
 rily, fifteen to twenty eggs. Then she ceases, for a 
 short 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 suffer 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 up, 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 open 
 bottomless pen, or coop, say four feet by six, and four 
 feet high — constructed with a lean-to roof to shed i\\Q 
 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 
 
36 burnham's new poultry-book : 
 
 
 the roost — will serve to cure them of this sitting fever 
 quicker, witli 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 
 inefficacious. 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 Eichardson, a noted English writer upon 
 Poultry, that the " Cochin China is a gigantic bird, 
 very prolific, frequently laying two, and sometimes three 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 37 
 
 eggs in a day." In support of this assertion, Mr. Rich- 
 ardson subsequently refers as his authority for this 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 be ; 
 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 buenham'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 which they originated ! 
 
 At the age when it is advisable to put your fresh 
 stock 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 Buff or 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 fact — drawn from 
 repeated experiment during my thirty years' experience 
 in breeding. And at this very writing, I nieet with the 
 following absurd sentence in a communication to the 
 N. Y. Bulletin, over the signature of a correspondent 
 who usually w^rites well o\\ 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 liave noted follows, invariably, in the multiplying of 
 amj kind of live stock, and is never-failing. Let me 
 illustrate this point. 
 
 Several years ago, a gentleman in Newfoundland 
 sent 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 fine 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 upright ear, and the 
 absence of the web-foot, etc., a very satisfactory cross ^ 
 but no longer the " pure " Newfoundland. I bred that 
 mother six years afterwards, consecutively, to the origi- 
 nal Newfoundland male, belonging to my neighbor ; and 
 never ^ 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 Russian 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, eyerywhere, among the fowls produced from what 
 
40 burnham'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 every 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, when 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, 
 streaked, 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 stock- 
 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 Cotswold 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 Cotswold 
 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 
 fine 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 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 I 
 
 bunch 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, and I explained the matter to him — 
 though at the time I had not had sufficient experience to ; 
 suspect what so certainly followed. He bred these Cots- * 
 wolds together, three years afterwards ; and more than 
 half his lambs came similarly " deformed," showing the ! 
 broad flat 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 served with a pure 
 Teeswater bull, by which she had a fine cross calf. The 
 folloiving season the same cow was served with a pure 
 Aberdeenshire bull, but the product was in appearance 
 a cross-bred calf, which at two 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. Tiie 
 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, but the progeny show- 
 eel distinct marks of resemblance to the former ram, in 
 color, 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 might 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 Edinburg, 
 and born of white parents, but whose mother previous to 
 her marriage bore a mulatto child, 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, thus 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 ^s 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, i/ield 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 poultry-book; 
 
 ji 
 
 5 
 
 mistaking it in the dark, for a bear. During thirty-five 
 years subsequently, all 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 ofj 
 the first bull of the breed ever brouglit there. And witl 
 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, o^ili/ — ever had a litter of 
 young, some one or more of which did not possess the 
 
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 wliy^ (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 hy other males. Attention was directed to this 
 subject in England by the following circunistances, 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 his 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 poultry-book ; 
 
 vray says : " That in several foals in the royal stud at 
 Hampton Court, j^ot by the horse " Actseon," there were 
 unmistakable marks 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 asserted at Newmarket that he 
 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 horse, 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 tliere 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 tliis 
 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 have 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 these different varieties, when the chick- 
 ens are coming to be seven to ten months old, will be 
 irretrievably contaminated, for the rest of their lives ; 
 and this course will render them useless for pure breed- 
 ers — no matter Avhat 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 other lands — in China, Calcutta, 
 Spain, 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 what 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 I aver 
 that it is not a possible thing either to obtain or to 
 breed, 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 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 ducing the matter to a fine point. And so it is — je\ 
 it is precisely so. 
 
 Your pullets, at eight to twelve months old, are in 
 order to commence to breed from. A two-jQuv 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 I'epeat it, 3^ou can never render 
 such fowl available afterwards, as a j:»2^re 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 Wier,) 
 
 One of the first Trio sent to EiiRlaiul by O. V. Burnliam. 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 49 
 
 The strong blood of the Asiatic species exhibits it- 
 self, coiitiimouslj, when bred straight through — with- 
 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 I have 
 bred since 1849, '50. The light variety of this long 
 favorite fowl — than which none better, will, in my 
 judgment, 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 Shanghses, now called 
 *' Partridge Cochins," (of which more hereafter,) have 
 changed very little in the long years since 1849, when 
 the importer originall}^ 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 admiration 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 185T, 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 
 alike, always the same, when bred clearly and purely. 
 
50 burnham's new poultry-book. ^ 1 
 
 So it is with other strains — as the purely bred Black 
 Spanish, the Gueldres, the White Dorkings, the Leg- 
 horns, the 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 the 
 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- 
 stx'ict them to limited accommodations, however, thenj 
 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. 
 
CHAPTER y. 
 
 POULTRY HOUSES AND NEEDFUL ACCOMMODATIONS. 
 
 The fashion, dimensions, and proportions of fowl 
 houses, pens, or coops, and the conveniences accorded 
 to their poultry by different breeders and fanciers, are 
 as varied as are the number of poultry-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 henery, 
 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 
 
4 
 
 a: 
 
 < 
 
 « 1 
 
 02 I 
 
 Q - 
 
 9a 
 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 53 
 
 In England, many fine strnctnres may be seen, which 
 are devoted to tlie use of chickens and pigeons — one of 
 which is the elegant poultry-house and aviary of her 
 British Majesty, Queen Victoria, which the author had 
 tlie 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 agreeable 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 poultry-book; 
 
 fencing, which affords space where the fowls and chicks ' 
 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. 
 Her 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 
 e very-day life, which is so truthfully portrayed by the 
 poet : — 
 
 " I love the neighborhood of man and beast ; Wm 
 
 I would not place my stable out of sight. 
 How grateful 'tis to wake, and hear the sound 
 Of flapping wing and crow of Chanticleer, 
 Long ere the morn that tells the dawn is near. 
 Pleasant the path — by garden wall or fields — 
 Where flocking birds, of various plume and chirp, 
 Discordant, cluster round the leaning stack. 
 From whence the thresher draws the rusthng leaves !" 
 
 The nests in this extensive royal establishment are 
 formed of dry 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 the flat 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 
 
 55 
 
 bottom of the boarding. These can be built on or near 
 the floor of the house, or at a higher elevation, as pre- 
 ferred. 
 
 LAYING AND HATCHING KESTS, IN THE QUEEN' S POULTRY-HOUSE. 
 
 Though this extensive and elegantly appointed es- 
 tablishment of royalty is very fine, the splendid poultry- 
 house of Lord Penrhyn, at Winnington, 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 into 
 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, 
 
bQ burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 a cornice, and slate roof, under which is a beaiitifuA 
 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 have 
 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 although so large a number, the 
 semi-circular court is always very neat and clean. This 
 poultry-house is of brick, except the pillars and cor- 
 nices, the lintels and jambs of the 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. 
 These slates are close-jointed, and fastened with screw- 
 nails on small spars fixed in the 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 this 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 England. With 
 us, as we remarked at the opening of this chapter, the 
 simplest and most economical arrangements for this 
 purpose, having regard to the 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 ; sincS they delight 
 in the clear open air, and freedom from the restraint of 
 all closed limits. 
 
 Consequently their houses should be so arranged as 
 tliat 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 roojts 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. To 
 do this you must have additional conveniences to a com- 
 
58 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 mon Ican-to, or shed. From Ma}^ 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 a4id shut at pleasure. At night 07ie 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 day ; 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. Across 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 directly underneath it, (say two feet wide) 
 secure a boarding, upon which the droppings from the 
 birds may fall in one place during the 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 
 barrel 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 width we recommend, and the 
 length of the roost, which he places underneath it, and 
 cleans out frequently — to marked 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 droppings 
 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 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 either in this manner, for the purpose indicated, or 
 saved clean, to be sold to the tanners, your fowls' 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- 
 cordingly 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 building, 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 reai*; it is tight all 
 round, except the slats in fronts ; there is an entrance 
 door to each part (front) and a hole for fowls to enter 
 and leave the house (or shed) at each corner ; yard and 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 61 
 
 — T 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 or 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Do 
 
 s. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 n 
 
 
 1 
 
 n 1 
 
 1 
 
 FRONT. 1 
 OPEN YARD. ! 
 
 FRONT. 
 OPEN YARD. 
 
 r 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 A CHEAP, DOUIiLE BATTENEB-ROOP SUMMER FOWL-HOUSE. 
 
62 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 shed are divided in the centre by a continuons high 
 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 pnt in its place, for winter use, if desirable, at 
 small 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-water, 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 dean. 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 TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 63 
 
 Give them light, fresh air when convenient, lime, 
 scraps, the dry offal from your table, ashes to roll in, 
 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, in a measure, of 
 course, upon the age of your layers. Early spring 
 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 j^ears 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 FOR 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 
 U 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 65 
 
 building is still standing there. The illustrations in this 
 and the next chapters are also copied from the Depart- 
 ment Report, for '62, 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 year 1867, 1 
 learned some facts connected with the details of this 
 paper, which I have noted, in the appropriate place. 
 This 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 the 
 farmer, the breeder, and the amateur, certain facts and 
 hints acquired by the writer through a long experience 
 
66 burnham'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 ( Crallus 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 
 about the country, where the marked features- of the 
 Chinese 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 weighty at a given age, attainable with certainty 
 through 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 TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 67 
 
 in our favor. It is, therefore, but truthful to premise 
 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 continuance of the practice will be 
 found of corresponding advantage in raising poultry 
 for the market, inasmuch as the product of the crossing 
 matures much earlier than does the 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 months 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 have 
 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 poultry-book; 
 
 m market in the months last named, will afford a very 
 handsome profit upon their cost and keeping. At 
 about the period when the cocks are thus killed off, 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 for sitters naturally 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 (Shanghas) ma?^ 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 are 
 best hred 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 beghis 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. 69 
 
 ising as are those hatched from the eggs of young birds ; 
 that is to say, those from one to two years of age. 
 
 Male birds are in tlieir prime only down to the end of 
 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 with 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 
 who 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 should 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 " only 
 the best of both sexes should be selected, and these not 
 too near akin." 
 
70 burnham's new poultry-book 
 
 I 
 
 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 the 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. 
 AVilson, in his " British Farming," says that " where a 
 hundred common fowl and a dozen geese or ducks are 
 kept, the quantity and value of the manure produced 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. Tl 
 
 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 thousarid fowls or more are kept, the importance 
 of this item will be worth remembering. 
 
 In 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 confiiiement (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 cas6 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 poultry-book; 
 
 riddance of sick fowls. Robert Scott Burn, in his " Les- 
 sons of my Farm," very rightfully asserts tliat " 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 miserj^, and avoid 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. 
 
No 5. DARK BRAHMA HEN, (drawn by H. Weir.) 
 
 The first sent to Kuglaiid, bj' G. P. Buriiham. 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 73 
 
 Fowls must be colouized, in small numbers, to be bred 
 profitably. This, in 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 'b^^ are of material consequence in 
 this article, and we allude to the fact simply by w^ay 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 1861, 
 
74 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 the average number annually imported was 163,581,140. 
 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 X 25,700, or about 
 8128,000. In 1861 there were imported 203,313,310 
 eggs. At eight cents per 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, and consumed by 
 her home population in the interior. 
 
 In the year 1856 the value of poultry imported into 
 England was X 221,400. The annual increase of impor- 
 tation since then, up to tlie 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 
 show. 
 
 In the vicinity of all large cities and towns fresh 
 eggs are always in request, at the most remunerative 
 prices. Every tiller of the soil possesses, more or 
 less, facilities for feeding poultry economically, and 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 75 
 
 has also the space upon his land to make them com- 
 fortable and tlu'ifty. But some time must be given to 
 looking after tliem daily, and a degree of care is 
 requisite to keep them in '' 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, having reference to the comparative 
 cost and product, pays with certainty so much greater 
 a percentage of profit, year by year ? 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, (140,000,000.) 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 rural 
 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) is 
 
76 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 always large and equally steady. Prime chickens 
 command from nine to twelve dollars the dozen in 
 American 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 the 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 quayitities. 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 arc annually disj)osed 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 hun- 
 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 iveekly^ 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 " INIonsieur De Sora's " establishment, and the accom- 
 panying statistics above given of his ponltry 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 poultry-establish- 
 ments were then in existence, near Paris, Avhich supplied that chicken-loving 
 city with its myriads of poukts. 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 nuinber of poultry- 
 raisers, in the suburbs of the capital — or tons, beiore the late war there — 
 none of which, however, ^as far as I could learn, approximate to the colossal 
 size iudicatiid in this paragraph, describing De Sora's establishment. — g. p. b. 
 
78 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 •upon his gross animal receipts of nearly three hundred 
 thousand dollars ! To our vision these immense fioures 
 appear very formidable, but De Sora's poultry establish- 
 ment is an enormous concern. During the year 1858, 
 he wintered 100,000 birds, and in 1860 over 112,000 
 of the ordinary varieties, discarding, as he does, the 
 Chinese 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 
 tlie 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 Stales, in 1859, to be 
 equivalent to one Imndred and twenty-two millions of 
 dollars, at eight cents per dozen. The New Yoi'k 
 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 officially reported to 
 be 115,200 dozen. From the State of Maine thousands 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 79 
 
 of barrels of eggs are shipped monthly to the Boston 
 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 Americans from 
 their private domains, the calculations above noted are 
 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, il is well 
 that every farmer should look at this item of live 
 stock, and bear in mind that, with ordinary care, (con- 
 sidering the necessary investment of capital and the 
 trouble of its keeping,) no live stock will return him 
 
80 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 anything like so generous a percentaoe upon his money 
 as will liis 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 northern 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 POULTPwY HOUSE. 
 
 CHAPTER Yll. 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF POULTRY-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 the 
 eaves, of any desired dimensions, upon the following 
 plan : 
 
 Such a house has 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 afHn'ds light and ample oppor- 
 81 
 
82 
 
 BURNHAM S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ; 
 
 Explanation. — W, windows; b, ash-boxes; 
 d, doors; n, nests; r, for roosts. (Ground plan.) 
 
 1 
 b 
 
 w 
 
 1 
 b 
 
 L I. 
 
 n = 
 
 j\ 
 
 JSBSZ 
 
 11 
 
 ^M" 
 
 n 
 
 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 free from 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 enclosure, if practicable, upon 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 83 
 
 which fowls can range daily, is a desideratum in sum- 
 mer. In the rear of the above described house, was 
 alloted half an acre for this purpose. In the absence 
 of these tvv^o last mentioned almost necessities to the 
 high health of domestic fowls, fresh gravel and sand, 
 broken shells, &c., and green food of some kind, as 
 cabbage leaves, ruta-baga tops, turnip leaves, grass, or 
 the like, should frequently be thrown within their reach, 
 which they will devour with avidity, and which will 
 greatly tend to their continual improvement. Old 
 mortar or oyster shells, broken 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 
 ope7i 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. Pure air, and plenty of it, when not freezing 
 cold, is as desirable to fowls as to man. A dust-bath, 
 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 all 
 the better ; if not, fresh water should be supplied them 
 regularly, and the vessels from which they drink should 
 never be suffered to stand in the sun, at any season. 
 
84 burnham's new poultsy-book ; 
 
 Fowls drink a great deal, daily. They should always 
 have plenty of water — fresh, clean, and cool. From" 
 long experience and observation, the writer feels as- 
 sured that no dumb creature better appreciates this 
 provision for its health and comfort than does the 
 domestic 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, lie 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. Witli 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 the 
 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. Tlie products will 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 85 
 
 pay him from four liuiidred and fifty to five hmidred 
 dollars in money ^ and leave him his original stock for 
 the next year. His expenses will be not over two hun- 
 dred to two hundred and fifty dollars, thus furnishing 
 him with an equal sum of profit upon say two hundred 
 fowls. Half this number will afford him half as much 
 certain income, or nearly so. The cost of keeping 
 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- 
 ready described, that would accomplish more than this. 
 The hen spoke u 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 winter, 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 
 
 f/'^. 
 
86 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 only by hatching your chickens early in the spring that 
 they mature in season to lay during the succeeding fall 
 and winter. The secret of having hens to lay in winter 
 lies not (as asserted by some) so much in feeding them 
 peculiarly, 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 on 
 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 
 sought for in every cranny and corner. Grains, bread 
 crumbs, small bones, &c., are very grateful to them. 
 So 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 botli 
 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 FOWLS. 87 
 
 tained, and fowls will devour these with a gusto, always. 
 In the writer'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 the 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 tliis 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 a size suitable for the table. 
 
88 
 
 BURNIIAM S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ; 
 
 FIG. 3 — UANGE OF SUMMER OPEN CHICKEN HOUSES — FltONT. 
 
 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 the market, and which are built 
 at trifling cost. 
 
 FIG. 4. — SUAIMER OPEN CJIlCKhN HOUSES — KEAIt. 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 89 
 
 FIG. 5. — GROUND PLAN OF OPEN SUMMER 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] 
 
 PEN 
 
 coo 
 
 PS. 
 
 
 
 
 OPI 
 
 :n c 
 
 OOP 
 
 5. 
 
 
 
 (Half an acre, or more. ) 
 
 
 
 
 Clump of Trees for shade. 
 
 
 OPEN COOPS. 
 
 
 OPEN COOPS. 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 This arrangement colonizes the different lots of chick- 
 ens, with the mothers, from March or April to June and 
 forward, and separates each from interference with the 
 others. The land might be subdivided into four lots, 
 
90 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 but the expense of fencing would be considerable, of 
 course, and has not been found necessary upon the 
 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 bh-ds, 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 TREATISE 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 crotch- 
 es) and may be set up in any portion of the coops 
 where most convenient. If the floor is kept 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 tlie 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 
 tlie 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 poultry-book ; 
 
 the lot, and if in the whitewash-tub is thrown a pound 
 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 difficulty 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 that 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 ON 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 show. 
 
 Now, when winter approaches, and the weather gets 
 too cold for comfort, upon the plan suggested, all the 
 previous spring and early summer chickens will from 
 time to time have matured and been disposed of, and 
 only the fowls for winter laying and the next 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 oi 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 the 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 
 
 
 5 
 
 i 
 
 
 3 
 H 
 
 
 
 
 
 < 
 
 
 1^ 
 
 Q 
 !«5 
 
 D 
 
 a: 
 ;5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 00 
 
 1 
 
 
 •< 
 
 CO 
 
 
 H 
 
 ) 
 
 ■k 
 
 s 
 
 M 
 fa 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 
 
 I'Xi 
 
 L5- 
 
 
 1 s«l 
 
 ^@u. 
 
 
 -2l 
 
 
 
 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 95 
 
 and the dimensions of this part are seventeen by fifteen 
 feet. The two wings (as shown in the elevation) are 
 shed-roofed, falling bacl^: from the front, are twelve feet 
 high, running down to seven and a half feet in rear, 
 fifteen feet wide, and extend right and left from the out- 
 side of the central building, in each direction forty-five 
 feet, making the whole house ninety-six feet long by 
 hl'teen feet in width, except the centre, which (for orna- 
 ment in this instance) projects out two feet in front, as 
 shown. 
 
 This house is surmounted by a cupola five feet 
 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 
 two 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 /ramecZ. The sashes 
 are upon a line in front, and are glazed in the manner 
 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 hundred 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 ofi*, 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 beginning 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 summer and fall market. From 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 
 compartments, so we show only eifj/ht. They are all alike, however. 
 

A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 97 
 
 add to the next year's breeding stock, as before ; the 
 old fowls (two years of aoje) 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 must 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 stock 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 raised for the 
 table and for market in any quantities, and to highly 
 
98 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 satisfactory profit ; and eggs in abundance may also be 
 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. This plan is for saving eggs for consumption, 
 or sale, only — not for future hatching, of course. In 
 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 France, is con- 
 ducted on an admirable and judicious plan ; much 
 better than is our system of marketing this article, in 
 America. All the poultry is sold in Paris, at La Yallee, 
 the metropolitan market, at auction, daily. The chief 
 city agents, to whom the farmers consign their poultry, 
 eggs and butter, are licensed by the authorities, who 
 sell it at public vendue, at a certain hour, and fore- 
 stalling is unknown there. 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, 
 the buyers taking their position outside the market- 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 99 
 
 place ; and in a little time after the opening, thousands 
 of eggs and thousands of chickens are knocked off to 
 the highest offers, to be sent at once to London, Paris, 
 &c., for consumption. 
 
 "PLYMOUTH EOCK" FOWL. 
 
CHAPTER YIII. 
 
 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 riglit 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 wil^ serve 
 to carry off the rains. The roof-sash should be laid on 
 in the green-house form, in order that tlie 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, GREEN-HOUSE PLAN. » 
 
 The above is a plan for a half span glass-roofod 
 
102 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 house, put up on mj own premises some years ago, and 
 of another of tlie same class in use by my next-door 
 neighbor, for a cold grapery, originally ; but serving 
 admirably for the raising of young early 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. The 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 chickefts hatched 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. 103 
 
 fowls ; sliding skyliglits 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 on. 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 
 for 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 
 sufficient 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, 
 ceiled outside, the roof boarded and shingled. It is 
 divided into six compartments, five being devoted to 
 
104 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 the fowls. The 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 hen 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, or wood ashes 
 and sulphur. When the chickens are liatched, he re- 
 moves all pieces of shell and bad eggs from the nest, 
 and does not disturb ilicm again for 24 hours, when he 
 feeds them with hard boiled eggs, crumbled. In about 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 105 
 
 two days he removes them from 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 are 
 taken from the hen, and put in charge of his " Artificial 
 Mother," until they are old enough to roost, 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 132.) 
 
 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 accommodations 
 for thirty fowls, and is proposed to be built ten- by six- 
 teen feet. It is thought by another writer in the U. S. 
 
106 
 
 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 Report quoted from, that fifty fowls would not over- 
 stock such a house, but he adds, at once, that " experi- 
 ence teaches us that it is unsafe to house in one apart- 
 ment more than fifty fowls, at the same time, and even 
 with that number, ventilation should always be free, 
 during the coldest of weather." Ventilation should be 
 good and ample, ahvays^ and thirty chickens would be 
 enough to house within such limits as are described 
 below, for this 
 
 NEAT AND CHEAP POULTRY-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 
 stuff. It should be covered with sound, matched 
 boards, and battened. The spaces between the studs 
 should be filled in with dry tan ; 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 
 a mixture of sand and gravel, pounded down very 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 107 
 
 firmly. Plant deciduous trees thickly about the house 
 to keep it cool in summer. Perches for the Shanghas 
 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. 
 
 
 i^^msK. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ROOSTING 
 
 ROOMS. 
 
 
 
 FEEDING 
 
 NE8TS. 
 
 ROOMS. 
 
 NESTS. 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 FIG. 1. — GROUND PLAN. 
 
 FIG. 2 — A CROSS SECTION. 
 
 These two last cuts above, show (1) the lower ar- 
 rangements inside, with roosts, 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 month or two after hatch- 
 ing, and a slatted feeding gutter. 
 
 FEKD-TKOUGH AND TEM-COOP. 
 
108 
 
 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 This coop is battened and made like the pitch-roof 
 of a house or barn, 2 feet high, 4 feet square, simply ; 
 has no floor, but is held together at the two ends 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 hold 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 Department Report for 1862, another 
 writer furnishes a few plans of cheap poultry-houses 
 which we give here, and wliich 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 — sufiicient 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 sufiicient light 
 for that purpose. The nest-boxes may be placed over 
 the feeding-boxes, two or three feet from the floor, as 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 109 
 
 may be convenient." ( We 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 lol't 
 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 cf 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 otlier half of tlie floor has a glazed frame 
 on it, twelve inches high at the house, and eight at the 
 
110 
 
 burnsam's new poultry-book 
 
 end ; the sash hinged, through which tlie 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. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 C 
 C 
 
 c 
 
 Open Yard — 1-4 of an acre. 
 
 
 Nes 
 1 
 
 'S, 
 
 
 O 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 
 d. 
 
 
 — 
 
 < 
 
 Dry Fee 
 
 
 
 
 
 ROOSTS, 
 
 3 to 6 ft. from 
 ground. 
 
 
 GROUND PLAN OF YARD AND FOWL HOUSE. 
 
 Let the aspect be to the south, or south-cast, and 
 make your three apartments by slat partitions, with 
 doors to communicate, about 10 by 20 feet each — the 
 central (feeding) one the largest perhaps. Fence the 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 111. 
 
 yard with palings four to six feet high, according to the 
 kind of fowls you keep. Fit their roosts one above an- 
 other, two feet apart, from three to six feet high. Keep 
 your box of dry feed, ashes, etc., in the middle room. 
 Place half a dozen nests in the end apartment ; make 
 these in boxes 12 to 14 inches square and deep. Have 
 your open yard or run, a quarter of an acre if possible, 
 or larger, if you have spare land. A half or quarter of 
 this open space will answer, if kept clean. But fowls 
 love range, and room to roam in. Light it from the front 
 south side, with sash from the ground sill upward, to 
 eaves. It may be a lean-to, or pitched roof, battened — 
 8 foot corner posts — -fowl entrances from yard — main 
 door outside at either end. 
 
 I still adhere to the opinion as expressed in my 
 paper quoted from the Department Report, that " it 
 will not answer to increase the huddling of birds under 
 one roof," and that " crowding fowls into too narrow a 
 space is one great cause of the fatalities attending this 
 attempt to breed them." Yet I believe that if the 
 general directions contained in this and the last chap- 
 ters are followed out as therein proposed, large numbers 
 of chickens and eggs can be so raised for market pur- 
 poses^ to advantage. 
 
 The fact will not be lost sight of here, that through 
 the mode I have there suggested, the great hulk of the 
 chickens so raised will be disposed of during the sum- 
 mer, to be eaten, at so much per pound, dead weight. 
 Thus the stock brought up from spring to autumn will 
 be out of the way. No such numbers of fowls could 
 
112 
 
 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 be ivintered within the accommodations of the poultry- 
 houses therein described, of course ; and this is not the 
 purpose of the recommendations quoted. 
 
 The plan, however, has worked within the limits de- 
 scribed to advantage, and as is proposed in the closing 
 paragraphs of the article mentioned, if more than say a 
 thousand chickens are to be raised, increased space 
 must be accorded, and more buildings must be put up. 
 Instead of half an acre, scatter the houses over acres, 
 and '* colonize " the birds at a distance from each 
 other's premises. In no otlier way can you succeed. 
 
 KAT-PKOOF COKN-BIN. 
 
 Here is a plan for a cheap rat-proof corn or grain 
 house, which may be set upon stone or cedar posts, 
 eighteen inches above the ground ; to be built to suit 
 the needs or convenience of the poulterer, in which may 
 be safely stored corn and grain out of the reach of 
 vermin. A small ventilator at the top serves to keep 
 the contents from heating or mould, when stored within 
 it in large quantities. The shape of this bin is smallest 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 113 
 
 at the bottom, where the sills rest on square pieces of 
 plank, 15 inches wide and long, fastened to the tops of 
 the projecting piles (of stone or wood) as shown in the 
 drawing. From this narrower foundation, the bhi 
 widens out at each side, to the eaves. It may be built 
 of rough boarding, running up and down, and battened, 
 roof and all. A slatted window, or blind, in front over 
 the door, improves its appearance. No steps are 
 necessary, unless it is preferred to have a flight hung 
 upon hinges, to turn up, when not in use, outside the 
 door. With this arrangement, the poultry-keeper may 
 have a convenient depository for his grain, where rats 
 cannot trouble him. 
 
 HEN AND CHICKENS' COOP. (Described on page 110.) 
 
 The " Patent Folding Coop," or Pen, is a very con- 
 venient and desirable invention, originated by G. E. 
 Cleeton, of New Haven, Conn., intended for use in the 
 Poultry Exhibition room, and which, for uniformity's 
 sake, in our shows, we should say is just the thing for 
 the purpose to which this seems admirably adapted. 
 Fowls may be shown in this neat cage to good advau 
 
114 burnham's new poultry-book 
 
 1 
 
 tage, as it is open at the top, front and back, and the 
 judges can readily see and handle the fowls thus 
 cooped. This cage of Mr. Oleeton's is not expensive, 
 and folds up into a thin space, when not in use. It can 
 thus be transported to and from a distance, easily. It 
 is light, safe, strong, and pretty. Several premiums 
 have been awarded this practical and useful coop, and 
 it is certainly a very good and handy arrangement, as, 
 during the journey, birds may be shipped in common 
 boxes, and on arriving at their destination, the folding 
 coops may be opened out, when the birds can be 
 arranged for exhibition. The trouble and expense of 
 sending a large number of ordinary coops has often 
 deterred breeders from sending their birds to distant 
 exhibitions. 
 
 COOP OPENKD AND SET UP. 
 
 But we have now said enough of ^ovfl-houses. The 
 plans herein set down can be chosen from to suit the 
 taste, means, and premises of the breeder or fancier, 
 and he can expend twenty, fifty, or a thousand dollars 
 on these structures, as he pleases. The most impor- 
 tant point is to get the right aspect, and let into the 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 115 
 
 house all the sun and light he can conveniently, in cold 
 weather, especially if he attempts to hatch and raise 
 chickens early in the season. The birds (of all larger 
 breeds) that are successfully got out of their shells, 
 and are subsequently best cared for in the earliest 
 months of the year^ are the ones that " loom up " in the 
 succeeding fall and winter, for the shows ; while pullets 
 thus started, are sure to begin to lay much earlier than 
 tlie later liatched ones, and usually prove the " all- 
 winter-laying breed," we hear so much about. 
 
 But we must attentively follow nature's requirements, 
 to breed poultry advantageously. Mr. R. H. Stoddard, 
 of Hartford, writes correctly upon this point, when he 
 avers, that " whenever we strive to make any animal 
 live contrary to the habits its race has been for ages ac- 
 customed to, we find that nature, unwilling to be thwart- 
 ed, revenges herself in some way. The ivild hens, be- 
 fore they were taken from their native forests had pure 
 air to breathe, the free breezes circulated through their 
 leafy roosting apartment, and their range was covered 
 only by the sky. For the reason why fowls in extreme- 
 ly large flocks refuse to lay freely, we must consult the 
 conditions of nature. In the Indian jungles, the wild 
 parent stock, like all allied species of fowls that live 
 principally upon the ground, associate during the breed- 
 ing season in small families, each having its male head, 
 and appropriating an exclusive territory for a range. 
 This being the law, as unalterable as that of the Medes 
 and Persians, man must respect it. For three thousand 
 years (perhaps six) men successfully kept domesticated 
 
116 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 fowls. They have succeeded by scattering Bmall flocks 
 in every village, thus unconsciously imitating the state 
 of things in the jungles of India. Herded together in a 
 multitude, the ancient instinct thwarted, the yields will 
 not be nearly so great as they were in flocks of tens or 
 twenties. Scores of illustrations in poultry-keeping 
 might be given where nature resists infractions of her 
 laws. It will not do to neglect any point, because it 
 seems a small matter. No ordinance of nature is small." 
 
 The cause of the deficiency in the supply of poultry 
 in the United States, it has been truly said, is found in 
 the lack of careful, systematic enterprise among us. In 
 certain locations, " fanciers " favor raising good birds, 
 few in number, strictly for the show-rooms. Thousands 
 of others pretend to " keep fowls," forgetting that with 
 the right kind of systematic care, fowls may be made to 
 keep them ! Poultry-raising upon an extensive scale, is 
 a business altogether different from all this. The de- 
 mand in the markets of this country is ever increasing, 
 for eggs and chickens, for absolute consumption. And 
 we have endeavored to show (in the last two chapters) 
 that this demand may be met, without limit, if the 
 raising of poultry is conducted upon system. 
 
 But fowls should be attended to, like cattle, sheep, or 
 other live stock — for they are more susceptible to dis- 
 eases, and more delicate than the others. Many of the 
 troubles incident to poultry may easily be prevented; 
 for these come from ill management, or too often no 
 management at all ; and he who undertakes to raise 
 poultry in quantities, by merely crowding hundreds of 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 117 
 
 birds together within confined limits, will simply " have 
 his labor for his pains," in the end. 
 
 At the same time, by colonizing his stock in conven- 
 ient locations about the farm, or estate, each colony be- 
 comes a separate establishment, by itself; and the ag- 
 gregate results will tell — however large the aggregate 
 numbers may be. 
 
 Mr. E. C. Newton, of Batavia, 111., has had but a few 
 years' experience in poultry-breeding, but has been quite 
 successful, and writes us in this wise, regarding his 
 fowl-house and stock. He says : " Few people who have 
 interested themselves in this pleasant business begun as 
 1 did. I was forced into the trade, because my neigh- 
 bors' hens succeeded in scratching up my garden as fast 
 as I could plant it ! I purchased a few Black Spanish 
 fowl, at first, and found they could not be beaten at lay- 
 ing eggs. My stock was out of birds imported from 
 Scotland, and proved highly satisfactory, for one variety. 
 I then remodelled my barn, and rendered it comfortable 
 for my stock, and in the spring of '68, 1 bought a trio of 
 the light Brahmas, from MassachuvSetts, with which 
 breed I was greatly pleased. With care I raised 60 
 chickens, the first season. I then sent to Connecticut 
 for eggs, and raised six fine Buff Cochins, a few Ham- 
 burgs, and Dominiques, Leghorns and Silver Polands. 
 I kept only the Buff Cochins, however, until I heard of 
 the dark Brahmas, and purchased my stock of these last 
 at Philadelpliia — adding to my flock of breeders some 
 fine Houdans, from Taunton, Mass. Out of all these 
 varieties, I raised 260 chickens, and in 1870 procured 
 
118 burnham's new poultry-book 
 
 1 
 
 from New York a clutch of the Partridge Cochins — 
 splendid fowl — in my judgment. 
 
 I found my premises too contracted for my large and 
 increasing fowl family, and then bought a thirty-acre 
 farm near this city, moved on to it, and erected a 
 spacious poultry-house 100 feet long, 12 to 20 feet in 
 width, fronting south, well lighted and ventilated, and 
 I am now located here, with what I consider a first class 
 selected stock of five varieties, of which I send you illus- 
 trations, drawn from life, and which are considered all 
 good birds. My poultry-house is after a plan of my own. 
 It is divided into ten apartments, one for boxing and 
 packing fowls, etc., and the other nine partitioned off 
 for the fowls' convenience. The partitions are of wire- 
 work, and you can stand at one end and look through 
 the whole length of the building, inside. Outside I have 
 ten large yards divided by a seven foot fence of pickets, 
 and my doors are arranged with wire connections, so 
 that I can raise or close them all at once, from one 
 spot. In front of my building is a raised story, contain- 
 ing grain-bin, &c., and I have arranged spouts running 
 down into the coops, or apartments, through which I 
 can easily feed the grain. 
 
 I feed from troughs or hoppers, for I believe that it is 
 natural for fowls to eat as often as they feel inclined, 
 and they will not eat too much, or more than they want, 
 if food is left constantly before them. For dry feed, I 
 give as great a variety as I can conveniently, and add 
 a dinner of soft food twice a week, which I season with 
 pepper, salt and sulphur, occasionally. A box of brok- 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 119 
 
 en bone, gravel, ashes, etc., is always at hand, with lime, 
 and fresh clean water, daily. A few drops of tincture 
 of iron, mixed with the water, I find excellent, and I 
 think it a preventive. of gapes. At any rate, I have no 
 gapes or chicken-cholera among my birds, yet. 
 
 I sprinkle lime under the roosts, and clean out every- 
 thing once a week, from the house-floors. As to a pref- 
 erence of breeds, I will only add tliat, in my experience, 
 the Spanish are very valuable as layers, when only eggs 
 are wanted. The Houdan is another excellent layer 
 and good for the table — among the best. Of the four 
 Asiatic varieties, I find little difference except in color ; 
 their habit is the same, generally. But I consider them 
 far ahead of all others, for they lay well, reach good size, 
 fatten easily, and will give you plenty of eggs, in the 
 months when eggs are worth 50 to 75 cents the dozen, 
 in market. This alone renders the Brahmas and 
 Cochins highly valuable. I send you cuts of my fowls, 
 and I have aimed to make them correct as possible, as 
 likenesses of my fowls." (These drawings of Mr. New- 
 ton's fowls, very fairly executed, will be found in their 
 appropriate places, in our pages.) 
 
 It has not escaped observation that many fowls have 
 a penchant for eating the small feathers off their com- 
 panions' necks and breasts, especially when they are in 
 closely confined quarters, or in contracted poultry-houses. 
 And this destructive disposition is particularly evinced 
 among the black Spanish fowls, though other varieties 
 indulge in this same pastime, upon opportunity. Very 
 frequently this habit is noticeable with birds confined in 
 
120 burnham's new poultry-book. 
 
 % 
 
 cages, during exhibition days — to the great damage of 
 their plumage, and the disgust of their owners. 
 
 Whenever a poultry-keeper discovers this inclination 
 among his fowls, if he will saturate a bit of sponge in 
 common kerosene oil, (or spirits of turpentine) and 
 bathe the parts wliich the offending fowls thus peck, 
 it will quickly put an end to the birds' desire for further 
 taste of that kind of edible. It may be necessary to fol- 
 low up this sponging, with the liquid named, for a day 
 or two. But it is a certain cure for this annoying dis- 
 position on the part of grown fowls, who thus search 
 for the blood-filled pin-feathers of their mates. But 
 when they get a taste of the pungent spirits, they are 
 done with this thing ! Generous feeding of animal food 
 at such times, is a great preventive to their looking after 
 this kind of nourishment, which they tear from the skins 
 of their neighbors, to the serious detriment of their sub- 
 missive associates in the fowl-liouse. 
 
 WADE & henry's stone DRINKING FOUNTAIN. 
 
No 7. WHITE-FACED BLACK SPANISH. 
 
 As bred by Jos. M. Wa<le, C. H. Kdinonds. A. M. Halsted, 
 £. C. Newtun. and utherti. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 ON ARTIFICIAL EGG-HATCHING. 
 
 To this subject I propose devoting some few pages, 
 though the process is little understood in America, 
 and less practised among us. For mj^self, I have not 
 attempted to hatch chickens by artificial heat, except 
 in an experimental way, and have never succeeded in 
 it, satisfactorily. Yet it is done — in England, France, 
 Holland, and Belgium — to advantage, at the present 
 time ; and in some countries it has long been practised 
 to good profit, while the business of artificial hatching 
 is being looked into somewhat in this country, latterly. 
 
 The Egyptians have for centuries hatched chickens 
 in enormous numbers, by means of artificial heat, in 
 ovens, in steam-heated casks, etc. But we have not 
 yet reached this point in the advancement of '' the art," 
 and there are no poultry-raisers yet in this country who 
 undertake thus to multiply domestic fowls, to any great 
 extent. 
 
 Monsieur De Reaumur desired in his experiments, 
 long years ago, " that some method might be found out 
 for hatching chickens in ^ a great quantity, at pleasure, 
 121 
 
122 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 that would not require heavy expense, that might be 
 easily practised in the country by the simplest rustics, 
 even, and which might form an agreeable amusement 
 to other classes there ; to all who take a pleasure in the 
 variety of sights and operations the poultry-yard af- 
 fords ; to those who delight in furnishing it in plenty 
 with fowls of different species ; to those who, if asked 
 zvhy the care thus taken should not be as reputable as 
 that which we employ in cultivating plants, trees, and 
 flowers, in a garden — would not hesitate upon their an- 
 swer ; to those, in short, who, being apt to think that 
 this subject is ennobled by its utility, think also that 
 animate beings — such as birds — may furnish more 
 satisfactory observations to a philosophical mind, than 
 those that merely vegetate." And he concludes that 
 " the care of multiplying fowls would thus become an 
 employment worthy of such naturalists as have in a 
 superior degree the talent of observation, that of con- 
 triving experiments, and the constancy necessary to 
 pursue them, to widely beneficial results." 
 
 Mr. G. K. Geyelin, of London, visited France a few 
 years since, under the auspices of a large English 
 Poultry Company, for the purpose of examining into 
 the modes pursued there in multiplying fowls in great 
 numbers; and in his subsequent report to his associates, 
 he mentions having met with four different plans in 
 vogue, in Prance, for artificial incubation ; which, 
 lliough said to answer well there, are yet (in his judg- 
 ment) " far from being applicable to hatching in a com- 
 mercial point of view. It matters indeed very little 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 123 
 
 what system is adopted, provided the heat is maintained 
 at an even temperature : to obtain this, various regula- 
 tors have been invented, but none of which can as yet 
 dispense with personal care. They all say that their 
 regulators are perfect ; if the temperature of the room 
 can be kept at the same degree of heat during incuba- 
 tion, that then they can regulate the heat of the incuba- 
 tor, to any given degree. But as such conditions of a 
 uniform temperature are impossible to maintain, (con- 
 sidering the variations in the temperature of the atmos- 
 phere) he considers artificial hatching too expensive for 
 ordinary purposes, and only to be adopted at certain 
 times of the year ; and then only in establishments 
 where the heat can be maintained at a uniform tem- 
 perature, day and night, by personal care. He adds — 
 
 " At the Jardin des Plantes, in Paris, the manager 
 of the poultry department, M. Vallee, employs an ap- 
 paratus of his own invention, which he has patented, 
 and for which he has obtained prizes at two exhibitions. 
 The principle consists of water, heated by means of a 
 lamp, as a medium for hatching ; the temperature is 
 regulated by admitting more or less cold air by means 
 of a valve opened or closed by a mercury float. 
 
 " At the Jardin d' Acclimatization two systems of 
 artificial incubation are in use, and altliough both are 
 on the hot-water principle, yet they differ materially ; 
 the one is heated by means of a lamp and the tempera- 
 ture regulated by a valve admitting more or less cold 
 air, which is effected by a piston acted upon by the ex- 
 pansion or condensation of air under different tempera- 
 
124 buenham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 tures ; the other consists merely of a zinc box covered 
 with non-conducting materials. This apparatus re- 
 quires neither lamp, regulator, or thermometer, the hot 
 water is renewed every twelve hours, and it is said to 
 answer admirably. The eggs are placed in a drawer 
 underneath the water tank, but I cannot help thinking 
 that with an atmospheric temperature at or below 
 freezing-point, it would be very difficult to prevent the 
 rapid cooling of the water. 
 
 " The last system of artificial hatching is that shown 
 me by M. Manoury, at Mouy. It consists of an ordi- 
 nary wine cask lined on the inside witli plaster of Paris. 
 In this cask several trays with eggs are suspended, and 
 the top of the cask is provided with a certain number 
 of vent-holes for admitting air, which is regulated by 
 means of vent-pegs : the cask is surrounded to the top 
 with a thickness of about four feet of horse manure. 
 Though I am assured that this principle answers well, 
 I entertain serious doubts about it, for the same reasons 
 as before stated." 
 
 In this connection, we may say that in our own ex- 
 periments in artificial incubation, we made use of the 
 '' eccaleoMon^^ patented in 1850 by a Norfolk County 
 mechanic ; which proved alike a very simple, and an 
 unsuccessful affair, in our hands. This contrivance 
 consisted of two large cylindrical tin vessels, one of 
 which was so constructed as to set inside the other, 
 leaving a space of about three fourths of an inch 
 around the entire circumference and base of the smaller 
 vessel. This space was filled with common whale oil, 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 125 
 
 and this liquid was heated, from the flame of a triple- 
 tubed spirit lamp, (attached underneath the bottom of 
 the outside vessel,) to the requisite temperature, lOO'^ 
 to 103^ Farenheit. Into the inner compartment, upon 
 racks inserted for the purpose, we placed (at a time) 
 three or four times, from a hundred to a gross of fresh 
 laid eggs, lighted the lamp, covered the top, and set 
 them to hatching. In a few instances, we found live 
 healthy chickens, at the expiration of twenty-one days 
 from the sitting. But the number of chicks obtained 
 was so trifling, in comparison to the quantity of eggs 
 otherwise used up in the process, and the constant 
 vigilance found to be necessary to keep the temperature 
 of the heated oil just right — night and day — was 
 such that we abandoned the object sought, through that 
 process, in disgust. 
 
 More successful, however, has proved the newly in- 
 vented apparatus of Americans for artificial chicken- 
 hatching, which have been improved, and latterly per- 
 fected by Messrs Jacob and Henry Graves of North 
 Market street, Boston. These " improved incubators," 
 have now been in operation under the inventor's super- 
 vision at the place named, over a )^ear, I think — and I 
 have seen a good many nice chickens hatched out with 
 this contrivance. It has also been successfully in use 
 in Pennsylvania, during the last year. The patentee 
 describes this invention in the next chapter, and it may 
 be seen in operation at his place, where he informs us 
 it has worked very satisfactorily, thus far. It has been 
 patented. 
 
126 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 By the Egyptian method of hatching eggs, in ovens, 
 the estimate is made that over a hundred millions of 
 chickens are hatched out, annually. But the difficulty 
 after incuhation, is the rearing of the chicks. An Eng- 
 lish author on this subject says that " being in London, 
 I was driven to Cheswick by a friend, to visit Mr. 
 Cantelo's " hydro-incubator," and it astonished me, to 
 see at an inclement season, chickens of all ages, from 
 those just emerging from the shell to that of being 
 ready for the table, each in perfect health, and in such 
 rude health as I had never seen. There had been 
 reared, in one building, at one time, over 1300 ; all to 
 be disposed of, from the London poulterers' shelves, 
 and still not equal to the demand. The advantages of 
 this mode are that they have no hen-mother to drag 
 them through the wet ditches, or to trample them to 
 death, and they have no hens or larger chickens to peck 
 at them ; they have their artificial mother, kept up to 
 the temperature of the natural mother ; and it is be- 
 yond conception, how they will adhere to the warmth 
 of this mother, prepared for tliem, and run in under the 
 woolen cloth, as if it was natural to them. Each age 
 has its separate compartment, with an opportunity, in 
 fine weather, of passing out to a grass-plot ; and you 
 will see them enjoying themselves in the open air, and, 
 when at all chilled, returning to the artificial mother, 
 and making themselves perfectly comfortable. 
 
 " The hatching apparatus is a table, the upper part 
 of whicli is kept up to 106 degrees, and is padded with 
 Indian rubber ; the eggs are placed in a tray, with per- 
 
• A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 127 
 
 forated bottom, and laid on a woolen cloth, and raised, 
 to come in contact with the rubber, which sinks and 
 covers the eggs as much as the natural mother is sup- 
 posed to do ; thus nature is represented as nearly as 
 possible. After incubation, the artificial mother con- 
 sists of a number of heated pipes, about an inch and a 
 quarter in diameter, and about the same distance apart; 
 beneath these pipes is a sliding-board, which is always 
 at such a height as to allow the backs of the chickens 
 to touch the pipes, and is gradually lowered as they 
 increase in size. This board is removed and cleaned 
 every day, or replaced by another, which had served 
 the day before, and had been cleaned and aired during 
 the twenty-four hours preceding ; above the pipes (about 
 an inch) is another board, similar to that below, from 
 which descends a curtain in front of the mother ; this 
 board serves the double purpose of economizing the 
 warmth, and preventing the chickens from dirtying 
 each other , — and the young chickens having been 
 once placed beneath this mother, will only leave it to 
 eat, drink, and exercise, and return to it, of their own 
 accord. The patentee, Mr. Cantelo, has had equal 
 success in rearing turkeys, pea, and guinea fowl ; and, 
 although I have seen ducks in all quarters of Great 
 Britain, I have never seen, in one lot, so fine a col- 
 lection as those produced by the Hydro-Incubator. 
 Having, on my journey, visited the great aviary of the 
 Earl of Derby, I there found the Incubator in its per- 
 fect working state, and was informed by his lordship's 
 intelligent curator, that it was most valuable for hatch- 
 ing out the eggs of foreign birds." 
 
n i mmimii i i i .imii iii uj„.„„i„iii„iiiiiii ill. an .ff 
 
 J.i .n m. Ufl III I III I 
 
 ****»**-0Vc)I„TH.« 
 
 GRAVES' IMPROVED INCUBATOR. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 PATENT INCUBATORS AND IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 The inventor of the above raised during the year 
 1870 several fowls, hatched out in this machine, and he 
 says of it — " It is a well known fact that all Incuba- 
 tors hitherto brought before the public have failed to 
 accomplish the work desired ; the reason of this being 
 a lack of uniformity of incubating heat. We claim in 
 our improvement, a uniformity of incubating heat ; 
 which we obtain by the expansion and contraction of 
 spirits and mercury, acting on floats w^hich are attached 
 to levers ; these being so constructed, that when the 
 spirits and mercury expand, it lifts the levers, thereby 
 diminishing the blaze of the lamp, and also opening 
 valves connected with the egg-drawer, whereby the hot 
 air escapes. The heat necessary for hatching chickens 
 is from 95<^ to 105^ ; but from 100^ to 103^ is the de- 
 sired heat. Our machine is so constructed, that when 
 ihe mercury reaches 100^, the lights on the lamps be- 
 128 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 129 
 
 gin to diminish. Should the heat continue to increase 
 in the egg-drawer, and the mercury rise to 103^, the 
 light is shut off, so that there is no heat from the lamps. 
 Should the heat in the egg-drawer go above 103^, the 
 valves connected with the egg-drawer are opened, and 
 the hot air passes off, thereby cooling the egg-drawer ; 
 and as the heat diminishes the valves close, and the 
 light is let on to the lamps. Should the temperature in 
 the egg-drawer go below 100^ the blaze iijcreases, on the 
 lamps, thereby bringing the temperature back to the de- 
 sired point. It will be seen at once that we have a self- 
 regulating machine. This is what has been sought for 
 for many years, and without which no incubator is suc- 
 cessful." These gentlemen have also what appears to 
 be a very good artificial mother which they sell to ac- 
 company their Incubator, for the brooding of the newly- 
 hatched chicks, and which is heated and the temperature 
 guaged the same as in their Incubator, so that any de- 
 sired heat can be maintained. With these artificial 
 mothers and incubators are forwarded full directions for 
 putting the machines into working order. 
 
 The Incubator of A. M. Halsted, of Rye, N. Y., is 
 another American invention, the proprietor of which 
 states that it is the result of years of study and careful 
 experiment. Every year brought some improvement. 
 Success attended the working of his machine, and with 
 the first one, even, imperfect as it then was, three- 
 fourths of the eggs placed in it were successfully 
 hatched." Until the aparatus was simplified, however, 
 it was deemed prudent not to place it in the hands of 
 
130 
 
 burnham's new poultry book; 
 
 halsted's incubator. 
 
 those who had not made ai'tificial incubation a study. 
 The inventor considers his machine so simple, that per- 
 sons of ordinary intelligence can manage it, and the 
 owner claims several points of superiority over' other 
 incubators, for this invention. Experiments have 
 proved in the hands of several poulterers who testify to 
 its utility, tliat it promised to be one of the most 
 reliable artificial egg-hatchers yet brought to the notice 
 of the public. 
 
 The Artificial Mother accompanying Mr. Halsted's 
 Incubator is a very good one, and has been made, after 
 many experiments, to answer its purposes admirably. 
 John C. Welles, of Athens, Pa., H. B. Todd, Mott 
 Haven, N. Y., J. H. Fry, of New Brighton, and others 
 have tried, and very highly commend it. We insert 
 cuts illustrating both these inventions, but the article 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 131 
 
 explaining them did not reach us in time for insertion. 
 We are indebted to this inventor for the most sensi- 
 ble and lucid paper on this subject we have yet seen, 
 and regret that our work was so far advanced, upon its 
 receipt, that we cannot publish it, entire. 
 
 Mr. Halsted has satisfied himself, however, from long 
 and patient experience, it appears, that artificial hatch- 
 ing cannot be rendered satisfactorily successful with any 
 invention as yet matured, except the machine be in the 
 hands of those who understands and are disposed to 
 Btudy the process, faithfully. He adds — " I can, with 
 care and attention, hatch 75 out of 100 eggs, in my 
 Incubator. But I will not tvarrant that another person 
 can hatch a single one, with mine or any other Incuba- 
 tor ; since one day's mismanagement, while in process, 
 proves fatal. The difficulty'is that " directions " cannot 
 be followed by the inexperienced. It is like commenc- 
 ing a new language ; and when the novice comes to ap- 
 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 
 
 BURNHAM S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ; 
 
 what the hens begin, as thus : after allowing your hen 
 to sit 10 days upon the eggs, remove them to the 
 Incubator, and set 'another clutch under her. She will 
 continue to cover three or four settings. You can 
 complete lier work in the macliine ; and your chicks 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 
 
 halsted's •■aktificial mothek." 
 
 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 liave tried it 
 successfully, and 1 recommend it, from personal 
 knowledge of its utility. But whoever attempts to use 
 an Incubator^ to any extent, as a means of hatching 
 chickens, from the outset^ must first inform himself, 
 tlioroughly, by patient study and care, as to the details 
 of its riglitful 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 '' hy dr o-iucuhvitor " 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 Cantello'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 sos 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 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 important thing indeed, for the poultry interest in 
 America. 
 
 How readily these machines, or any other for artifi- 
 cial incubation, may be adopted by poultry-raisers in the 
 United States, remains problematical ; but upon a mod- 
 erate scale, as is indicated in the articles furnished us 
 by 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 have 
 quoted the four modes of artificial hatching adopted in 
 France, gives a furtlier account of tlie " live hatching 
 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 the year at so 
 mucli 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 
 
 The 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 foot wide, and a foot six- 
 inches deep, are ranged along the walls. These 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 the plaster of Paris ones ; they will then 
 continue to hatch without intermission, /rom th^ee 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 France, 
 where this turkey-sitting process was largely carried on 
 
136 burnham's new poultry-book. 
 
 — in one place (that of Mr. Aiiclie, at Gambols,) 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 BlliD. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 POULTRY EXHIBITIONS AND SHOW-FOWLS. 
 
 To the eye of the initiated, the above spirited en- 
 graving will at once suggest the copy of a capital por- 
 trait of a perfect Cochin or Shanghse cock, at from a 
 
 137 
 
138 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 year and a half to two years old, in fine plumage and 
 high condition. The general form is that of a fine 
 Dark Brahma, but its color better represents 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 
 Grower 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 England — where 
 premiums were first awarded to those who contributed 
 what were deemed by the judges to be the best repre- 
 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. Eben 
 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 
 was then formed, and other similar associations sprang 
 up subsequently, in New York, Rhode Island, Connecti- 
 cut, &c. Latterly, the New York State Society has 
 taken the lead, in this direction, in this country. 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 139 
 
 In Massachusetts, the New England Poultry 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 thought 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. Comey, Henry F. Felch, C. Carroll Loring, 
 Geo. B. Durfee, John B. Moore, J. N. Cady, E. L. 
 
140 burnham'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 other 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 fore- 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 141 
 
 most," in this sort of thing, and naturally, too ; and he 
 must rob himself, to accommodate a patron, in comply- 
 ing with the other's ambitious wishes. The same 
 stock, of course, can be purchased, and occasionally, 
 this turns out equal to the prize specimens. But, as a 
 rule, amateurs can scarcely obtain in this " same stock," 
 exactly such fowls as bear off the palm at the shows. 
 
 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 raisino; 
 " fancy " Poultry, with a view to ii^ paying, merely, the 
 editor says, aptly — "half our fanciers do not care 
 whether it j!?«?/s 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 kind 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 
 he 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, 
 either the province of the general breeder, or his pur- 
 pose, to aim only at producing show-birds. Few of 
 these premium fowls are duplicated, as we all know, 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 
 Shanghass, Games, Dorkings, or Black Spanish Fowls, 
 for examples. These birds have always been in demand, 
 from the outset, and they will continue to be sought 
 after for general use, in our judgment, long after tlie 
 present producers of these unexceptional true varieties 
 pass beyond tlie pale of poultry-breeders ! 
 
 The emulation incited through the establishment of 
 these ])Oultry 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 witli each other (or ought to do so) whereby they 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 143 
 
 may readily compare notes, and excel their neighbors, 
 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 arid brains upon this kind of undertaking, are thus 
 enabled to obtain 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 has elevated it to the 
 " pedigree " system — Mr. J. K. Felch, 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 sufficiently 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 breediug-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 tliis 
 furnishing of a pedigree for poultry (which no one cares 
 
144 burnham'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 record of his ances- 
 try makes him no better, no worse, surely. Yet this 
 hobby of Messrs. Felcli 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 bi-eeders as Messrs. Felch, 
 for example, we opine, would hardly run this sort of 
 risk, and then undertake from succeeding hatchings of 
 eggs of their stock, to furnish pedigrees very confidently ! 
 In reference 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 
 determined not to take the responsibility of putting it to 
 press, and propose another convention in May, 1871. 
 
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- 
 combs, 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 witliout 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 afikirs 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 
 subject of improving the character of the common fowls 
 
146 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 around him. 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 the 
 importance of improving their poultry, and have sectired 
 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, they 
 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. 
 eabh, 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 to 
 be taken care of and improved. When this time comes, 
 tlie farmers' poultry and eggs will be of better quality, 
 and will average more than twice their present weight, 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 147 
 
 and be cheaper than any other food. The benefits of 
 caponiziiig will then be better known and practiced by 
 all, as there is as much difference between the flesh of a 
 cj^pon 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, as 
 well as to the national wealth of our country. 
 
LIGHT 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 
 to consider the qualities and merits of the different 
 varieties of popular fowls at present souglit after, and 
 now bred in the United States. 
 
 As will be seen in the pages which follow, we arc 
 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 
 accompanyino; 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 — to wit, the Chinese^ or Asiatic Yo'wX \ and at the 
 head of this list, we unhesitatingly place the justly 
 famous " BRAHMAS," 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 country and in England. Originally, I called them 
 " Gray Shanghaes," 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 " for this superb variety. 
 This title was found difficult of pronunciation, however, 
 
150 burnham'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- 
 pootra, 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 " Shanghaes which have readied 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 Philadelphia, for twenty-five dollars — 
 at that time deemed a very remarkable figure for 
 two chickens — a pair of large gray fowls, which then 
 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 Shanghae, half a dozen 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 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 
 Shanghaes ; " and, from that beginning, sprung the 
 stock that was for years afterwards known the world 
 over as " Gray Shanghass," or " Brahmapootras." Mr. 
 Cornish, or Mr. Hatch, had fowls of this stock (similar, 
 in every particular) at this same sliow, 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 Brahma fowls I had the honor 
 to send to Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain ; of 
 wdiich 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 domestic 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 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 From Hon. Col. Phipps^ H. B. M. Secretary. 
 
 Windsor Castle, Eng., 1853. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 Tho 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 they have been highly admired by her 
 Slajesty. 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 Privy Purse, Hon. Col. 
 Phipps,) as follows : — 
 
 Buckingham Palace, March 15, 1853. 
 G-eo. P. Buryiham Psq. 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 aviary at Windsor. Her Majesty accepts, with great 
 pleasure, such a mark of respect and regard, from a cit- 
 izen of the United Slates. 
 
 I 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 have the honor to be, 
 
 Sir, your ob't and humble servant, 
 
 C. B. Phipps. 
 
 This extraordinary stock has bred for years with 
 marked fidelity — 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, France, Bavaria, Lisbon, Cuba, <fec., 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 I 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. It. B. Bullock^ Governor of Georgia. 
 
 Atlanta, Ga., April 8, 1871. 
 Dear 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 w^ith 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 friends, and am 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 RuFUS B. Bullock. 
 G. P. BuRNHAM, Esq. 
 
154 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 On pages 156 and 15T, I give admirably executed 
 portraits of a cockerel and pullet, of well-bred Light 
 Brahmas, about ten months old. The feathering of this 
 pair of young fowls is very perfect, and those who ap- 
 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 botli 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 Cock — 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. Een, 
 white — similar in details ; neck to be distinctly striped 
 on the hackle feathers with black ; breast and back, 
 white ; thighs and fluff, 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 the nice fancier for 
 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 of evidence to show that they came 
 from India. 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 this River, and no such fowls 
 were ever seen in that locality. In fact, the Brahnias 
 originated not in India, but in America. The light 
 Brahmas undoubtedly were identical with those Gray 
 birds that in the first importation came from Shanghae, 
 and public attention was first called 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 light 
 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 original Dark Bi-ahmas, (which Mr. Burnham sent to 
 Mr. Baily of London, ) thus accurately described by Mr. Tegetmeier, taken 
 from Mr. Weir's picture, will be found among the tmted illustrations in our 
 book. 
 
LIGHT miXUMX COCKKRK'., TEN MONTHS OLD. 
 
LIGHT BRAHMA PULLET, TEN MONTHS OLD. 
 
158 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 for two years ; and that they differ in many points 
 from the Cochins, with which they are sought to be 
 identified." This information from Mr. Baily must cer- 
 tainly have been given this author 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 Shepherd'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. J. 
 Graves of Reading, Mass., has a splendid stock, in a 
 communication to the N. Y. Bulletin, 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 Light 
 Brahmas as originally bred, have both nearly the same 
 origin, and are the product of the union of the Buff 
 Cochin hens with the Grrey 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, which 
 the editor of the Bulletin kindly quotes from that book, 
 in a previous number of his paper. " The variety of 
 fowl itself was the Grey Chittagong, the first samples 
 of v/hich 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 take 
 better than his '' Plymouth Rocks," and so he consulted 
 me as to a name for a brace of grag 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," " Brahmas," etc." 
 
 " An ambitious sea-captain arrived at New York 
 from Shanghae, bringing with him about a hundred 
 China fowls, of all colors, grades and proportions. Out 
 of this lot I selected a few grag birds, that were very 
 large, and (consequently) '' very fine," of course. I 
 
160 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 bred tliese 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 Shanghae,) to wit, 
 Gray Shanghces,'^^ and to these corroborative facts I 
 shall briefly refer again, in these pages. I never 
 claimed aught but this: that my Gray Shanghaes, or 
 Brahmas were the first bred in Massachusetts, and the 
 first (of botli 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 
 sairacious breeders crossed the hens with the hlack-hreasted 
 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 sent 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, 
 the black breast, and actually saw the fifth toe." 
 
 DARK UIIAII.-.IA IIEN. G. P. BURNHAM'S STOCK. 
 
 *I presume that Mr. Pitman intends here to intimate by the words "first 
 birds sent from the United States" of this variety, that they were mine : 
 though the language is rather ambiguous. 
 
162 burnham'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 tlie 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 Slianghce breed, is the fact that 
 the fowls previously presented to Her Majesty, by Mr. 
 Burnham under the name of ' Gray Shanghaes,' are ad- 
 mitted hy Br. Bennett^ (the author of the name ' Brahma 
 poutra,') to he precisely similar to his oivn.''^ 
 
 This is true also. Dr. Bennett originated the name 
 of " Brahma poutra ; " Ae 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 Brahmas, " are 
 precisely similar." . . . Thus much for this namQ, And 
 in the other poultry work to which I 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 Shanghais,) it is stated that 
 " the Cochins were first possessed by Queen Victoria," 
 <fec. So they were. But the "Cochin-China" fowls 
 first possessed by her British Majesty, were no more like 
 HhQ 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 half 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 th» 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 fowl 
 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 respective breeds of fowls, nor to seek to elevate the 
 
BURNHAM S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ; 
 
 LIGHT BRAHMAS. BURKHAM'S IMPORTED STOCK. 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 165 
 
 one to the disadvantao'e of the other, but merely to show 
 wherehi 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 produce 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. 
 Cliickens 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 early 
 birds for the market is desired. Indeed, no breed so 
 eminently possesses the regularity and certainty in the 
 
166 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 time of incubation, without carrying it to a troublesome 
 excess. It is also remarked that the hen in her second 
 year lays much 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 capable 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 
 desire to purchase, to almost any dealer, for these 
 fowls. 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., C. N. Palmer, 
 Gallipolis, Ohio. In New York State, J. T. Bickncll, 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON 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. Felch, Natick, E. C. 
 Comey, Quincy, Philander Williams of Taunton have 
 
 LIGHT BRAHMA HEN. WADE AND HENRY' S STOCK. 
 
 very 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, 
 with which he took first premium at the last State 
 Show, there, were pronounced as fine samples of this 
 
168 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 tlie 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, 
 C. 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, 
 may be found in this volume, see illustrations. 
 
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MODERN "COCHIN." QUEEN'S "COCHIN." 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE ORIGINAL "COCHIN CHINA." 
 
 We place the above two drawings in juxtaposition, 
 for convenient comparison by our readers, and we pre- 
 sent a description of this much talked-of variety with 
 pleasant recollections, 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, accurately. This name has been variously used 
 among us, for twenty-two years past, but within a few 
 
 169 
 
170 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 years it has come to be generally accepted simply as 
 " Cochin." 
 
 In Tegetmeier's celebrated modern "Poultry Book," 
 in reply to the oft-repeated query " Are Cochin China 
 and Shanghae Fowls the same ? " he 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 
 Shanghae, or its vicinity." And thus this able authority 
 upon the subject of poultry concludes that " Cochin 
 China 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 Shanghaes) " the name of Cochin China, has much 
 to answer for ! I 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 of 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. 
 
 From Gov. George N. Brig^gs. 
 My deab Sir: — The cage of Cochin-China chickens you 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 to 
 give you a good account of them in the future. 
 
 They are very much liked by all who have seen them, and you will 
 please accept my thanks for your attention. 
 
 I am, respectfully, yours, 
 
 Geo. N. Briggs. 
 PiTTSFiELD, Mass., 1851. 
 
172 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 From Hon. Henry Clay. 
 
 Geo. p. Burnham. Esq. 
 
 My dear Sib. — I duly received your obliging letter, informing me 
 that you had 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 Cochin-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 Webster. 
 
 Geo. p. Burnham, Esq. 
 
 Dear Sir. — The coop of chickens arrived safely, and are noble 
 
 specimens of the Chinese fowl. You 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 beheve me, dear 
 
 sir, Yours, very truly, 
 
 Daniel Webster. 
 Marshfield, 1851. 
 
 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 
 Cocliins 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 the people in England, had been 
 exhibited, and had taken the gold medal prize at the 
 Royal Dublin Show, and were then presented by Her 
 Majesty to Lord Heytesbury, the Lord Lieutenant of Ire- 
 land. 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 cock 
 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, I 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, lieavily feathered-legged Shanghae birds, and de- 
 nominated " Cochin-China." 
 
174 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 Noiv we hear of the " Buff" Cochins, the " Partridge" 
 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 Chinese- 
 Shanghae-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 ROSE 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 " Brabmas," or i\\Q present so-called 
 " Cocliins," were the original Cochins, of Queen 
 Victoria's famous stock, I have caused to be taken 
 from a copy of the London Illustrated News, the picture 
 of those fowls, drawn from life by the celebrated Harri- 
 son Weir, in 1844, when Her Majesty's Cocliin fowls 
 were first presented to admiring poultry fanciers. By 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 175 
 
 reference to the illustration of the Queen's Fowls, (see 
 cut No. 2,) and a comparison of this altogether 
 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 
 representation of my Cochins, already described in this 
 chapter, whicli 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 China 
 fowls of 1844 luere Cochins, how appropriately the fowls 
 of 1860 and 1870 are named " Cochins ! " So much for 
 this 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 liim. 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 the farm, which I have seen, are 
 
176 burnham's new poultry-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 
 an 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, ivJiich is objectionable. 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 brown, 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 not 
 deviated from this range of color except in two or three 
 broods out of the dark Canton cock. The 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 Roslyn, L. I. Mr. VanWinkle 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 had so thoroughly tested 
 the Bnu'imas, as I subsequently had the opportunity to do. — g. p. b. 
 
178 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 scores of other importers and breeders — and now 
 called ' Cochin,' under the sanction of the poultry 
 societies. 
 
 But we have j>;iven 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 
 Wier. These were smooth-legged birds, and bore no 
 more similitude to those that are called Cochins, to-day, 
 than they did to any other large fowl that can be named. 
 Still, they came from the East, and were undoubtedly 
 really Oriental birds. Possibly they ?iv&i 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 ! 
 
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 a 
 Missionary, in China, and returned home well worn in 
 the service. He cither brought this superb clutch of 
 Oriental birds with him, or they were sent to him b}^ a 
 brother Missionary, direct from Shanghae. And they 
 were really unexceptionable in beauty, great size, 
 uniformity of plumage, and all the characteristics of a 
 good^ and at that period, very desirable fowl. 
 
 179 
 
180 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 The descendants of this clutch of genuine " Shang- 
 hass," imported direct from one of the celestial ports, 
 and known to be pure^ (if such a thing existed,) from 
 Mr. Marsh's breeding in 1850, down to a brood 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 I 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 Brahmas and the 
 Shanghaes, 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 TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 181 
 
 every point of excellence, that those who have made 
 themselves acquainted with the Marsh stock of 
 Shanghses, at once recognize these birds as akin to that 
 long-time noted strain of real Chinese poultry. 
 
 The Pai'tridge Cochins, owned and bred by E. C. 
 Newton, of Batavia, 111., portraits 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 tlie 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. 
 
 This 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 [)lumage. 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, short tails and fluffy flanks and sterns — 
 
182 burnham's new poultry-book 
 
 on the pullets — altogether 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 wing- 
 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. Shupson, 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 witli 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 these 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 illustra- 
 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." 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 185 
 
 And Mr. Yan Winkle is right in this. " It can be 
 done." It is now being done. In this blessed year of 
 our Lord 1871, the demand for good poultry, in every 
 direction, was never so great in the United States ; and 
 American breeders have never before shown, either in 
 their yards or at the 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. Yan 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 tru^ 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 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 bred, in the hands of the experienced parties who have 
 secured this favorite stock, will conthiue 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 in answering 
 orders — uniformly. Messrs. Stage & Co. inform us 
 that their orders this season are largely 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 volume, which depict 
 their fowls — of which they have an extensive and fine 
 
A PRACTICAL 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 Buff, they make a specialty, 
 the present season, they inform us. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 MODERN BUFF COCHINS. 
 
 I have placed at the head of the list of China Fowls, 
 the ever beautiful Light Brahmas, because after a lonj? 
 trial with them, under all kinds of treatment — good 
 and indifferent — this right royal variety of Shangh^s 
 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 PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 189 
 
 duced by Isaac Van Winkle, S. A. Bassett, Thos. Gould, 
 Jacob Graves, M. Pitman, J. Y. Bicknell & Co., Wm. 
 Simpson, Jr., E. C. Newton, Benj. Hicks, D. W. Hers- 
 tine, G. W. Felter, D. L. Stage, E. M. Wade, and others 
 in this country — and Messrs. Sturgeon, Potts, Cooper, 
 Baily, Punchard, Belden 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 Shanghas, or China fowl. 
 Tlie 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. Herstino, 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 
 in Pennsylvania. The proportions of this pair are col- 
 ossal. 
 
 One of the most remarkable single specimens of the 
 Buff Cochin ever produced, probably, was that of Mr. 
 Sturgeon, in England — as portrayed in Tegetmeier's 
 work. The owner called this splendid fowl " the 
 Queen ;" and she was quite up to the highest standard 
 of excellence, in every desirable point. From her and 
 
190 burnham'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 
 admit. 
 
 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 sufficient 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 Buffs 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 four feet fence will amply 
 limit them." 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 191 
 
 The color of the Buff Cochin is more of a golden hue, 
 than simply huff. The under shade upon the downy or 
 fluffy portions of their plumage, 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 tlie 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 Shanghaes," without regard to 
 color) it has been with the Buffs that the leading 
 premiums have been, for the 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 in 
 weight those of any other variety." 
 
 A very desirable recommendation to the Buff Cochin, 
 is, that the fowl be strictly uniform in color, to answer 
 
192 buenham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 the requirements of the present aimed-for standard ; and 
 the nine fowls exhibited by Mr. Van Winkle were quite 
 up, in this particular. As to size, those I have seen for 
 the 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 their favor. 
 Americans will never get over their fancy — as a rule — 
 to possess the biggest fowls to be had. The great size 
 of the Shanghaes has always been the leading character- 
 istic which the Yankee breeder most admires ; and no 
 matter how perfect the Brahma, the Buff, 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 Buff 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, 
 wliich 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 
 bright green lawn, for instance, in the sunshine 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, 
 
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 X 
 
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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. 
 
 Among 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 
 3"ear, that the Buffs 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 this blood, they will get finer 
 birds than these cuts represent ; though the pictures 
 are very fair, in their way. 
 
194 
 
 BURNHAM S NEW POULTRY-BOOK : 
 
 BUFF COCHIN COCK. 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 195 
 
 BUFF COCHIN HEN. 
 
196 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 A breeder in Norfolk County informed me, in March, 
 that he had sold all the Buff Cochin eggs he dared 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 
 had at higher prices than 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 western breeders, in this country, as 
 is indicated in connection with the superior illustrations 
 contributed to thi-s 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 their 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 w^ould 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 PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 197 
 
 bought and bred and multiplied, bj every farmer and 
 poor cotter in the country, as one of his varieties of 
 poultry stock, since — whether he desires to reproduce 
 
 
 *-.^-£vi^S^ 
 
 YEAR OLD BUFF OR YELLOW SHANGH^S. 
 
 it for sale to amateurs and small breeders, or for the 
 better and higher and more useful purpose of con- 
 
198 
 
 burnham's new poultry-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 wdio 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 
 his common poultry. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE HOUDAN, CREVECGEUR, AND LA'fLECHE. 
 
 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, 
 Crevecceur^ Houdan, and La Fleche, gave them a sudden 
 popularity in England, and they came as quickly into 
 favor in this country, when their merits had been briefly 
 made known, after their introduction among us. 
 
 199 
 
200 burnham'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 Jjis attention, while 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 Crevecceur — though 
 they dwelt in these three poultrj'-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 
 which 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 Iloudan, in La'floche and Crevecceur districts, 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 201 
 
 Dreux, Nogeiit, etc., I met with large numbers of 
 these horned, shining black or flecked, active, pretty 
 birds — which 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, 
 wliich 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 wlio fancy them ; and, as I have 
 already remarked, they are being nicely bred, both here 
 and in Great 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 England ; 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 poultry-book; 
 
 Prominent among the fine specimens of French birds 
 in America, are those of Messrs. G. H. Warner, of 
 New York 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. Felter, Batavia, Ohio — and others, with whom I 
 am unacquainted. But there are many who are breed- 
 ing this stock carefully, and who think very highly of 
 it, thus far. 
 
 In reference to these French Fowls, of which this gen- 
 tleman breeds the three varieties — Houdans, Creve- 
 cceurs, and La Fleche — Mr. Van Winkle of Greenville, 
 N. J., expresses a very favorable opinion. He has a su- 
 perb stock of these fowls, and avers that " the 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. Yan 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 them to be 
 large birds, good layers of unusual numbers of large 
 eggs in autumn, when most other birds are in moult 
 — of a greenish metallic black, in color, having heavy 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 203 
 
 crests that give them a remarkably handsome and 
 original appearance, while they are 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 the third variety, La Fleche^ 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 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 Society's Gold Medal, and other leading premiums, for 
 their comparatively superior merits. 
 
 Mr. Taylor, of Waterloo, N. Y., ^Yrites that '' this va- 
 riety are becoming very popular, both as layers and ta- 
 ble-fowls. They are of large size, weighing, w^hen 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 in 
 view of their laying qualities. The editor of tlie Amer- 
 ican 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 Fiench 
 varieties a fair trial, and commends them, very liigiily. 
 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 
 Houdans. " They are a French breed, a little less in 
 size than the other famous French fowls, but not less 
 valuable, being decidedly the hardiest and most prolific. 
 The Houdans combine two valuable qualities — the pro- 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 205 
 
 duction oi flesh and eggs — each in a high 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 FlecTie 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 Crevecoeur. 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 slight 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 Crevecceur 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 horny 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 Creve- 
 
206 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 coeurs, La Fleclie, 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 
 Crevecoeurs,) wrote me not long since, " I have sold 
 them 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- 
 appointed with the French fowls, and am tired of them. 
 I very much prefer the Brahmas." And so do /, indeed ! 
 I 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, are 
 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 favor- 
 ite cow. 
 
DARK BKAHMA HEN. WADE'S STOCK, PHIL' A. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE DARK BRAHMAS. 
 
 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 off the prizes, over all competitors, among 
 the Shanghae 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 
 that excellent journa), in the month of December, 1870. 
 207 
 
208 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 ed's. bulletin. 
 
 Gentlemen : The wide spread interest at present evinced, in this 
 country and in Europe, in favor of the Asiatic breed of fowls, in- 
 duces me to offer you a few Hnes on the subject of the so-called 
 *' Brahraas" of the present day. I know something of this fowl, (or 
 ought to !) and find myself justly accredited by Mr. Tegetmeier, in 
 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 " a new 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 tJiis 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 
 Shanghaes," as I then called them,) ever seen in England. Previous- 
 ly, (in 1852), I had sent to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, a flock of 
 mature 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 before 
 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 
 today? 
 
 " 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 body-feathers in some strains we 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE 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 know 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 1852 and 
 '53, I sent hundreds there, of fine samples. But, if they have done so, 
 I have never heard of the fact. And, least of all, has there ever oc- 
 curred a second importation of Brahmas (or any other named 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 of the Brama 
 Pootra river; " the name of which ship, or captain, or the sailor who 
 fiu'nished 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 
 Shanghse, 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 " Luckipoor, up the Brahma Pootra river" theory was nonsense. 
 And I claimed that the fowls should be called what they were — 
 " Grey Shanghaes;" for they came from Shanghse, 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 recent??/ marked dark-breasted 
 Brahma strain of fowls, which is so gi-eatly admired among some 
 fanciers, and of which several trios have of late come out from Eng- 
 land, are skilfully 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 off" 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 I can learn 
 or un learn more than I now know of the " dark Brahma" strain of 
 the present time." Yours respectfully, G. P. Biirnham. 
 
 Melrose, Sept., 1870. 
 
210 burnham's new poultry book ; 
 
 The comments upon my commmiication, 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 quar- 
 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 simjoly 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, for 
 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 Her British Majesty, Queen Victoria. 
 They have taken many first prizes at the fairs 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 Atlan- 
 tic, to be the laro^est and finest poultry in the known 
 world, and hundreds of breeders and fanciers attest to 
 the fact that, when properly cared for, they are the hest^ 
 either as layers, for the table, or as breeders. I now 
 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. Tliese 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 througliout the United States and 
 the Canadas. 
 
 But as I hinted in my communication last quoted — 
 
212 burnham'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, and there first noticed — to wit, the 
 palpable presence of the Gray Dorking blood. The 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. In 
 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 Shanghas, or from the Brahma-poutra 
 River, tliat 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- 
 uine 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 which 
 is too dark to suit our own taste ; but which strain 
 of blood is certainly very popular among American 
 fanciers. 
 
 C. C. Loring of South Boston imported some very 
 good specimens of this variety, which have become 
 well known, and Pliilander Williams of Taunton, Isaac 
 Yan 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 
 tlie 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 0^ form, as well as deepened color of the Dork- 
 ing, is strikingly developed in these samples. 
 
214 burnham's new poultry-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, 
 the ' 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 T 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 /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 fifth toe, 
 the long tail, or the smooth leg of the Dorking crops out 
 at last among these chickens ! 
 
 The Dark Brahmas that have been exhibited within 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 215 
 
 the past two or three years at our American Poultry 
 Fairs, have certainly been very fine — except for the 
 reasons 1 have sugoested — that they are a little too 
 
 PEA-COMB DARK BRAHMAS, AND GAME BANTAMS, AS BRED BY 
 D. L. STAGE & CO. SCHENECTADY, N. Y. 
 
 dark for my taste. But they have given great satisfac- 
 tion, and, as far as heard from, have bred truly, it 
 
216 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 is said. Cut No. 5 is a portrait of one of the Dark 
 Brahma hens I 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 surprised, 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. This represents the stock of Mr. New- 
 ton, and those also from the well know establishment 
 of Mr. Wm. H. Pond, Milford, Conn., C. 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 has taken leading premiums at the Fairs in 
 1869, and 1870, and the progeny promises finely, thus 
 far. 
 
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 Q 
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 _J 
 
 z: 
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 cr' 
 
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 DC 
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 CL 
 
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A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 217 
 
 Cut No. 6 represents a third group of superb 
 Dark Brabmas, from tbe imported stock of D. W. Her- 
 stine, of Pbiladelphia. Tbese, like tbe otbers, present 
 tbe prominent cbaracteristics of tbe true Brabma, in 
 feature, form, and size — and tbose wbo bave bred from 
 tbe descendants of tbese fowls, pronounce tbe cbickens 
 perfect. All tbis is bigbly satisfactory. May tbey 
 continue to do so — is our bearty wish, for tbe credi- 
 of tbe English breeders, as well as for tbe benefit of 
 American purchasers ; wbo, as a rule, prefer tbis strain 
 of fowl without tbe excellences which may attach to the 
 Gray Dorking, in its pure state. 
 
 The imported Dark Brabmas of C. C. Loring, of 
 Boston, bave 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 tbose bred last year and this by 
 Mr. Mark Pitman of Salem, and Mr. J. Graves of 
 Eeading, Mass. 
 
 Mr. E. J. Taylor of Waterloo, N. Y., breeds the 
 Brabmas, light and dark, the Buff and Partridge 
 Cochins, a few of tbe choicest Games, and one or two 
 French strains, with gi-eat care and success. He in- 
 forms us that he packs eggs for incubation carefully in 
 dry saw-dust, and finds that tbey batch a fair per- 
 centage. He 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 are free from many of the faults 
 of other varieties, many of which I bave discarded, after 
 
218 burnham'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 breeders, im- 
 ported from Cooper and Beldon ; but I have also my 
 own home-bred stock — equal to the others in size and 
 fine points — while my Games are from celebrated 
 strains, renowned alike for their courage, stamina, and 
 beauty." 
 
 DARK BRAHMAS. 
 
 Of these Mr. Taylor writes us that " this noble 
 variety are becoming popular very rapidly, and are 
 worthy of all that is said and written in their praise. 
 They are excellent 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 which 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 219 
 
 are elegantly pencilled and free from Vulture hock. 
 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 fmer 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 
 Yan 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 DORKING. 
 
 I CALL this superior fowl the English Gray Dorking, 
 because, like the Houdan, La Fleche, 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 Brahma fowls, into merrie England ; since 
 
 220 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 221 
 
 when, nous avons change tout cela ! At the head of this 
 chapter we 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 Dorking Fowl, the editor of the Farmer'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" Ornamentaland 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 from 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 is 
 rich, white and juicy. As a table fowl they have no su- 
 
222 burnham'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 marked 
 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 very large 
 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, perliaps, the best barnyard fowls in existence." 
 
 It will be seen by the life-like engraving we give (cut 
 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 issliort- 
 
A PKACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 223 
 
 legged, and square-bodied ; most of these characteris- 
 tics predominating in a greater or less degree, in the 
 new-fashioned " Dark Brahmas ;'* regarding 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 of the Gray Dorking, in color ; having, how- 
 ever, the different flufiy, 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 
 1844 '5 towards the Queen's " Cochin Chinas," and sub- 
 sequently took another surge in favor of the '' Brahmas," 
 and then towards the Buff and Partridge Shanghaes, or 
 Cochins, the Gray Dorking was forgotten for the time, 
 even in England, comparatively. But a use was soon 
 
224 burnham's new poultry-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 Slianghae 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 Shanghaes 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 PRACTICAL 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 looking specimens of English 
 " 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 the thus Gray Dorking-ized Grey Chinese 
 fowl be rendered a very saleable " Dark Brahma," for 
 the nonce ? I think 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 
 hens 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 burnham'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, both in weight of 
 progeny, at a given period, and in weight of eggs, 
 regularly." 
 
 The popular character of this Dorking fowl, which 
 has for centuries been a deserved favorite on the other 
 side of the Atlantic, and superb specimens of which 
 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 Game 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 burnham'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 the 
 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 the 
 amount of abuse they can endure in the arena. But 
 tlie 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 PRACTICAL 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 this '' 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 tlie uses to which it is put, written by 
 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- 
 nser) bed 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 VIIL, 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 PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 231 
 
 favored the 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 another in 
 Jewin-strect ; 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 Meaths 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 fightinoj 
 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, 
 between 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 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 match, to come, off, on the following Monday, for a like 
 sum, which was again won by Reed, after a severe 
 battle — a circumstance, perhaps, altogether unknown 
 in the annals of cocking. It is also calculated that, at 
 the termination of the races, which finished with cock- 
 ing, upwards of 1,000 cocks had met their death. New- 
 castle, therefore, challenged the 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 with the color of his beak — blue, gray, 
 or yellow — a perfection ; his feet should be broad and 
 thin, with very long claws. With regard to his car- 
 riage, he should be upright, but not stifily 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 ; his 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 233 
 
 Spurs rough, long, and looking inward. As to the color 
 he is of, it is immaterial ; there are good cocks of all 
 colors ; hut he should be thin of feathers, short, and 
 very hard, which is another proof of his being healthy. 
 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, when 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 rude 
 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 burnham'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 care 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 
 on 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 helpless 
 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 arc 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 are 
 considered superior to any parti-colored birds — namely : 
 dark reds, dark black-breasted red, dark black-breasted 
 birch in 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 in 
 character with that of the cock. In one respect, she is 
 a more important personage, as it is an axiom among 
 cock-masters that the produce of an ill-bred hen is 
 worthless, no matter how superior the cock may be ; 
 
236 burnham'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 on 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 birds, 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 RATTLE. 
 
 rooms, notwithstanding the attractions that the larger 
 China varieties afford, the visitor'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 the 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 in 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 im- 
 
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 
 to breed it well, only prime stock should be used, and 
 the utmost care given to the business. 
 
 GAME COCK AND HKN. 
 
 Those who have tried the game fowls of S. J. Bestor 
 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 pride 
 
A PKACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 239 
 
 in importing and producing the choicest kinds 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 Red 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 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 great satisfaction in the business, and in knowing that 
 we breed pure bloods. It is important that those who 
 undertake this work should 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 be 
 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. Meacham, 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, which 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 best that money can procure, from abroad, 
 
:^o, 12. LATELY IMPORTED DARK BRAH.VIAS, 
 
 I-rcui by i- \':>ii "\Vinkl.'\ Jos. M. M'jide, Pliilaiul«M- V/illiams, ,1. Grave."^, 
 G. 1', Burtii:..im, C. 11. li:diuoiids, illurk riliiiiiu, etc. 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 241 
 
 and does not halt at their cost, when he knows he can 
 obtain the thing, on either side of the Atlantic, to im- 
 prove his already well supplied yards at Somerville. 
 He breeds some other fine varieties — among them be- 
 ing the Chinese fowl ; but none excel him for reliable 
 and well trained Game birds. 
 
 DUCK-WING GAME COCK. 
 
 G. W. Felter, 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 burnham's new poultry-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 game qualities, these are said to be unsurpassed. 
 Mr. Felter writes me that, in his experience, he has 
 found that " the care of young chicks 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 gapes in chickens ; and this application of the lard, 
 seasonably, will be found an excellent prevention 
 against this troublesome disease." Mr. Felter's plan is 
 an old but good one. A better one, however, is to sat- 
 urate the nest-box (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 
 of 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 experienced 
 
A PRi^CTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 243 
 
 in the reproduction of the various styles of popular 
 Game fowl, and inform us that they can supply orders 
 for first-class birds. S. J. Bestor, and 8. C. Colt, Hart- 
 ford Conn., have a splendid stock. 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', 
 Iowa, 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 Game-fowl-rearing a specialty. 
 Col. Geo. Meacham, North Cambridge, breeds superior 
 Games, and C. II. Edmonds, Melrose, Mass., will breed 
 the Duck Wing Games this season, and has procured 
 his stock out of prize birds. All these fanciers can 
 supply 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 gafile, for amusement, fame, 
 or money. 
 
244 buenham's new poultry-book; 
 
 Messrs. J. Y. Bickiiell & 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 contributors to the N. Y. State and other ex- 
 hibitions, as well as among the leading prize-takers, for 
 good specimens of their valuable and well-bred stock. 
 Messrs. Bicknell & 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. 
 

 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE BLACK SPANISH, AND GUELDRES. 
 
 We pass by the Blalay, 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 bemg 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 burnham'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, ami in this respect is a very excellent variety. 
 They are non-sitters, too. Their chickens, are raised 
 without difficulty, but when fledged — like their parents 
 they can " fly like eagles," and it is difficult to keep 
 them in confined quarters by means of any ordinary 
 height of fence surrounding their yards, for they are 
 an active, restless, roaming race — and are thus objec- 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 247 
 
 tionable to one's neighbors. They are interminable 
 " scratchers," and will tear up a newly-laid-down gar- 
 den, faster than it can be repaired, if once they get at it, 
 in 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 highest 
 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 so 
 abundant ; they are everlasting layers, and their eggs 
 are usually hatched out by common poultry. They are 
 
248 
 
 burnham's new poultry-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 hatchin<^ and rearing chickens, when she might be 
 
 adding to the stock of her 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 many 
 spurious crosses attempted to be made on the Spanish 
 fowl, which should not be encouraged. And among 
 these crosses, Mr. Ch. Jacque, the scientific French aur 
 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 
 which I believe it to be descended, by crossing with 
 the Crevecceur^ There is a strong similarity in all 
 tlirce of the French breeds to many peculiarities of the 
 Spanish, though the difference in the shape of combs and 
 top-knots 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 the 
 cold or rough weather, until they get their natural coats 
 on, (for four or five weeks after hatching,) retards, or 
 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 burnham's new poultry book ; 
 
 Guelders, I think they are very like the " Guelderlands " 
 that 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, from 
 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 Mr. 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 higlily 
 popular and valuable addition to the best stock in the 
 United States." He say's : — 
 
 " 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 them" to 
 the Houdan. 
 
 He adds, " They are a fowl of medium size, with full 
 prominent breasts, and large flowing tails. Their 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 
 
 ill shape, being hollowed, or depressed, instead of pro- 
 jecting, with two prominent spikes on each side of the 
 back of tlic comb. To breed them to the standard, 
 they should not have any comb whatever, except the 
 two little spikes projecting. Cheeks 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-white 
 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 ; which 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 even the Asiatics are better 
 able to withstand the Northern climates than are the 
 Guelders. They are very hardy, and less susceptible to 
 sickness than any other 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 throughout 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 
 thinks " it would be difficult to say which do better, tlie 
 Houdan or Guelder chickens." And says " I like the 
 breed so well that 1 class them next to the Houdans." 
 / 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 HAMBURGS, ETC. 
 
 The fowl that is popularly known as the Dominique^ is 
 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 Qgg'i'^ 
 
 though this variety has long been denominated a mere 
 ' barn-yard fowl,' for the reason that it is so com- 
 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 witli these expressive words : " We 
 have tried most known varieties, and we incline to the 
 opinion, from a goodly experience with the feathered 
 
 252 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 253 
 
 race, that one must go a long way to find a better fowl 
 for the farmer's use, than is this same Dominique." 
 There is much of truth in this 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 the 
 Dominique. They are said to have come from the 
 Island of Dominica, but I doubt it, and incline 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 Frencli, 
 and are not a Dutch fowl." 
 
 Mr. Pierce of Danvers, 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 I 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 tliem. 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 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 fresh, full feather. Mostly, the cocks have single combs, 
 but some are double combed ; and Col. Rowland of 
 Chicago breeds them rose-combed. It is said that some 
 have flesh-colored legs, but we have seen hundreds — 
 aye, thousands of them, with the clear bright, yellow 
 leg, alluded to by the 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 the resem- 
 blance of their feathers to those on the cuckoo's bieast, 
 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 farmers, that they will always be 
 favorites with those who are content with a medium- 
 sized, good layer, and a bird that they can always count 
 on — if kept by themselves — " as a sure thing," in the 
 poultry line. 
 
 Cut No. 10 gives an admirable representation of this 
 popular fowl, and the engraving is beautifully executed, 
 too ; showing a pair of Dominiques illustrating this 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 255 
 
 splendid stock. We agree with the editor whom we 
 briefly quoted a page 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 Hamburg (see Cut No. 11,) is a 
 very elegant bird to look at. It is sometimes called 
 
256 burnham's new poultry-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 both 
 are very beautifully formed and plumed birds. They 
 are comparatively small, however, though like all mi- 
 nor-sized poultry, they are excellent, steady (sometimes 
 called everlasting) layers. 
 
 They are busy creatures, when abroad, the little 
 spunky cocks crowing frequently, and the hens cackling 
 riotously, upon laying an egg, for instance. But they 
 are easily kept, small feeders, hardy, and healthy — 
 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 
 5 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 Qgg 
 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 cheaply as so many 
 pigeons. The " Silver Spangled Hamburgs," as they 
 are bred by J. C. Sidell, of Englewood, N. J., portrayed 
 so beautifully in Cut No. 11, are as fine as any we ever 
 saw, and we have 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 Golden 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 being 
 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 with 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 large 
 cut of Mr. Sidell's Hamburgs will gisre 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 ; their 
 size, form, and colors being very similar. 
 
 Mr. E. J. Taylor, of Waterloo, N. Y., sends us some 
 
258 burnham's new poultry-book. 
 
 fine drawings of the different varieties of fowls he 
 breeds, which will be found hi the appropriate places. 
 The Golden Ilamburgs are fully described in this chap- 
 ter, by J. C. Sidell, in detail, but in regard to the 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 white 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 both 
 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 PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 259 
 
 Of the beautiful Spangled Hamburgs as represented by cut No. 
 11, Mr. J. C. 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 e very-day-layers." The Lancashire Silver 
 Mooneys have a silvery-white groimd-color, with large, round green- 
 ish black spangles or moons, on the tips of the feathers. The true 
 Mooney cock, generally has a hen-feathered tail, and small deaf ears, 
 not pure white, but streaked with red or pink. The hackle 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 darker on the 
 inside, tipped with black round 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 hackle 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 spangling 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 
 end. The hackle 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 
 ears 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 
 lacing ; their deaf ears are generally pure white, and their combs are 
 larger 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 burnham's new poultry-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 Mooney and Pheasant fo^vls ; 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 ones 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, and 
 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 Mill 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 
 beautifully 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- 
 combs. 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, although they are small, the aggregate weight will 
 perhaps be found to exceed that of some of the larger breeds. If 
 Hamburgs were bred merely for their beauty, as Pheasants are, they 
 would still find plenty of admirers ; but when their extraordinary egg- 
 producing qualities are taken into consideration, the question of 
 profit comes into view, and with many persons the economic merits 
 of a fowl are the ones to which the most value is attached. Ham- 
 burgs 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 them they should 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 are no exception. The eggs 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 fully 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. 
 
 The Crested fowls — such as the Polands — are out 
 of date with us, latterly. The White Leghorns^ 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 N. 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 the 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 the country. The city palls on the jaded nerve. 
 I long to hear the hens cackle. There are lively times 
 now in barn and barnyard, I'll warrant you. If I were 
 lying on 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 
 tliink of chickens. For 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 everi/ pure 
 white fowl is a Leghorn. There are many White Span- 
 ish sold as Leghorns. They may be known by their 
 gray or pearl-colored legs. The pure Leghorn has a 
 yellow leg, a single comb, quite long, and usually lap- 
 ping down. This breed is well known about New York, 
 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. 
 
264 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 ^' The Bralimas 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 have a garden, and who desire to let their poultry 
 run at large. They are good layers, admirable mothers, 
 yield a fine 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 
 ev^ry 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 
 enough 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 ! " 
 
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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 the domesticated feathered tribe, takes ac- 
 knowledged precedence over all the small fowl, denomi- 
 nated Bantams. The Sebrights are said to have had their 
 oi'igin in India — Sir John Sebrioht, the M. P. for Herts 
 England, having, it is stated, brought this beautiful 
 variety out with him 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 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 to 29£. sterling ($145) and bought her in at that figure, 
 rather than part with her ! And the London News 
 announces, in February 1847, that two hens and a cock 
 of this petite variety sold for 50X. 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 
 gallant, 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 
 
 are so small that this furnishes but a tit-bit, in that 
 particular : and they are bred only for fancy, as a rule. 
 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 cock, 
 and in his way, quite as spunky. 
 
 ItED 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 burnham's new poultry-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 " Sebpjghts " 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. 
 E-ice, Clinton, Mass., has produced some fine Game, 
 and Sebright Bantams. Geo. Smith, Holliston, 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 
 truthful 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 
 breeding, when properly cared for. They command 
 
270 burnham's new poultry-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 the 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, the 
 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 
 breeders are inclined to favor some strain or color of 
 the great Asiatic fowl, others make a speciality of 
 raising 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 Fan-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 burnham's new poultry-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 
 aristocratic 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 
 amoi^ 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 grQat layers, non- 
 sitters, and easy keepers, while for the table, their 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 TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 273 
 
 as the Shawl-Game, the Grays, the 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 fighting quality, but that the hens are the 
 best of mothers and the 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 the 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 the vari- 
 eties, informs me that his Crevecoeurs are large birds, 
 and since he has had them he has carefully studied 
 their characteristics and tested their performances. 
 He finds them excellent layers of large sized eggs, and 
 a goodly number of them. They lay in the fall months, 
 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 
 other 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, 
 
274 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." 
 
 But 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 Black 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 iveight 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 have 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 has tried 
 the French strains, commends them to us highly. He 
 writes : " I have had all three of the varieties, and 
 have bred them two years now, with fair success and 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 275 
 
 good satisfaction. They are unique in form and 
 plumage, handsome 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 
 layers, I must say, and I am much pleased with them, 
 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 
 I 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 burnham's new poultry-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 Sidell, 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. Fine 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 hens in eleven months, five hundred and tln*ee 
 eggs ; weighing, on an average, one ounce and five 
 drachms, exclusive of the shells." 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 277 
 
 DR. BENNETT'S " INDIAN GAMES." 
 
 The above are likenesses of a pair of Dr. J. C. Ben- 
 nett's so denominated " Wild Indian Game " birds ; a 
 fowl he produced several years ago, from a cross of 
 tlie 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 nothing of them of late years, and take it for 
 granted that this so-called " breed " did not hold out. 
 We here reproduce the original drawing of the first 
 Bramapooters " exhibited and thus named by Dr. 
 
 (( 
 
278 
 
 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 PORTRAITS OF DR. BENNETT'S THREE ORIGINAL *' BRAMAPOOTER8." 
 
 Bennett in 1851, at the Boston Fowl Show. The sliolit 
 top-knots we have alhided 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 otlier respects 
 it will be observed that the figures very nearly resemble 
 the liglit Brahmas 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 there 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. 279 
 
 to any extent. The "Silky" fowl, the " Rumpless," 
 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 have 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. 
 
 Tliere are certain technical te7'ms applied to fowls, not 
 universally understood, 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 })lumes 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 
 featherino- 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 trij^le comb, seen on the Malay, and contended 
 for by most breeders now as requisite to perfection in 
 the hens of the dark or light 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 feathers 
 that droop and grow backward on the thigh, below the 
 hock joints of fowl — as on the Pantalct-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, through doctoring. 
 
 Gapes among fowls w^ill spread, astonishingly, and 
 roup will be readily communicated from one to another, 
 more especially when your poultry is kept in confine- 
 ment, or in limited quarters. Swelled crop is another 
 troublesome 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) 
 in 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 
 can 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 
 w^orse than all else. Never suffer a drooping or sick 
 bird to remain with the well ones an hour, after you dis- 
 cover the fact. Remove it ; nurse it, (if you are inclin- 
 ed for any reason,) and save, or restore it, if possible. 
 
282 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 But I accept a " short shrift " with such subjects, as I 
 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 ' 
 does 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 not 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 
 them 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 Fan-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 PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC 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 graceful and proud move- 
 ments, than like anything of the pigeon species. 
 
 We have made but brief allusion to the 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 of 
 very little consequence, however. 
 
MALE WILD TURKEY. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIY. 
 
 THE AMERICAN WILD TURKEY. 
 
 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 DOMESTIC 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 
 the top round of the roost, as head representative of the 
 farm yard feathered tribe. The ^vild 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, when 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 bluish corrugated 
 skin, on which are a number of red, wart-like elevations 
 on the superior portions, and whitish ones on the inferi- 
 
286 burnham's new poultry-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 on the sur- 
 face of the neck, where it is flaccid and membranous, 
 forming 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, 
 changing 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, ai'e 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 yellow. The tail meas- 
 ures more than a foot and a quarter ; is rounded and 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 287 
 
 composed of eighteen wide feathers. It 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 predilection 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 about, 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 tlie 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, 
 and into this receptacle the eggs are deposited, some- 
 times 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 burnham's new poultry-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, 
 
Ho. 14 THE MAMMOTH BRONZE TURKEY. 
 
 I>re<I by O. H. XV:irner, ^Vin. Simpson, Jr. Jos. M. Wade, O. W. Felter, 
 E. J. Taylor, and otliers. 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 289 
 
 and its good or bad quality, they are 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, and 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, and 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 XXY. 
 
 REARING THE DOMESTIC TURKEY. 
 
 Six or eight hens 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 times a day, daily. 
 Finely cut up liver, or meat soups is good to mix with 
 their second feeding. They should be kept clean, while 
 in confinement, and a layer of fine, dry gravel, or sand, 
 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 sufficiently 
 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 difficulty 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 recZ, (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 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 Open sheds are consequently best suited to them, with 
 roosting-bars, fixed as high as convenient from the 
 ground. 
 
 If you can take the chicks 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 Ehode 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 
 Christmas, 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 mother 
 abroad, they will do nicely, with little daily feeding, 
 
294 burnham'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- 
 largement. 
 
 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, inasmuch as they continue to follow up the 
 business, year after year ; and the demand for this un- 
 rivalled kind of domestic poultry increases annually. 
 Yery 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 tlien 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. 295 
 
 to the poorest peasant, use it as a beverage. They think 
 tlie turkey loves it, therefore ; and so they advise mix- 
 ing the food of the young chicks with wine. Bread 
 soaked in wine they advise, at first. Our people haven't 
 this article so handy, 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 fresJi^ 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 ofif 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 u{>country 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 poultry-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 — in 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 givipg anything that is over-salt to the young 
 birds. Mix their food with skim-milk, curd, <fec. 
 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 the Brothers 
 Murdock, of Meridaii, Conn., T. B. Smith & Co., 
 Plantsville, Conn., E. J. Taylor & Bro'., Waterloo, 
 N. Y., Wm. Simpson Jr., of West Farms, N. Y., (very 
 fine,) D. W. Herstine, Philadelphia, A. Failor, 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 tlie 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 sixti/ 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 burnham'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 Gallipolis, 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 experience 
 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 
 
t 
 
 A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 299 
 
 to make it private. I remove the eggs every evening, 
 and when tlie hen wishes to sit, fix a good nest by put- 
 ting some ashes and fresh hay on it, and give her about 
 17 eggs. The young ones will require no food the first 
 day after they are hatched. The best food for them is 
 curd witli young onion tops chopped fine and mixed 
 with it. I generally give them hard boiled eggs the first 
 few days. 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 
 turke/s 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 burnham's new poultry-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 XXYI. 
 
 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, the 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 
 
m 
 
 802 buenham's new poultry-book. 
 
 the ice ; but these 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 bird 
 with the others, if a male wild goose can be had, which is 
 difficult except in case where one is wounded, and 
 secured alive. 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. 308 
 
 recognized his old mate, entered into close conversation, 
 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 then 
 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 beriies. 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 lionk^ as if to ask how they come on, 
 and the Jionk 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 tlieir 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, I think, by 
 Colonel Samuel Jaques, of Tenliiirs Farm, Medford, 
 Mass., and was bred by him for many years, with great 
 success, on his fine estate near the mouth of the Mystic 
 River. 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, lie 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. T., five years after Col. Jaques imported his Bre- 
 mens, had three direct from the same port. He says, 
 in the N. E. 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 Bremens are now bred in their purity, I believe, by 
 C. N. Pahuer & Sons, Gallipolis, Ohio, D. W. Herstine, 
 Philadelphia, T. B. Smith, Plantsville, Conn., and a few 
 other gentlemen, but they are not now so commonly bred 
 in Massachusetts, as formerly. 
 
 The Toulouse Goose, (see cut No. 16,) as its name 
 implies, is from France, 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, which 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 ht/ 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, / 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 have seen specimens of the Toulouse Geese that 
 
306 burnham'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 the 
 common goose ; for the increased weight and size — at 
 an early age — produced through this process, tells^ 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 is 
 called the " Swan Goose," from its size — the " Hong 
 Kong," the " Brown China," 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. 307 
 
 pounds' weight is not unusual, for a three-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 the race has disappeared from among us, in this 
 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 ; . . . . 
 on 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- 
 
808 burnham'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 larj^ely in the 
 northern states of America. 
 
 A noted old English breeder of Geese, suggests the 
 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 suffi- 
 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. 309 
 
 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 
 prevent 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, soa,ked 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 buenham'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, otherv^ise ; 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 there 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 XXYII. 
 
 THE AYLESBURY, ROUEN, AND COMMON DUCK. 
 
 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 feathers, 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. 
 311 
 
312 
 
 BURNHAM S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ; 
 
^ 
 
No. i5 CANADA," OR AMERICAN WILD >.,COSF- 
 
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 are 
 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 Is- 
 land, bred the Aylesbury among the earliest in this 
 country. He describes those he brought out with him 
 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 authorities 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 decidedly perferred to the Rouen." 
 
 The 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 
 
 BURNHAM S NEW POULTRY-BOOK ; 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 315 
 
 Its color is much like the wild duck, and the drake's, 
 especially, is very showy and beautiful. The 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. They lay 
 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 Eouen, 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 burnham's new poultry-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 richness 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 flics in flocks of not more than 
 three or four together, and most commonly in pairs, or 
 singly. Their flesh is inferior to that of the blue- 
 winged teal. They are frequent in the mai'kets of 
 Philadelphia. Among other gaudy feathers with which 
 the Indians ornament the calumet or pipe of peace, the 
 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 white to black — speckled, spotted, gray, and 
 Rouen colored. These can readily be traced to tlie 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE 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 insectiverous 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 
 either 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 oonfined 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 <fe Co. 
 of Plantsville, Conn., Isaac Van Winkle, Greenville, 
 N. J., D. W. EEerstine, and J. M. Wade, of Philadel- 
 phia, etc., being among the principal poulterers who 
 give attention to these fine water-fowl. 
 
CHAPTER XXYIII. 
 
 WHAT I KNOW ABOUT POULTRY, AND FOWL-SHOWS. 
 
 In the final chapters of my " New Poultry Book," I 
 have thought it pertinent — at the risk of its being 
 deemed somewhat egotistical, perhaps — to state some- 
 thing of what I 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. 
 
 I 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 their judgment is warped, through selfishness 
 frequently ; but oftener through 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 the multi- 
 tude can avail themselves of the benefits of the " im- 
 provement " they nominally propose to undertake in the 
 character of tlie 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 to 
 be a moderately modest, honest ' outsider ; ' who — 
 though he ^naij be able to contribute a cage or two of 
 the best samples shown, does not luckily chance to be- 
 
320 burnham's new poultry book : 
 
 long to " our set," or " our ring." And there be 
 many earnest striving amateurs who have had the op- 
 portunity to share with me in acquiring this item of 
 information, to their 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 meaning 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 tlie 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 
 feiv days^ or weeks, only, (prior to setting her eggs) is 
 sufficient to insure joz^re-bred chickens from such fowls I 
 
 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 confidently 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 tliis 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 ! 
 
 1 have learned that in the details of this business, as 
 
322 burnham'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 character of a competitor's poultry, be it 
 good 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, with- 
 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. 323 
 
 being thus forced and stuifed, on two or three occa- 
 sions. 
 
 It is within my own experience that show-birds thus 
 purchased — at enormous figures — have in the 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 year 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 
 
324 burnham's new poultry dook ; 
 
 to great weight, and from whence they had recently 
 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 feci I am 
 doing but a simple act of justice to others, when I state 
 that I 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 experience, arrived at this self-same con- 
 clusion. 
 
 I am no longer in doubt as to the fact that there are 
 liiow 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 —r as I was — several years since. 
 
 I have not yet learned the addVess of the sailor who 
 ^^ brought into New York the first Brahma fowls, in 
 a ship 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 he ever learns it — though 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 325 
 
 I really don't think he will. ' Which is why I remark 
 that this statement is dark ; which the same I am free 
 to maintain.' 
 
 I have concluded, 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 Shanghses. 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 gather. 
 
 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. 
 
326 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 I have ascertained that with the right sort of 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. 
 
 1 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 first-class fowl, for the spit, the pit, or 
 the gentleman's lawn ; and it is in no spirit of boasting 
 that I make this 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 
 London " Field " using the frank expression that 
 '' since Brother Jonathan made 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 sooner 
 or later learn all these matters from tlieir own indi- 
 vidual experience and observation, as I have acquired 
 the information here submitted. 
 
CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 TWENTY-FIVE GOOD RULES FOR FOWL-BREEDERS. 
 
 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 impoi^tant, however, to be observed by those 
 who would breed fowls well and successfully. 
 
 I. — WHO TO PURCHASE FROM. 
 
 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. 
 
 II. — ABOUT TRANSPORTING 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. 
 
 III. — 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 burnham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 IV. — LET THE YOtJXG ONES ALONE ! 
 
 When your young ones are hatclied, 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 tliese 
 eggs where the offenders can try this decoction. A 
 single taste will content them ! 
 
 VL — GIVE FOWLS AMPLE RANGE. 
 
 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. 
 
 VII. — ADOPT A KEGULAK SYSTEM. 
 
 However you feed, do it in a cleanly manner, upon 
 system, and whatever else you do, be sure they have 
 clean fresh water, and plenty of it, at all times. This 
 is a pre-requisite to assure their health and prosperity. 
 
 VUI. — WHAT TO DO TD HAVE EGGS. 
 
 Supply them with [)lcnty of gravel, ground bones, 
 pounded oyster-shells, ashes and powdered sulphur to 
 roll in, and both green and animal food — when con- 
 fined — if you expect them to lay eggs, or keep in or- 
 duiary health, meautimo. 
 
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 the lien's nest for ten days after 
 slie sits. Who " wets eggs " for the hen that steals her 
 nest ? or that sits and hatches in the 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 CARE FOR 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. 
 
 Xn. — HOW TO AVOID VER^SHiSr. 
 
 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 CURE 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 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 the out-door enjoyment tliey can get. They do not love 
 heat^ but crave protection from cold vv^inds and storms. 
 
 XV. — SAVE AND SELL THE MAN DUE. 
 
 Place a board floorhig directly under your roosts, to 
 catch the 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 POULTRY PURELY. 
 
 If you aim to breed fowls purely^ never 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. 
 
 XVII. — 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.' 
 
 XVm. — LOOK OUT FOR SNOW-WATER ! 
 
 Avoid giving S7^o^^-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. 
 
 XIX. — CHICKENS ALWAYS READY TO KILL. 
 
 Keep your fowls in good condition, from the shell, by 
 judicious feeding. They will cat no more than they 
 v/ant ; 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. 331 
 
 J 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 your fowls "the best." 
 
 If you raise fowls for exhibitions, don't imagine that 
 yours " are the he%t ones " shewn, until the Judges 
 decide this little matter (perhaps against you !) The 
 adage is true — though musty — that "you can't tell 
 who is Governor, till after election." 
 
 XXII. — PEOPER AGE TO BREED FROM. 
 
 Breed from two-year old fowls, for increased size, of 
 any variety, as well as to insure chicks that will earliest 
 mature. Year-old pullets are very well, but the others 
 are best ; and a two-year-old cock is always preferable, 
 if you have one. 
 
 xxm. — THE FOWLS, not the cages, win I 
 
 Never expend money foolishly on orjiamental 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. — J' FipST CLASS WHITEWASH. 
 
 "* Whitewash your hen-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 pour 
 this in, while liot ; 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 PEESERVE EGGS IN WIin^ER. 
 
 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 boiling water. 
 When cold, put your eggs into this liquid, in a stom 
 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 hints, 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, in 
 " Selecting, Housing, and Breeding Domestic Fowls — " 
 as I have done. 
 
CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 RAISING 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 there 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 more 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 burnham's new poultry-book; 
 
 when the fact is presented that in this present year 
 (1871) tlie 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 
 the 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 ready 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, on 
 the cost, feed and care. What kind of live stock or 
 gardening, or farming, will return any thing like such 
 percentage as this ? 
 
336 burnham'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. Leland and 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 337 
 
 other extensive poulterers find it necessary 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 pai/s 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 properly originates — to wit, towards the 
 interests of the /armors 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. They 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 busi- 
 ness pays him handsomely, since he has a quick market 
 
A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DOMESTIC FOWLS. 339 
 
 through this channel for his poultry, all of which has 
 hitherto heen raised for the " Metropolitan ; " from the 
 refuse dry offal of which immense establishment, Mr. L. 
 has the advantage of being able to furnish his fowls 
 with 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 
 poultry 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 F. Allen, in response to a cor- 
 respondent who asked his advice as to '' how a chicken- 
 house 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. 
 1 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 I 
 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., 
 having leased " Williams' Garden," at the foot of Mt. 
 Pleasant, for the pui pose of trying to raise poultry on a 
 large scale. I had a fine establishment, good location, 
 what I supposed was ample space, and I erected twenty 
 fowl-houses, in a circle — connected together under one 
 
840 buknham's new poultry-book ; 
 
 general shed roof, with small yards 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 thenv^ few in a 
 place, scattered about over your farm or estafe, 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 liis 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 
 rich, 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 other 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 shelter, 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 poultry-book; 
 
 no particular, ditferent from any other calling. It is a 
 good business, a paying eiiterprize, 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 have 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 in 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 herein. But, if the 
 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. 
 
POPULAR POULTRY STOCK. 
 
 At the suggestion of several gentlemen who breed fine poultry, 
 the publishers add. at the close of this volume, a few pages of Ad- 
 vertisements — thus enabling the reader to inform himself where 
 different good strains of fowls may be had. By referring to the fol- 
 lowing pages, those interested will find the address of some of our 
 best breeders of popular Poultry stock, and we commend the cards of 
 these gentlemen to notice, confident that the advertisers enjoy facil- 
 ities for producing firsL-class fowls ; and that purchasers may rely 
 upon obtaining, either in the way of eggs or fowls for breeding, pre- 
 cisely what they order, from these well known and reputable estab. 
 lishments. 
 
 343 
 
STEA^M 
 
 rrji r\n^ f®'* ? . 4>® 
 
 &< 
 
 No. 21 CORNHILL, 
 
 BOSTON, MASS. 
 
 Messes. W. H. Chandler & Co., Printers of Burnham's "NEW 
 POULTRY BOOK," would inform Dealers in Poultry, that the 
 numerous splendid illustrations of Fowls which appear in this voliune 
 are copyrighted, were mostly got up by Bricher & Conant, of this 
 city, expressly for the present work, and are drawn from life. 
 Breeders and Fanciers who desire to procure 
 
 CIRCULARS RELATING TO THEIR STOCK, 
 
 can select one or more of the illustrations which appear in this Book, 
 of any variety or varieties of Fowls, Geese, Turkies, Ducks, or Games, 
 with which they may desire to show their stock (of which Cuts we 
 have reserved duplicates) which Circulars we are now prepared, at 
 brief notice, through these facilities, to print in the most acceptable 
 style, at moderate charges. 
 
 G^^ Dealers desirous of avaiUng themselves of this proposal can 
 send the matter for such Circulars, by mail, (with directions as to 
 their choice of Illustrations) and the Circulars (large or small) when 
 printed, can readily be forwarded to their address, by Express, to 
 any part of the United States ;— thus saving fanciers the heavy cost 
 of getting up original wood cuts and electrotypes of their stock. 
 
 Address W. H. CHANDLER & CO., 
 
 Job Printers, 21 Cornhill, Boston, Mass. 
 
White-Faced Black Spanish, 
 
 AND 
 
 DUCK- WING GAME FOWLS. 
 
 I have bred my Fowls very carefully, for some years past, always 
 from the ^nesi and pwresi stock that could be obtained; and I feel 
 confident that I have in my yards (from which I am now breeding,) 
 as choice specimens as can be found anywhere. 
 
 I shall have a few Eggs to spare during the season, also a few prime 
 chickens to dispose of, in the fall. 
 
 Address C. H. EDMONDS, 
 
 MELROSE, MASS., 
 
 Or, care of Box 3,639, P. O. Boston, Mass. 
 
1®® A® K®A©BA 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 IMPORTER AND BREEDER OF 
 
 ^h 
 
 has for sale, from his late Importations of Stock, which was 
 carefully selected from the yards of the 
 
 Best Breeders in England, 
 
 REGARDLESS OF COST, 
 
 BUFF COCHIN CHINA FOWLS. 
 PAHTRIDGE do. " " 
 
 WHITE do. *' " 
 
 DARK BRAHMA, PEA COMB. 
 LIGHT BRAHMA, do. 
 BLACK RED GAME. 
 BROWN do. do. 
 RED PILE do. 
 
 AND OTHER VARIETIES. 
 
 2!^=" A Poultry Circular will be issued by me early in the fall. 
 
 GEO. A. MEACHAM, 
 
 NORTH CAMBRIDGE, MASS 
 
 YARDS AT SOMERVILLE.) 
 
s* 
 
 KSSS'^W^ 
 
 s) 
 
 ^P 
 
 1 
 
 Rl 
 
 FOR CHOICE FOWLS 
 
 SEND TO 
 
 G-. A. DEITZ, 
 
 CHAMBERSBURG, PA., 
 
 Who has the largest Poultry yard in the 
 United States. 
 2[^='Send for Circular. «:^35 1 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 Choice Hogs, Sheep and Cattle. 
 
 i 
 
® m^ 
 
 m 
 
 BKEEDERS AND SHIPPEBS OF 
 
 30 Varieties 
 
 Of W^mej mm§. ^ele^iedi, Seme Died 
 
 FOWLS, 
 
 Eaas, PIGEONS, &o. 
 
 BRAHMAS, 
 
 B-afF, ^Wliite and Cartridge 
 
 COCHINS, 
 
 BLACK BBEASTED HED GAME BANTAMS, 
 
 DUCK- WING GAME BANTAMS, 
 
 f M 
 
 1PWBK 
 
 AYLESBURY AND ROUEN DUCKS. 
 
 For Price List, Circular, &c., Addi-ess Box 701, 
 
 SCHENECTADY, N. Y. 
 
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 Breeder of and Dealer in all of the most useful and popular kinds 
 
 of Thoroughbred 
 
 i»S^ 
 
 I am making a specialty of 
 
 Dark Brahmas, Partridge Cochins, Black Spanish, 
 
 Light Brahmas, Buff Cochins, Houdans. 
 
 Send stamp for fully illustrated catalogue and price list. 
 
Live Stoci Asriciiitni^al M HDrWnral Apiicy. 
 
 'i) 
 
 m 
 
 ISTo. 5 Soiitli Tenth St., Phila., 
 
 IMPORTER, BREEDER AKD SHIPPER OF ALL VARIETIES OF 
 
 
 # ''^ ^ ^« 
 
 f *^$4%# 
 
 Agent for the Purchase and Sale of Live Stock generally, 
 
 INCLUDING 
 
 Jersey, Shod Horo, Afrsliire and Devon Cattle, 
 
 CHESTER WHITE AIVD BERKSHIRE SWINE, 
 
 SOUTHDOWN AND COTSWOLD SHEEP, &c., &c. 
 
 Orders solicited for Agricultural and Horticultural Imple- 
 ments, Fertilizers, Seeds, Plants, Nursery Stock, &c. 
 
 I make the ASIATIC class of Fowls a Specialty. My Stock of 
 Cochins and Brahmas were all eviported by myself, and 
 HAVE WON PRIZES at the leading Exhibitions, for the last three 
 years. I am adding to them every year, by fresh importations and 
 careful selections, having peculiar reference to the most desirable 
 qualities in the different vaf'ieties ; and with a view to avoid close 
 breeding ; I can therefore confidently offer my Stock as being fully 
 equal, if not superior to any in America. 
 
 D. W. HEBSTINE, 
 
 No. 5 South 10th Street, - - - - PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
 

 @ (^ 
 
 
 IS THE GREAT LEADING POPULAR 
 
 JOURNAL OF THE NORTHWEST. 
 
 FOB COUNTRY AND TOWN! 
 
 FOR OLD AND YOUNG!! 
 
 ALL POULTRY BREEDERS NEED IT. 
 
 SUBSCRIBE NOW! 
 
 AN ANNUAL PRESENT TO ALL! 
 
 Pablislied Weekly, at $2.00 per Year; or, at same price as most 
 
 Monthlies. 
 
 1^" THREE MONTHS ON TRIAIi FOR FIFTY CENTS. «j^ 
 
 Specimen Numbers Free. 
 MOST LIBERAL PREMIUMS OFFERED. 
 
 New List Now Ready. Send for it and get up a Club. Address 
 
 THE PRAIRIE FARMER COMPANY, Chicago. 
 Remit at Our Risk, by Registered Letter or P. O. Money Order. 
 
«) 11/ «) 
 
 WATERLOO, SENECA COUNTY, N. Y., 
 
 BREEDER OF SUPERIOR 
 
 Dark and Light Brahmas, 
 Buff and Partridge Cochins, 
 
 AND 
 
 DUCK-WING GAMES. 
 
 E. J. TAYLOR'S PRICE LIST OF EGGS. 
 
 PARTRIDGE COCHINS, .... $6.00 per dozen. 
 
 DARK BRAHMAS, 5.00 " 
 
 BUFF COCHINS, 4.00 " 
 
 LIGHT BRAHMAS, 3.00 " 
 
 DUCK-WING GAME, 3.00 '' 
 
 WHITE CALCUTTA SWAN FANTAIL PIGEONS, $5.00 per pair. 
 
 I never send any but fresh Eggs, and pack them carefully in dry 
 saw-dust, unless otherwise ordered. I pack every egg myself, and 
 warrant them to reach their destination sound, but will not warrant 
 them to hatch ; not knowing what treatment they will receive after I 
 have shipped them. They ought, however, to hatch a very good per- 
 centage of chicks, and will, if cared for properly. 
 
 Orders filled in rotation as received, and in every case where the 
 order cannot be filled, the money will be inuuediately refunded. 
 
 £^=-N0 FOWLS OR EGGS SENT C. 0. D.=^ 
 
 P. O. Orders on Seneca Falls, Drafts on New York, or Registered 
 Letters sent at my risk. 
 
 Be particular to write name and direction plainly. 
 
IF YOU WANT AGENTS, 
 
 OR 
 
 HAVE STOCK TO SELL, 
 
 OR 
 
 ANYTHING TO MAKE KNOWN 
 
 TO THE 
 
 PEOPLE OF THE WEST, 
 
 YOU HAVE ONLY TO 
 
 PUT AN ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 INTO 
 
 KSlLOEIi'S "INSIDE TRACE LIST" 
 
 OF 
 
 Ky270 COUNTRY NEWSPAPERS..^ 
 
 This liist comprises a L.arg'e Proportion of the Best "Western County 
 
 Papers, Superior in Cliaracter, Circulation, and Influence, 
 
 to those of any otlier list. 
 
 RATES FOR THE WHOLE LIST, - - $2.50 PER LINE. 
 
 £ach Insertion. 
 
 If you use a cut, one electrotype will be sufficient. 
 
 The limited amount of advertisements in the pages controlled by 
 us in these papers, makes every advertisement in them more conspic- 
 uous, and consequently more valuable to the advertiser. 
 
 Advertisers can reach the readers of these only through this List, 
 except at rates at least three times those we charge. 
 
 Parties ordering through this List not only save great labor and ex- 
 pense in correspondence, and in cuts, but also secure for their adver- 
 tisements a gratifying neatness and clearness of printing, and for 
 their orders great promptness and positive certainty of execution. 
 
 All Obders should be addressed to 
 
 A® If® mmm^wmm^ 
 
 Auxiliary Publish-or, 
 
 no & 112 Madison Street, Chicago, III. 
 
i) 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 BA^T^VI^, OHIO, 
 
 Breeder of the famous 
 
 ifc. 
 
 
 ( The only Flock of this valuable Game known in America. ) 
 
 Such has been their success as Warriors, that Sportsmen of Cincinnati 
 have refused "to pit" any other cock against one of these DERBY WHITE 
 GAMES. 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 HOUDAKTS, BUFF COCHIN, DARK AND LIGHT BRAHMAS, 
 WHITE LEGHORN, GOLDEN SEBRIGHT BANTAMS, 
 SILVER SPANGLED HAMBURG, WHITE FACED 
 BLACK SPANISH, • 
 
 MAMMOTH BRONZE TURKEYS, 
 
 CSilTA €SSSS. 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 A great variety of FANCY PIGEONS, of the finest excellence. 
 
 Black, and also Yellow Barbs, Jacobines, Turbits, 
 Tumblers, Trumpeters, Nuns, etc. 
 
 IW^ All the above FOWLS and PIGEONS are from the leading yards 
 of Europe and America. 
 
 
 B\ 
 
 ® 
 
 My stock is bred, and kept in the highest purity, by Stock from the 
 pens of Joseph Harris, Esq., Moreton Farms, Rochester, N. Y., and from 
 Importations by Col. W. P. Anderson, Cincinnati, Ohio. Everything sent 
 out by me guaranteed as represented. 
 Address, with stamp, 
 
 G. W. FELTER, 
 
 BATAVIA, OHIO. 
 
THE TURF, FIELD AND FARM, 
 
 The Sportsman's Oracle and Country Gentleman's Newspaper. 
 
 PUBLISHED WEEKLY, 
 At No. 37 Park Row, .... New York. 
 
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 RATES OF advertising: 
 
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 Our friends in every City, Township and County should send Clubs. Ad- 
 dress, TURF, FIELD AND FARM ASSOCIATION, 
 P. 0. Box 6,842. No. 37 Park Row, New York. 
 

 CALLIPOLIS, OHIO. 
 
 We shall oflfer for sale during the fall of 1871, and Spring of 1872, 
 the following list of Fowls, bred from imported Stock, viz : 
 
 LIGHT BRAHMAS, per pair, $6 00 
 
 DARK BRAHMAS, per pair, 10 00 
 
 HOUDANS, per pair, 7 00 
 
 BUFF COCHINS, per pair, 10 00 
 
 BLACK JAYAS, per pair, 7 00 
 
 WHITE LEGHORNS, per pair, 6 00 
 
 WHITE DORKINGS, per pair, 6 00 
 
 SILVER SPANGLED POLANDS, per pair, - - 7 00 
 
 BLACK SPANISH, per pair, 7 00 
 
 GOLDEN HAMBURGS, per pair, . - - - 6 00 
 
 BRONZE TURKIES, per pair, 10 00 ^ 
 
 TOPKNOT, or CUBAN" DUCKS, per pair, - - 6 00 
 
 WHITE BREMEN GEESE, per pair, - - - 10 00 -^ 
 
 «»• 
 
 2l^='0ur patrons may rely upon obtaining from us first class birds. 
 Address, 
 
 C. N. PALMER & SONS,- 
 
 GALLIPOLIS, OHIO. 
 
P^lll Ki^^ If 
 
 M MmW, 
 
 te^^^W ^W mS5»^^ ^W ^^ ^^M ^W ^ H- ^«^5#^ 
 
 I breed but four varieties, and those are from the best stock in Europe. 
 
 My CREVE COEURS and HOUDANS are my own importations 
 from the " JARDIN DE ACCLIMATATION," Paris, France. I 
 have made six different importations since February, 1867, and my 
 stock contains no trace of any other Blood. I can therefore give a 
 '• pedigree" of every fowl and egg of these varieties from my yard. 
 
 It is a noted fact among fanciers that there is scarcely a Jieatlhy 
 yard of Creve Coeurs in the British Isles. The climate there does not 
 agree with this variety. In importing from such a source, does it 
 not follow that the result must be unhealthy fowls, and progeny ? 
 
 To my persistent avoidance of all strains of English bred Creve 
 Coeurs, I attribute my uniform good success and healthiness of my 
 stock. I have never lost a Creve Coeur by roup, and don't think I 
 ever had a case of it among my flock. They are uniformly healthy, 
 and with me, as hardy and easy to raise as the Brahmas. 
 
 Si^^My Dark Brahmas are also my own importation from the yard 
 of the Hon. J. K. Fowler, England. 
 
 My Black Spanish are the two first and the third premium pens 
 at the last show of the N. Y. S. Poultry Society ; all imported, and 
 from THREE of the most noted ya^y^fcigland, viz. : Henry Bel- 
 don, Esq., J. H. Cryer, Esq., and Lady Holmsdale, making I believe, 
 the BEST yard of Spanish in America. 
 
 PKICE LIST. 
 
 Creve Coeurs, ----- $15 per pair. - - - - $23 per trio. 
 
 Houdans, ------ 15 per pair. - - - - 23 per trio. 
 
 Dark Brahmas, ----- 16 per pair. - - - - 25 per trio. 
 
 Black Spanish, - - - 10 to 20 per pair. - - 15 to 30 per trio. 
 
 "PURITY AND EXCEI.L.ENCE GUARANTEED." 
 
 Eggrs for Sale in Season. 
 
 gi:^=*Above Prices include Boxing and Delivery at Express Oflice 
 at Rye, N. Y. 
 
 TERMS CASH— accompanying" the Order. No Fowls 
 Shipped "C O. D." All orders filled in rotation 
 
 as received. 
 
 Remittances by Express to Rye, or by P. O. Money Order on New 
 
 York City. 
 
 A. M. HALSTED, Rye, N. Y. 
 
irs#s 
 
 «1 
 
 ill 4j 
 
 Aurora, Cayuga Lake, N. Y., 
 
 IMPORTER AND BREEDER OF 
 
 PURE BRED 
 
 » A© 
 
 m^ 
 
 OR, 
 
 t , 
 
 
 ^i 
 
 Dark and Light Brahmas, Buff Cochins, White and Silver 
 
 Grey Dorkings, 
 
 GOLDEN SPANGLED HAMBURGS. 
 and Sumatra Games, Rouen Ducks, White Holland Turkies. 
 
 ^ 
 
 ymm 
 
 AND 
 
 Price List and Descriptive Catalofcties furnished upon receipt of Postage Stamp. 
 
 Nothing sold C. O. D. 
 
 Aurora, April, 1871. 
 
 THOS. GOULD. 
 
LIVE STOCK JOURNAL, 
 
 AN ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY. 
 
 Devoted to the Breeding, Feeding, Management of Live Stock Poultry, and 
 
 Bees : to the Dairv and the Turf. 
 
 Among its regular corps of contributors are 
 
 HON. I.EWIS F. AI.L,EN, of Buffalo. 
 
 E. W. STEWART, of Lake View, N. Y. 
 
 CYRUS O. POOLE, of New York City. 
 
 I.. B. ARNOLD, of Ithaca, N. Y. 
 
 MISS MIDY MORGAN, of the New York Times. 
 
 DAVID Z. EVANS, JR., of Maryland. 
 
 WILLIAM SOMERVILLE, V. S. 
 
 BURR H. NICHOLS, of Lockport, N. Y. 
 
 Besides numerous Special Contributors from the ranks of Breeders, Feed- 
 ers, Poultry Fanciers, Apiarians and Dairymen. 
 
 Every effort is made to ensure its being in all its departments, a 
 FIRST-CLASS JOURNAL, 
 Which meets the Wants of all who are interested in the care of Domestic 
 Animals, Fowls or Bees. 
 
 Special Attention is paid to the Poultry Department. 
 
 During the short time that the Live Stock Journal, has been before the 
 public, it has attained a reputation and influence which gives it a position in 
 the front rank of agricultural publications. It was started with a view to 
 supply the manifest want of a first-class magazine, devoted exclusiveh- to 
 the great and growing live-stock interest of the country. Every effort wKich 
 could be made by the employment of the best talent in the country, and a 
 heavy expenditure of capital, has been put forth to make it a fitting exponent 
 of the vast interest to which it is devoted. An entire ^ew outfit of elegant 
 type and materials was purchased expressly for it; writers of the highest 
 reputations and acknowledged authority in all matters relating to the manage- 
 ment of live stock, the dairy, poultry and bees, are permanently engaged as 
 contributors to its columns at liberal rates of compensation ; fine and expen- 
 sive engravings are used to illustrate its pages, and it is printed on an extra 
 heavy quality of fine book paper. 
 
 These efforts to make the Live Stock Journal worth}^ of popularity, have 
 met with a gi-atifying success. It has already attained a wide-spread circula- 
 tion in every State in the Union, in the Dominion of Canada, and recently 
 names from England and France have been added to its subscription list. Its 
 original articles have not only gone the rounds of the American press, but 
 have been translated into foreign language, and copied by foreign papers. 
 
 TERMS.— Single Copy One Year, »1.50 ; Four Copies, S5.00 ; Eight 
 Copies, Sft9.50; Ten Copies, $13,00; Fifteen Copies, S15.00. 
 
 GEQ:g,pyggA. MAPvTIN, Editor and Publisher. 
 
 ft 8 HENRY C. SPRINGER & CO., Proprietors, 
 
 Office, No. 4 Coit Block, 16 AYest Swan St., Buffalo, N. Y. 
 
 ^^^ All funds should be remitted cither by Post Office orders, or draft on 
 New York. In all cases the expense of forwarding may be deducted from 
 the amount. Where there is no money order Post Office or bank, the amount 
 may be remitted in currency at our risk, if less than forty dollars — if forty 
 dollars, or more, bv express at our expense. ~^ ^ 
 
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