The illustrated book of poultry. With practical scheduals for judging, constructed from actual analysis of the best modern decisions by Wright Lewis 1838-1905

Author:Wright, Lewis, 1838-1905
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Poultry
Publisher: London, Paris New York, Cassell, Petter and Galpin
Published: 1873-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

has the best and most successful yards, and is where most of our present Pile breeders have had their blood from. In Duckwings, for many years back Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire have had the best, though Cambridgeshire has come to the fore lately. Of late years, I am sorry to say, Duckwings have gone back, both in hens and cocks ; but I believe from this date they will improve, for I am aware of several of the old hands going to do their best with this breed.

" A few hints as to rearing will not be out of place to those who may be about starting. Firstly, we never put more than eleven eggs under a Game hen. When hatched be in no hurry to take them from the nest, for they will want nothing for twenty-four hours, and very little then; and as you should feed the first two or three days with egg custard and a few dry crumbs of bread mixed with the custard, they will require no icata-; so put none near for them to dabble in. In a day or two take the hen from where she has hatched to a dry shed facing the south, or a dry bank sheltered from north and east winds, and coop them on the ground. If too wet, put some dry ashes under the coop, soft and free from lumps, and by no means put them on boards, for by this we get crooked toes; and rough cinders or gravel sometimes indent the small gristle of the breast, and if it gets the least askew while with the hen, it soon goes worse and worse. I have heard some breeders say they have had them come straight, but I have always had reason to doubt their word. You may let your coop remain for four or five days at first, by merely drawing the hen's droppings out. When you do shift, do so at midday, and if damp or wet put more dry ashes or dry earth at night. You will find fussing about this dry lodging pay for the trouble, by seeing your chickens come out quite frisky in the morning, and it conduces greatly to health. I always coop my hens for six 01 seven weeks with Game, feeding principally on egg custard, coarse oatmeal, and bruised wheat until about five weeks old, when I begin to give well-soaked whole wheat a few times daily, weaning them off to the common food by degrees. It is very useful, if there is no old hedge or low trees close by where your coops are placed, to drive four stakes in the ground, standing about a foot high, and place a hurdle on them, then lay a few loose boughs on it. This serves as a playground in a cold morning, as they soon commence to fly up and down after one another; then again, before the earth gets warm for their feet, they will cluster on the top of it when the sun comes out, and preen themselves.

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