Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-04-04
From The Eep England Farmer.
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The dunghif cock aud hen TPbnnis,,,, p cl
llus)is native OF the warm counlrie. of IN, s.s,
is found wild IN many paris Of Asia. aud is do
INVESTIGATED III every country, where the art. oI
lagri1u'tnrs and roral economy have made any
progress.
The rayie,ies ofMi, bird which, accord.
ing TO Loudou, are known IN Gfea, Britain.
are
Tire common 5unghm cock and hsa-nfidde
sire. Of every color, and hardy
The game cock aud teE--raiher small in
size, delicate IN limb, color generally red or
brown flesh white, and snpaIinr 10 that of an
ether variety for the richnes. and deIicacy of
favor eggs small, fns shaped and extremely
deHca'. the chickens are difiicuI, 10 rear from
| their pusnacity oi dis osition. The game cock
has long oesn IN US" to CRAFTY a dspraved
taste for barbarous amusement. LONDON saws
! however, that this SORT OF sport is not 80 much
IN vogue, as u has been in 6 reat Britain and
we do not know that il has ever been much
prac'ised In New England
The Docking cork aud hen.--This r. named
from town III Surry. [Eng) II is the lsrgest
| variety shape handsome. body long and ca
pacions. legs short. five claws on zach foot
EGGS large, and lays abundanrl, color OF
the flesh inciinine TO yeowi.h or ivory.
Both hens and COCKS often made into capons
The Poland cock dad hen were originsily i'm.
ported from fiolan 1he color shining black,
with white tops Ln the head Of both cock and
hen head tlal. surmounled by deshy ptotu-
b"rance, on, OF which spI ing the crown featl.
trs Their form plump and fepp. legs shor
with five claws. lay alundanily, are less it,
clined to set than uuy ober breed: they tat
ten quickly and are NOR. Juicy aud rich than
the Dorking This is ons Of tbe mosi useful
varieties There is an ornamental suhvati-iy,
known as tho golden POLAND, with yellow aud
riark plUmage,
TIL. ercrt day Geek and hen is snhvsre,y
of,ha above. OF Dutch origin they are ol snsI.
Ter sixe and SAID to be great layers. Then
tops are large and shoald be periodically clip
ped near the eyes, Otherwise according 10
Nowbray. They viii grow into the e.es Of the
fowls and render ihsm very snoIrct 10 alarm.
TIE bantam coct and hen i. II small Indian
breed. valued chiefly for IFS eroiesqus hsne
aud dekcaie flesh. MuwbraY meotions sub
variety, extremely small, and "a smooth legged
ss ean,c fowl. From their size and delicacy
they arn verv conyeuisot, as they may always
he used No substitutes for chickens, when small
,pps Arr not otherwise TO be had They are
also raricnlarly useful for setting upon the
epgs of pa-triiges and pheasants. being good
nursps a well as good LAYERS. There are two
varieties Of This breed, Of which The more com
mon is remarkable Tor having the legs and feel
furnished with feathers. The other and more
scarce variety is even smaller and is most
elegantly formed, as well as most delicstely
limbed. There is society Of ianciers Of this
hrec ,~h rear hem for prizes, among whom
Sir John Sahrleht stands pre-eminenl.
The Chiiago,w or Malay hen is an Indian
breed, and tie largest variety OF the species.
They are in color, stritted yellDw and dark
brown, long necked, serpent headed, and high
upon the leg their fresh dark, coarse, and chiei-
w adapted to soup. They are good layers, and
being well fed produce large, substantial aud
nutriiive eggs; but these birds are too long leg
CAD 10 be steady sltPrs.
The Shnckbdss or Duke Of Leede' bred was
formerly in grea. repute, but is now nearly
lost II 10 som times 10 he met with at Work
,ngham. in Berkshire, and is 80 large and me
Il esh 40 white. firm and fine as 10 afford a
convenient substitute for the turkey.
Tie impiOtsd Spanish cock aud hen is n cross
between the DO ing and Spanish breed, also
10 be found in aud about Nottingham. II is
large bird with black plumage, white ana
delicate flesh. the largest eggs Of any British
variety, and well adapted for rapoo.
Tho foregoing, according to English authors
are the principal breeds OF the gsllus, or cock
and hen species which ara known ~ Great
Brnaip. We are NOT able 10 say what varieties
Of this useful bird have been INTRO iuced into
his country, hut we have observed considera-
hle differences in thrr forms, as we'll AZ 10 their
habits. Some kinds have a greater p propensity
TO ramble, and 10 dig up seeds, and injure W.
ge,able- N garJans. &c. than other varieiiss o /,
the same species. We should be glad to ob.
tain ami communicate information relative 10
~ aE
there isns marked H difference in tina breeds
of hens, as ia those of su inc or neat cattle, aud
the profits of poultry must depend much on
the Kind selected for rearing.
Decentralization says " II ah ouid be
general ~ C 10 breed from young stock i; a two
year old cock and pulets in their second year.
PuleIs in their first year, il early birds, will
indeed, probably lay as many eggs RS ever nj.
ter but the eggsare small. aud such young
hens are unsteady sittess. Hens are in their
prime at three years ofage and decline after
five. whence. generally, il 10 no; profitable 10
keep them alter that pefiOd, with the excep-
ton OF those Of capital qualifications. He1s
With large comb, or which grows like the
cock are generally deemed inferi.r, bat have
had hens with large rose combs, and aso
CO ,vers which we're upon an equality with the
rest Of the stock. Yellow legged fowls are q :
ten uf tender constitution, and always infe-
rior IN the quality of their flesh. which is of a
loose q bby texture aud ordinary favor.
The health Of fowls is observable 10 the
fresh and Rorid color OF the comb, and the
brightness and dryness ofthe eyes 'he nostrlls
being free from az, discharge, and the healthy
gloss of The pumsse. he u,ost useful cock is
generally bo4 active and savage bird, cruel
and destructive IN his fits Of passion, if not well
wa,ched tn his hens and even 10 his oftspriug
Hens above the common size OF their respective
varieties are by no means preferable either RS
LAYERS or settlers. The indications of old age
are pseness of the combs and gils, dulness Of
color, aud a sort OF downy siffves, uf he iea'h-
ers. and length and size Of talons. the scales
upon the legs becoming large aud prominent
The number of hens TO one cock should be
from four TO siI, the latter being he extreme
number with a view 70 make the III most advAii