The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-02-09
The Shanghai Fowl.

AS this species Of tho fowl race is at
tracing 50 much attention at present we
would call attention to some valuable
testimony,givcn BY the editor of that we'll
known agricultural journal, The Gen
esce Farmer. He says:
awe have received something like a
dozen inquiries during tho last two or
three months, as to the merits Of these
fowls, and their superiority over the com.
mon fowl. Some of our correspondents
express the b,lief that the ''hen fever
is all humbug, got up by spectators
for the purpose Of obtaining money
under false pretences." Instead Of an
swering each inquirer in our "Ans,eers
10 Mquirics,' we shall endeavor to salts.
fly all in this article. Having kept fan
cy' fowls, and fowls that are not con.
sidered " fancy for several years, we
shall only give the teaching of our own
experience. The Shanghat are much
larger than our common fowls. probably
averaging three times their weight. Of
about fifty we raised last ycar.tbe small
cs, hen weighed six pounds, and the
largest cock ten pounds, at one year old
They produce more eggs than any fowls
wo have ever kept. The hens often com
mencc laying in less then three weeks
after Matching brood. and continue
laying every day regularly. at the same
time taking care of the chickens. until
they are able to care for themselves -
We made present of pair of Shaug-
hal fowls to a gentleman well known to
all agricultural and horticultural read
crs. After few weeks, happening to
be at his place, we inquired how the
fowls prospcrcd, and were told that the
hen had not laycd. Thinking, this
strange. we asked to see what eggs they
had, when We found between two and
three dozen of the eggs laid by our pull
let, which we readily recognized On
pointing out her eggs to our friend, he
remarked My wife has several times
observed that the hen that laid the
yellow eggs, laid more than all the 9TH
ers.' She had some half dozen ia ALL
They are good mothers, but lay large
number Of eggs before wanting to sit
generally from forty to sixty. The
chickens are very bardy-much more
so than any others we know Of In sew
eral cases when raising very late or very
early chickens, we have had broods part
Shanghai, or Cochin China. and part
common chickens, and lost nearly all tho
common, without losing one of the 9th.
ers. E"
He also goes on to say that the flesh
is excellent for eating he having killed
chickens at six months old, weighing six
lbs. dressed That these fowls are su-
perior to all other varieties for laying
qualities, as regards number and size of
eggs, besides combining all the other
desirable qualities of barn.yard fowls, is
being fast conceded. Their opposers are
those who know nothing of them by ex-
periencc.
Caution is necessary against deception
in purchasing eggs or fowls of this
species, as there is much fraud practised
in tho matter. The thoroughbred
have feathers extending entirely to the
feet, with tuft upon the outside of the
toes, and can be easily detected by this.
Some half-bloods, also; have some fcath-
ers, but not as many as the thorough.
bred. Those having no such feathers can
be pronounced ali inn osition at once The
eggs are very large, the she'll cling yell
low. l should advise none t, purchase
eggs, unless they know them to be from
a pure stock. -