The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-07-25
The Shanghai or Cochin China Fowl

The editor IF the Poultry Department of the
Cottage Gardener, the Rev. Mr. Wingield, ed
tor of '''rhe Poultry Book, in a recent mum.
Der ofthat paper, comes ont in favor Of this
breed Of fowls as follows:
After two years experience, we think it right
to express our firm conviction that the most
valuable domestic fowl at present known to US
is the Shanghai or Cochin China -. al
III any one conversant with poultry as
stick for profit were asked to give what he
considered the points of,excelence desirable IN
such fowls, he would reply, ".They should te
large, quick of growth, hardy, fit for the tahe
at an. early age, meaty, abundaut'layer<, esEr
cialy in'winter good mothers, quiet in their
habits, and their feathers valuable for tho W.
hosterer.1I $50 -
Now, in every one of these points do tie
Shanghais excel. Their feathers are equal u
those of the goose. No. fowl known to US is so
gentle, or can be, kept within u boundary nc
higher than three feet. Better silters,.,or mo.
theirs more careful of their chickens, cannot be
found, and at the end Of one month from their
Matching time they will again begin laying
with their chickens around them. That they
are early fit for the. table is told by the fact
that cockerrls are best cooked when from five
to six mouths old, and puIlets when from five
to six months old, and that, if tolerably well
fed, they weigh about Id pounds for ev-
cry month of age. As to their hardihood we
have not heard Of their suffering anywhere 'du
ring the late severe weather, though we know
'ofmany which endured it with no other shelter
than a3ronfed she'd, boarded up on;the north
and east sides. As layers they are surpassed
by none. We have known instances of pulets
laying more than 100 eggs without requiring
to Sit Pullets when six months old begin lay
ing, and continue doing so througho the win
ter
As to their meatiness, the very great mistake
is being assented to by some breeders Of this
fowl, that there is more gihlrtS than meatupon
them. 1t is quite true that most Of the meat
on cockerel is on the legs, but it is not so in
the case of pullets, for these have breasts quite
as well developed as the usual breed of barn
door fowls. Those who condemn the Shang
hal as Il bird deficient in producing servicedble
flesh, ground that condemnation on the crooked
breasted, crooked backed, or otherwise imper-
fecl birds that are rel ected from The stock.-
Good, short legged, compact pullets are too
valuable as yet to he killed for the table, but
we can attest that such birds are as meaty on
the breast even as Dorkngs, and The flesh is
more juicy, but not SO close grained.
The sole point OF iuterioritv. then, which can
he established against the Shanghai fowls is
that its cockerelS are deficient in breast meat.
Then, to make the breed perfect, let breeders
set about selecting birds Tor stock that are
by weIl-developed breasts. We
know of one cock that is breasted like Dork-
ing, and he will he coupled this season with an
Imported hen that has the largest development
Of breast we ever knew in any bird. The at
tention of breeders of Shans hais has been most
directed towards the improvement