The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-07-30
a CHAPTER on Hens.

Keeping poultry for both pleasure and profit is
destined to be an institution of the farm. Fol-
the pleasure of it, the larger the variety the
greater the satisfaction, each breed having some
points of excellence, and altogether they make
pretty pictures and interesting studies. For the
profit of it, if the gain is coming from eggs, one
or two kinds, at the most, should be selected ii
from chickens (early or late,) some variety that
may not be as good for eggs, but better as
mothers; or if from breeding to sell, some rare
We propose a brief mention of the char
acteristics of each breed, in order that those IN
familiar with poultry and poultry books may be
able to judge which will best supply their wants.
Beginning alphabetically, We viii take
BRAMAHs.-There are two varieties of this
breed, light and dark. The light are chiefly
white in the color of their plumage. The dark
have (mainly) dark colored feathers, slightly and
evenly tipped with white.
They are among the best layers, usually COM
mencing at six months DID,; sometimes laying
forty eggs before any manifestation of a desire to
set, and in tie year will produce a satisfactory
number of the largest sized eggs.
The dark variety is the largest-cocks of this
kind weighing sometimes fifteen pounds; thirteen
and fourteen being quite common weights. They
are hardy, quiet, grow fast, and, taking all in
all, are a frst-class bird for either eggs or the
table.
CoCHINs.--The three principal 'colors of the
Cochins are white, buff and partridge color-the
two former the most popular. The white should
be all white, and the buff any shade of buff, but
of no other color. They are a large bird-cocks
weighing ten or twelve pounds. The sbanks are
feathered down TO the toes, and the legs are
generally short and widely set apart.
The Cochins are fair layers, but they are ex-
ceptionable settlers, always wanting to experiment
in that line after every dozen eggs, and are with
the greatest difficulty induced to delay a three
weeks incubation They are a good breed for
family use, and will lay a fair amount of eggs
and will hatch as many chickens as any other
kind in the same time but the chickens need to
be eaten young to be the most unexceptionable
to the taste. They can be kept in a small space,
bear absolute confinement better than most other
breeds, and are better for winter layers than
summer.
CREvE CGURs.-The plumage e. of this fine French
variety is mostly black, and they are distinguished
from all other breeds by a comb which takes the
form of two well developed horns, the whole sur
mounted by a black crest. They are quite large,
weighing from seven to ten pounds. The quality
of meat is said by French writers to be among
the best. They mature early they do well 10
the closest confinement lay a fair quantity of
the largest sized eggs; are averse to setting and
are a desirable variety wherewith to stock a
poultry-yard.
breed-gray, silver gray and white-each having
about the same characteristics. They weigh from
eight and a half to fourteen pounds, and their
qualities as a table bird are unrivalIed. They
are not good layers except when young. They
are most excellent mothers but the chicks are
very tender, and unless kept in a warm, dry pen,
but a small portion of those Matched ever arrive
at maturity.
HAMBURGHs.-There are four varieties of this
beautiful and valuable bird, all of about equal
merit. They are quite small, weighing from six
to seven pounds; will almost always lay from
two hundred to two hundred and fifty eggs a
year; consume but little food. They love a wide
range; will fly over a fence ten feet high. The
chicks are hardy the hens do not care to set,
and as egg producers are probably the most ex-
traordinary breed known.
HouDANs.-This variety resembles the Dor
kings. Their plumage is usually white, with