Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1871-10-21
poultrp.
CROss-BREEDING IN POULTRY.

uaSeS over tne lattcr; yet crOSS-DreeuS nave
their merits too. The farmer who raises
poultry for the market or the table only,
views his stock from u different standpoint
to that of the f;,ncier. The production of
large fowls, easily fattened and made ready
for market, or of chickens which mature
early, is to him n matter of importance; for
such, n ready sale is always to be had, and
good prices usually obtained n proper knowl-
edge of the different breeds which should be
crossed with each other is therefore essen
tial. We shall enumerate few.
The first cross of Dark Brahma Hen with
a Dorking Cock is Il very excellent one, and
produces truly magnificent fowls; the largest,
perhaps, that have ever been raised. Chick
ems thus bred have at six months old weighed
over Is pounds the couple. By crossing this
mixed race again with the Houdan Cock,
chickens are obtained which, though less in
ultimate weight than the halfbred Dorking,
attain n still earlier maturity, and may be
killed at ten weeks old very good size. Both
of these crosses are well worth the attention
of the farmer or market-breeder, but their
merits should be kept up by continually us
ing the blood of good and pure stocks, OF the
result, unless great judgement is exercised,
will be disappointment and deterioration.
A Brahma Hen and II Creve CGur Cock
will also produce an excellent cross; they
are hardy and easily reared, and attain to
great size. The flesh is of delicious flavor,
is free from that very delicate constitution
which often renders the latter an unprofta-
BILE fowl. Lastly, while all Brahma crosses
make good layers, the cross between Brah-
ma Hen and Spanish or Mnorca Cock pro-
duces fowl, generally black on the body,
with dark striped hackle, which for average
fecundity surpasses any and every fowl we
know.
The cross-bred birds produced by mating
Cochins with Creve Occurs, La Fleche and
IIoudans, are all remarkable for their rapid
growth and the great size they attain, Chick
ems raised in March have ut twelve weeks
old weighed from four to five pounds, and
ut six months cockerels off the run have
weighed seven pounds. To fanciers and
others wishing to breed large hardy birds for
the table, II cross between Cochin Hen and
a Grove CUur or La Fleche Cock cannot be
too highly recommended The chickens
produced, MS already stated, will be of rapid
growth, large size and great constitutional
vigor, and when cooked will be found plump,
and with skin and fat much whittier than the
Cochns.
A cross between Dorking Hen and Co
chin Cock has been frequently resorted to by
breeders for the purpose of producing har-
tlier fowl, and to increase the size of the
former. This and all crosses of n similar
kind are based upon the fact, that in cross
breeding, the pullets usually are like the
mother and the cockerels like the father.
The plan pursued is generally as follows
In the beginning of the year put two OF three
large Dorking Hens with short-legged,
compact Cochin Cock, either of the common
buff OF partridge variety. OF the chickens
choose those pulets which possess in the
highest degree the Dorking character, viz Il:
fine bones, short, white legs and compact
body, square on the limbs and in the fol-
lowing season mate them with good Dork-
J ing Cock; the result will be a three-tourths