The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-12-16

s., the latter taking sides with Justice
In unfolding the above mentioned
breed Of Asiastlcs- have tried both
breeds also, and can speak from expe-
rlence, and l most emphatically say
with c. b. that the Brahna fowls are
enormous eaters, and In seven cases
out Of ten they will prove an unprofit-
able Investment. In cold weather es-
pecially they need to be fed often and
plentifully to induce them to lay the
eggs then produced costing, perhaps at
the rate of sixty cents er dozen taking
into consideration the amount Of care
and the cost of feeding. etc.
The chickens are, of course. of large
size, and require nearly three times as
much food as an ordinary sized fowl In
order to bring them to perfection, or at
least fit for the table. All this ]. know,
having tested the matter for two years,
DIR. Horne says; "rhey (the Brah-
mas) do not eat more than the ordinary
dunghill." This statement is, of course
not worth considering. 1t only being
necessary to call attention to the very
marked difference In size Of the Brah-
ma and dunghill, and to Inquire Of the
doctor whether one of his. horses eats or
drinks any more than himself,
| His main point or argument Is "frlc-
tion," and he enlarges on the subject
as follows: 1.-THE more restless and
wandering they are. (the fowls,) just
so much does this law of wear and tear
(friction) require and make demand,
and that continually, upon the bulk of
the animal, and just In proportion to
this wear and tear must the machine
be supplied by fresh material food to
keep up the waste. and this is to be
done at the expense of large amount
of food. Leghorns and Games are very
active creatures, and require much
more food than their passive relatives
the Asiatlcs." How utterly wrong
such statement must be found II It Is
only carried out to the fullest extent.
Has the elephant a delicate appetite
because he takes but little exercises
while In the hands Of his keeper The
friction" argument is plausible en-.
ough as far as the doctor uses 1t, but
ceases to be 30 exactly at the point at
which he stops. What Is the active
Game doing when 1t so shamefully
goes wandering about, wasting its pre-
cious body by fire from frictionS Does
1t wander thus recklessly about solely
for the purpose Of running down aslow
as possible In order to consume the
more food
Or Is the active Game ihdustriously
searching for food when 1t Is on one of
Its wanderings, to supply this very
waste and thus save Its owner the OK.
pense of feeding 1t 80 besvilyp
l rather think all those who have
kept the Game fowl or other small
breeds, will answer my query In a grand
chorus. you are right"
1 have had Games too, for number
of years, and know whereof I speak.
BY way of experiment solely, have
freq uently allowed my fowls to go to
roost without their evening meal, and
then going to the house have caught
one after another, and In every in.
stance have found their crops we'll filled
and that too. when they had not been
fed since morning. But during their
"reckless wanderlngs" in spite of'fric.
tion," they have managed to come
home with crops full, aud although
do not permit them to go to roost with
out feeding, l certainly believe they
would fare almost as wolf without.
Again, overlooking prevents your
flock searching for their food, and fur.
thermore, they require the exercise.
But 1 am trespassing too much on
your space. Let me then conclude
with the earnest petition that your
readers will give the "active breeds"
the credit (really due to them) Of seek
ing their food, and not wandering aim
lessly about, for no reason except per-
haps, to produce friction" Let me
wind up with the toast-"Games, the
aristocracy of the feathered tribes. p
[ Country Gent.