Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-05-29
agricultural,
Breeds of Poultry.
The Farmers Breed for Profit.

Every poultry fancier has his choice OF
breeds and as be breeds only to sell
occasional pairs or trios at fancy price,
it is necessary that he keep the breed
pure and unmixed. But the farmer who
breeds for eggs and flesh requires in the
bird he breeds hardihood, earl maturity,
good layers, good form and size, as well
as flesh not too coarse.
The Bolton Grays give the most eggs,
are very handy, but they lack size.
The Black Spanish are handsome, pre-
ductive in eggs, but tender and small as
compared with many others.
The Game fowls are of the best quality
of flesh, but small, and only fair layers.
They are, however, vigorous and active,
and for those who are just settling IN
new and wild section they are Just the
breed to have, because they are courageous
aud will protect themselves against the
birds and animals of prey.
The Polands and the Hamburghs are
ornamental, suited well to the yard OF a
suburban amateur fancier. They are pro-
life of eggs, but the bodies are small and
the flesh is deficient in rich juiclneSs, no
matter how well led and fattened they
are.
The Creve Ceurs are fine birds Of good
size, but not quite hardy enough for the
lofts and open sheds usually given to the
use of poultry by the generality OF farm
ers.
The Houdans are more hardy, Of good,
fair size prolific as layers, but poor set
tiers and bad mothers. These two last
named breeds are disposed to roam as
much as the game fowls.
The white Dorkings are handsome, but
few can be found of any size or hardi-
hood. As generally found they have been
so much bred in-and-in, that they are
small, say not above four pounds to the
hens and six pounds for cocks, and tender
as regards rearing Of the chicks.
The colored Dorkings when well bred,
BY due crossing, are large, well formed,
delicate grained flesh, good layers, hardy,
and come the earliest to maturity of any
breed known. If they have been bred In
and-iu for some time, the size will often
be retained, but the young chicks from
such in-and-in bred birds are difficult to
raise.
The DominqueS are next to the cOlOred
Dorkings in value, nearly as large, and
unless the Dorkings have been well bred
are more hardy. They are good layers
good mothers, and the chicks easily raised
The CochinS are very hardy, good lay.
ers and sitters, but they 80 lack in plump
ness on the breast, and the flesh is sc
coarse and stringy in old fowls, that II
detracts very much from their value a:
bird for the amateurs table or for mark
ct sales.
The Brahmas are like the Cochins
large-very large-but of better form
not so long in the leg, very hardy, good
layers,-eSpecially in The winter,-good
sitters and mothers, and the young chick:
are easily reared but. ike the Cochins
the flesh, Of the old birds especially, i:
coarse and stringy, hit for no purpose but
the tables Of low-priced boarding houses
The Farmers Breed is the breed fol-
profit. II consists of Brahma hens and
colored DorkiDg cocks the chicks from
which are hardy, easily reared, grow fast
and in four months, without extra feed
will dress four to five pounds each of fine,
grained, well-tormed, plump-breasted, well
colored flesh, fit for the table Of any anna,
teur or epicure, and always commanding
a good price in market. The hens from
this cross are even better and more con-
tinuOus layers than either pure Brahma
or the DOrking but if wanted to breed
again, the farmer must keep one coop
separate OF Brahma-say a cock and two
hens-and 20 also Of the Dorking, and
thus yearly with the cross Of bred birds
cocks of the Dorkings and hens of the
Brahmas, keep up the Farmers Breed
for profit