The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-03-31

should be exercised with breeding stock,
f,r il Is well known fact that, after
the physical structure has undergone
s,yrrc dlnughts, rest must necessarily
follow and il would be very unwisc
and detrimental to breeding stock TO
u.c artificial food to the extent that il
might be for egg production alone, for
no such Dvcr-draught upon nature MS
follow, through this stimulating pro.
cess can I've made without correspond
ing draw back. in some way, in the
health and lives of the hens thus fed,
and il is for the future welfare and
profit To the owner, that the best way
be used to secure good, well developed
and healthy fowls.
The principles ofrcaring and breeding
poultry for eggs or for market requires
Just as much thought and care MS the
breeding of sheep. A good sheep breed
cr would look with disgust upon a sheep
that had blended in its formation Cots
void. South Downs, American Mcrino
and the long-lcggcd coarse wool from
Canada. Now il is just as logical and
will bring about Just the same results
to mix and combine the different breeds
of fowls as the different breeds of sheep,
and the final result will be all colors,
sizes and forms, with long legs, short
legs, blue legs, and feathercd legs, rem
dering them neither uniform nor profit
able, vet three-fourths of the farmers
are breeding and rearing just such spec
linens. and if they have fortunate
neighbor who is breeding pure bred
birds that have cost time and money to
develop, they are very willing 10 cx-
change Il sitting of eggs or cockcrel
even with him, and if perchance they
are refused will oflimes feel grieved
about il, never once thinking but what
their mongrels are just as good as pure
bred fowls. After an experience of fif-
teen years, | have found that cline
feathers do not always make fine birds, :
aud neither does any one variety meet
all the requirements of the producer:
therefore a judicious cross in many in
stances of pure blooded fowls is an i'm
prOvcment on the originals for eggs and
poultry, hut | never would think of
ing 10 retain in the offspring all the
qualifications that makes this cross val
liable, for il is impossible to do il with
out breeding for series of years, and
in nine eases out of ten, il will prove Il
failure. In selecting hens for laying or
breeding look for the qualifications that
make good layers of medium size, color
even and pure, of good constitution and
form, and when they are fully matured
as layers, select again the most perfect
us breeders, for there are in every yard
hens that are more prolific than others,
and these are the very ones to secure
eggs from for Matching and future
propagation, and in following out this
plan ii is essential that this point he NOT
overlooked.
And another thing is fully as cS-
seniial as this, and that is in selecting
the male. In choosing the sire, do so
with Il view to reproducing his form.
stamina and color, whatever that may
be, and avoid breeding in and in to any
great extent, in breeding from Il pure
bred sire, and if he proves superior
bird and we wish to retain and fix more
permanently his characteristics. he NAV
be bred back TO his progeny with sue
cess and il will work far better in this
way, than to breed those Of the same
age and brood that are closely related.
An ill-shaped or backed bird with
long legs and weak joints should never
be tolerated in any yard.
And another thing is equally i'm
portant, and that is size. There is a
very wrong impression among many,
and one that will prove q source of dis
appointment, and in many instances
has already done so, and that is in re-
tanning As stock birds fifteen pound
male or twelve pound female. They
look well as exhibition birds, but TO de.
pend upon as breeders, they arc not at
all reliable, and will eventually prove
an Improbable investment. A medium
size FOWL whatever their variety MA, br.
is always the best. The leg regard as
the best index of the general character
istic of the fowl of any part of them.
A long slim leg with wide spreading
toes indicates a corresponding body and
weak constitution, and such fowls
should reach what they were created
for, food for man, at an early age. In
the selection of the various kinds of
poultry to keep and rear, there are two
points to be considered; first, your own
wants, and second. the wants of the
market,
The Asiaties as class, are large and
consequently require more time for de.
velopincnt than some other breeds. The
light Brahma has been regarded as one of
the best kinds for all purposes, but TO
my mind they are not what they were in
years past. This degeneracy is in part
carried by their increased size, and this
has been at the expense of their egg
producing capacity, until we now find
them large and coarse great settlers, and
not as profitable as many other yarie-
ties.
The dark Brahma is one of the most
beautiful plumaged fowls that exists,
and they have not been held in as high
esteem as the light Brahmas owing to
their parti-colored plumage, and not
being particularly nice for eggs or poul-
try, yet they have many advocates, and
when successfully bred, present an
attractive appearance. The buff, white. |
black and partridge Cochins complete
what is termed the Asiatics, and for
general characteristics resemble the
Brahmas. As they now are bred, they
are rather taking the lead, and | believe |
them to he superior to the Brahmas for
eggs, and as they are not quite as long
legged, with broader breasts and backs |
more compact forms, they are more de- |
sirable as hens to lay or chickens to kill. |
The Plymouth Rocks and American
WV iAiNlltltdit DOlIl
being of the Same form and plumage
the only perceptible difference being in |
the comb, the former having a single
and the latter rose or double comb. |
The Plymouth Rock holds place be-
tween the Leghorns and Asiatics, and |
being cross-bred bird they are not as
uniform in plumage ms many other
kinds, but they are fast gaining an en-
viable reputation as a fowl, good for all
purposes, and will in time become a
acquisition to the farm. The
American Dominiques are the old dou-
ble.combed dunghill fowls, improved,
and have been bred until they now have
valuable characteristics, making them a
distinct variety and worthy of propaga-
ton. These two breeds of fowls are
essentially the fowl for the farm, when
chickens and eggs are both wanted, as
they are hardy, mature early, and are
medium size, the Plymouth Rock being