Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-10-10
AGRICULTURAL.
COLORS OF LEGS N FOWLS

The leg coloring of a fowl is in thin
skin, like bloom, that covers the scales of
the shanks and toes. This coloring varies
in its shading according to the breed and
condition .of the fowls In the Black
Spanish and Hamburg it is either black
or lead color in the Game it is either
willow, slate or .pink-rarely if ever yell
low, sometimes black The La Fleche
and Creveceurs have black legs. The
Cochins, Brahmas and Leghorns have vel
low shanks generally the Dominiques
yellow or white. The Houdans have
white legs +; also the Dorkings. The Ban
tams have blue or slate-colored legs. To-
wards fall there comes change over the
birds. Their plumage grows rusty, and
the bright orange legs fade out as the
season advances towards the second moult.
Especially is this true Of the persistent
layers. Often and again have l been dis
appointed in my fine yellow-legged birds
OF early spring, for It's the season advan-
ces, and they pile the eggs up, the legs
gradually bleach out, until they become
by August pale flesh, or, as is generally
termed, white. The bloom is washed off.
and in a Leghorn is almost a certain indi,
cation of good layer Cocks legs fire.
quently become scurvy or rough, an I'M
becoming feature which seldom wears off.
Cocks legs seldom bleach out, but white
legged hens, at a certain portion of the
year, must be tolerated, for We cannot
dispense with good layers, even to give
IN ba oh l, al
fading out is owing to thinness of flesh.
the excess of feed beyond the natural
stamina OF the bodily strength being alb
sorbed In the production of eggs.
But when the feathers drop, and the
bird stops laying there comes change
with the new dress, the muscles give way
IN their firmness. the skin becomes loose
and tiabby III the preparation and cutting
OF the new feathers. This is delicate
period for the hen that has industriously
spent her summer and spring months in
supplying her owner with fresh laid eggs.
Some birds do not mind this change at all.
particularly those that have lounged their
time away, eaten the provender and then
sat ON the nest for it to digest. They are
always III good condition, and the new
coat comes to them with no drain on the
vitality, for that has not been drawn on.
The neglected poultry yard presents for
lorn aspect at all seasons, but as cold
weather approaches the badly cared for
fowls are endeavoring to grow the new
covering on the scant provender allowed |
by their owners. Fowls that are worth |
keeping at all, are worth keeping well. |
There Is difference in breeds, and when |
the breed Is chosen that answers to our
need, the next thing is to make them COM
Portable, If any profit is expected to he |
derived therefrom
There Is no place where fowls show to |
so great an advantage as in the farmers |
yard and buildings, nevertheless he is the |
last man to exhibit mn encouraging inter- |
c-t IN them. The majority of our fine |
show birds are reared by people Of cities
anu villages, having small acreage.
In Leghorns, either brown or white. the
Whitest ear-lobed bird is apt to possess
the palest colored leg, often a pale lemon
that fades to flesh color. The deep orange
TINT will fade with egg production, and
yet the deep orange tint with the red |
stripe down the shank indicate more fire.
quentIy the better layers Good rangers |
always make the best table fowls. The |
flesh Of the indolent bird Is tough, coarse |
and stringy. 1t requires an epicure to
decide. To some, anything that wears |
feathers Is chicken, and the largerthe bird |
SO much the better, since it supplies the |
greater amount of food Not So with all. |
delicate morsel fitted for the invalid or |
the refined palate, ia chicken to some. |
while the ordinary taste cannot discrimi- |
nate beyond the greater quantity furnish |
ed, and called chicken Small, pure-bred
birds, have small bodies and sweet, ten
der, Juicy flesh. BY the majority, yellow
legged birds are preferred, as they pos
sess yellow skin, and the greater portion
Of our domestic fowls possess this color
Notwithstanding the fact that yellow skin,
ned birds often possess the toughest flesh,
the flesh of the large birds
Turkeys when fattcned on corn, have
pale yellow skin, while the leg -coloring is
.lther Il bronze, black OF pink. A yellow
eg is not becoming TO black bird, and
IS out OF place. Slate or blue is more in
accordance. C y. ia COt0tfcV G,ntyC-