The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-05-30
POULTRY.


,,u Hamburgs ~ a breed for Preilt1sas
A correspondent of one of our En-
gHsh sxchanses recently gave the re-
sub. Of MISREPRESENTATION theasubject as
follows:
1t is common enough in poultry
shows to see. the prizes given to the
smallest or nearly tho smallest birds
exhibited which have gained the fiat
III spite oftheirl comparatively dimiini-
two PROPORTIONS, by virtue Of feather
markings, and shape, size and color of
comb and wattles. Ii Us these latter
that are especially aimed at in mate
ing birds, and always Will be aimed at
by cfanciers so long as they are the
points which determine HE prizes; and
essencd size aud something approach
ing to sterlity are winlsed at as in the
Invaluable Accomplishments Of close
breeding. 3. On the other hand, the
good results of judicious crossing are
just as obvious. =. have Hamburg hens
RAINING now which for size and
weight would put to shame many de-
generate Brahma, and which have been
laying fine large eggs since before last
Christmas, and are good for three or
four months yet. OF course they
would be simply nowhcrein an ordinary
poultry competition, for there has been
no care taken of wrattles Or combs, and
the feather markings are SUCH l am
afraid, as "fancier" would turn up
his nose at; but what do care about
that? i get plenty of eggs, and after a
hen has finished its secoiid season lay
ing it makes a most presentable appear
ance on the table. My verdict Is UNI
hesitatly, therefore, for Hamburgs, as
taken altogether, the best variety from
thea'paying" point of view. AS most
people know, there are FIVE well-rec-
ognizcd breeds of Hamburgs - the
golden and silver spangled, the golden
and silver pencilcd, and the black.
do not know that there are any practi-
cal difference as to usefulness among
them, though some people imagine that
the silver .spangled and penciled are
not so hardy as the golden breeds.
There may possibly be something in it,
though l am disposed to think it is all
fancy; but must at the same time own
that my own individual experience
is mainly of the golden spangled and
black breeds, than which | am pcrsua-
ded that no better or more profitable
varieties exist. The Spanish varieties,
black and blue, are very good indeed,
both as layers, and as quiet, tractable
fowls; but there can be no question
that they are not so hardy as the Ham
lburgs. In well-sheltered and compare
lively warm situations they do very
well; but they cannot stand much eX-
posure, and would be comparatively
useless in situations and climates where
Hamburgs are quite hearty and do
very well. IL is so much against the
latter that they are as def flyers as the
pheasant, from which the golden span
gled kind are oftencd named, and in
their natural state no fence under eight
or Irine feet high can stop them, but
the clipping of one wing is an effectual
cure -
Besides Hamburgs and Spanish,
there are several varieties more or less
recommended for their laying qualities,
as Polands and II0udans, for example.
l have no experience of them, but so
far as can learn, they have nothing to
recommend them before Hamburghs.
Bramahs and Cochins appear to be
quite discredited as layers. A few
years ago Cochns used to be held up
rs wonderfully prolific, and later again
Bramahs appeared to take their place
in that respect. All can say is that
have tried them, and could never real
ize anything like the results alluded to,
aud certainly nothing to encourage one
TO keep either breed. Dorkins are very
good birds indeed, especially for the
table, as they are well developed in the
breast; but for laying they do not
come up to Hamburgs. The only use
l would recommend of the Dorking
blood would be TO use it sparingly now
and then as q cross. For example, by
using, as q stock bird, male bird, the
offspring of Hamburger cock and a
Dorkin hen, extra fine large pullets
may be obtained, free layers of an ex-
ira sized egg; while the young cocks
are fine, large table birds at three
months old. 1t is not desirable to use
same stock birds for more than two
seasons, when fresh blood must. be in
troduced, either by exchange or pur-
chase. Ifa cock Is to be bought for
breeding purposes, it is unwise to
grudge shilling or two for a really
good bird, intended to be parent of
two generations of pullets that are ex-
pected to lay many thousands of eggs,
and produce good stock birds in their
turn. assume that my readers breed
for eggs and meat, and hot for feathers
of particular shape or color. If so,
theywill not be at all particular about
keeping up pure strain of either black
or golden spangled Hamburgs; and
should strongly recommend, therefore,
the purchase of cocks of the two var
ieties alternately.