Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-02-14
FARM, FIELD AND GARDEN.
ITEMS FOR The Pc
RUSAL OF THE FARMERS.
Fowls for Profit and Fowls for Ornament.
All About the Brown LeEhorns and
Silver Duckving Games Import
ant 70 nts in the CultiNa-
ton of o rs.

! Brown Leehorns are included among
acquainted with the breed. Southern
Cultivator classes them at the head Of
the list of poultry that pays. The birds
weigh from four to seven pounds each
and thrive b6st with large range. The
ear lobes are white, wattles red and pen
dulous, comb large and high in single
comb cock, but Topping to one side in the
hen. The chicks mature early, and o
cross on common flock is desirable
where birds are required for the table.
By crossing brown Leghorn cock with
Partridge Cochin hen, the best layer,
with medium size, is obtained.
If care was used in breeding the kind
of hens desired, instead of trusting to
chance, there would be more satisfactory
results; but the fact is not one In a hum
dred gives proper attention to this mat
ter Hundreds Of chicks may lie matched,
and when they have attained the growth
of three or four months the poultryman
selects 'from among the number those
which are the most promising. Such
pullets may answer ting purposes desired,
but if a certain number of hens were
chosen as the parents of the future lay
ers, and mated with a Cockerel possess
ing the characteristics desired for a
proper cross, there would be more eggs
secured and more choice lot of market
chicks raised.
Coming to the ornamental birds, no
fowls can be prettier than nearly pure
colorcd silver duckwing Not only is
the cock strikingly beautiful, but the
hen, in her coat of neat, light gray, is
very pleasing TO the eye. The modern
silver duckwing hen, when well bred,
will reproduce her color in her pullets
SO accurately that it is often difficult to
distinguish one from the other. IF gold
en- and black breasted red blood is kept
out, according to the authority quoted,
Silvers can be made to breed as true as
any black breasted reds, if properly col
ored birds are secured TO start with.
A well cdlored silver cock should have
no black or even dark stripes il hackle,
though at the extreme dover part of the
hackIe feathers show slight streak in
center that should not condemn an other
wise well colored cock. if this slight
marking is not too dark and di6tinct,
and does not extend to any considerable
distance up on the hacBle, it is not con-
sidered dangerous in breeding mz<A if
the general appearance of neck is clear.
Yet an absolutely pure feather is pref
cradle. A perfectly black breast and
under parts should be required in breed
ing cock, as there is tendency to show
white specks if encouraged in the least.
Sometimes cookerel with slight
streaks in lower hackle will show per
fectly clear neck the next year and after
ward, while it as often happens that a
cockerel with solid black breast and I'M
der parts will show spec:ls in breast when
two years old. 1t = quite important to
have the back and saddle feathers even
and free from spots or blotches Of black
or rusty feathers. The saddle should be
as free from stripes as possible. Never
use golden males or chose at all brassy
on shoulder, and select cock as free from
yellowish or creamy tinge as you can.
Select che narTOwest andcloseSt feather,
and allow no dirty oolored or soft feath-
cred males to be kept for breeders.