The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-28

make plump chunky brolers, which may
well take the place of some of the fast
disappearing game birds, like quail, par
fridge, woodcock and plover.
To breed and manage a little flock OF
bantams is an education for the lad OF
lassie who owns and enjoys them. More
of the boys and girls should be finding
profit and pleasure in bantam culture
by DIR. A. A. BRIGHAM
A RCH1E and Mike are two little
"a lads living near a western town,
1 \ who are finding endless pleasure,
together with very nice profits, breeding,
rearing, exhibiting and selling bantams.
Their home, is on a small poultry farm
Of which their mother is the practical
manager since their father is a CONNER
clay traveller and is away from home
much of the time. On one of his trips
the father found some very fine Cochin
Bantams for sale at a bargain. He
bought the beautiful little birds and took
them home to the boys. There was a
trio of the bantams for each lad. Archie
chose the Black Bantams, and the Bluffs
became the property of Mike, as the smil-
ing little chap is nicknamed.
Cunning Jap Bantams.
l wish I could tell you how trim and
tidy the little Bantams looked, but our
artist has made a nice drawing of a
pair, so you can judge from that. A few
weeks ago a fine picture of a pair OF
Black-Tailed Japanese Bantams appeared
on our poultry page. This is another at
traetive breed. lived in Japan several
years and often saw the bright, black
tailed fellows for sale on the sidewalks
of the city in large wicker-work cages.
They certainly were cu2ning creatures,
and they matched the Japanese kiddies
to- dot.
The Buff and the Black Cochin Ban
tams are very much alike, except for
color They are chunky midgets, con-
forming In miniature fashion to the gem
eral outlines of the large Cochns The
male should be broad, deep, plump and
well rounded, of bold carriage, short in
legs, with head carried not much higher
than tail Plumage should be long, loose
and abundant; the more fluff the bet
ter. The female should conform in a
feminine way to the male. She should
: be rather short. neat and we'll rounded.
The yellow legs of both sexes are feath-
cred clear to the ends Of the middle and
outer toes, so that each bird looks as
though standinf on two little feather
busters. The beaks are yellow, the eyes
clear reddish bay, and the comb, wat
ties, face and ear lobes are bright red.
These birds are very light in weight.
The Standard says the following are
the right weights: Cock, 80 ounces; cock
erel, 26 ounces; hen. &c ounces; pulet
"a ounces.
After all is said, words fail to de-
scribe these diamond editions of the
big Cochin fowls. You will have &c
attend the poultry show this winter
and see the birds for yourselves. II
you do this l am sure the Bantams
Will look so pretty in their exhibit
tion coops that you will want to have
some of the little beauties for your
own. Then you will not need words
or pictures, but can watch and study
the birds themselves, which is certainly
more satisfactory.
Now let us get back to those Bar
tams that were owned by the boys out
west.
A Funny Battle
On the poultry farm where Archie
and Mike lived there We're kept many
kinds of pure-bred fowl, among them
the large Light Brahmas. One great
cock bird of this variety was in the
yard near the dwelling house when
the Bantams were brought home. The
little Buff Cochin cock bird was let
out of his box first and he promptly
began to flap his wings and crow.
This seemed TO give offense to the
big Brahma, and he came after the
little Grower. "Billy Buff" stood his
ground, however, and then began such
a funny battle. The big bird peckcd
at the little bird, but before he could
hit him Billy dixie the Irishman's flea)
wasn't there and before big Brah-
ma could get his head up for another
blow, little Banty jumped up. snapped
his beak into the Brahma's wattles
and hung on. Brahma shook his
head and clawed the air, but Billy held
on like a bulldog.
Finally Billy had to let go and drop tc
the ground Then sparring began again
Clumey old Brahma kept plunging for his
lively foe,i but never touched him unit
the saucy midget in a careless moment
got jab on the shoulder that nearly
put his wings out of joint That seemed
to put the very evil one into the little
pirate. He made flying leap, landed or
the back of the poultry Goliath. turned
quick as lightning, caught bit of the
giants hackle in his bill and made q
noise in his throt that sounded like
".ut, cut" "cut." The old battle horse
lodged and swayed and shook himself
but his ruddy rider stayed on top. Their
the old fellow did 'scut' for dear life
running under a fence rail just higf
enough to sweep his rider Off "Banty. It
however, landed on his feet, and ther
how he did crow--"Cock-a-do "A -doodle-do
again and again. A flock of White China
geese in the yard had actually stopped
their 'gabble" during the fight. bui
when they saw the Brahma fleeing from
his victory they let loose their noise again,
and you ought to have heard then
shriek-"Honkl Honk Honkl Quoick
Quoickl Piker. PilSer! Gohit! Howard
Hike, Hike Hiker! Krank. Krank Kohn
Gohnr and groaning and squeaking
they streached their necks like great
snakes after the scudding Brahma.
After the great battle Mike named the
banfam 'Hop-o- My-Thumb'' and called
iflin Pap' for short. He was boss Of the
1ra rs er that
pernaps you think those boys didn',
seer or their interest in the Bluffs and
-}lacEs but / know they did. for I often
dfarpsd in at their home. and the beauti-
iul Baniams were always in evidence, es-
lsseisny Hop"
eepa tie little houses and yards Were
nlade ~ the boys for their two punches
es kantams and the little birds were kept