) I.l:AvSUKABLb F .-^. I \tmAM^V^ Caution! Caution!! Caution!!! 4*7 BSllPyt '•'0 ^^^ WHOM IT MAY CONCEEN. C d H }N. T( i for Pc )n of "S or have ob osts. MEMORIAL POULTRY LIBRARY^^ g CORNELL al J. M. GWIN lrfcY»vvvvvvv^»VV»Y»v»Vv»S/«V' ra^niet on rouiTfy^Bearing ana samples oi Pood Post Free for One Stamp of SPRATTS PATENT, BERMONDSEf, LONDON, S.E. Cornell University Library SF 487.B871PI Pleasurable poultry keeping. 3 1924 003 154 469 FOUR GOLD MEDALS Have been awarded to the WESTMERIA COMPANY For their Poultry Appliances. WSAT IS SAID OF THEM: '* A cffmplete sjtcceag."—J)uche88 of Wellington. " Undoubtedlj/ the moat ^ffi^iient in the ma/rket"--K W. Webster, the noted poultry exhibitor. " They are pei'/ect."~IjtvAy John Hay. "Proved a decided swccesB."— H. Digby, Esq. author of " How to Make £50 a Year by Ducks;" "•TAc "best I know. All my hatch^ have hem gooi.''—ilr9: Godefroi. " All tliat can be deHred."'-J. Cooper Grarman, Esti. incubator, The 100 £gg £8 8s. " It Jiatched all the duck eggs put in."—Sir Fredk 50-£igg „ £6 6s. MuBgrave. FOREMOST EXHIBITORS aiVE 1KEU TBE BiaBEST FBAISE. "/( 18 the &esi."—Edward Brown, P.L.S., author of *'Have now discarded all others." — W. Cook, Esq " Poultry Keeping as an Industry." (originator of the Orpington Fowl). " Undoiihtedly the 6e«(."—H. Swithenbank, Esq. "Better than any other."—Geo. Brooka, Esq. " Mwih better than s."—Mrs. Macdowell. "Mv£h less troitble tftan hens, and they thrive better. " By far the best: ~H. P. de Winton, Esq. —W. T. Enuninson, Esq. " " There could he no better inveiUiorbfor ths aucieseful Better than henB."—B.iglit Hon. Viscount Hill. rearing of chickem."—Jas. Richmond, Esq. "Superior in many reapeata and inferior to none. " A great succeaa."—Tetley Nickels, Baq. Major Kingsley Poster. " The most perfect 1 fcnoio."—Lady PhiUiroore. '• Giving greatest aatiefaction."~B. D. Wise, Esq. "I/oMnd the Brooder invaluable during the snow- " As near perfection as poasifiZe."—Jos. Wood, Esq. atorma of March."'~0. E. Creeswell, Esq. (of Partridge Cochin fame). " Better amceaa than A3iw."~Mr. R. Thompson, tiie " No exlvibitor ahould be witliout o»c.''-^Cr. H. Proctor noted breeder of Langshans. Esq., the Cochin King. z*/^ For 50 Chicks, with flttinga complete, £4 4s. WESTMERIA COMPANY, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, ENGLAND. PLEASURABLE POULTRY KEEPING EDWAKD lEOWN, F.L.S. ' AUTHOE OF ' POTJITKY KEEPINO AS AN INBTISTET FOE FAEMEES AND COTTAQKES," " INDTJSTEIAL POTTLTET KEEPING," ETC. ; LECTTJEEE ON POITLTET TO THE OTJMBEELAND, HAMPSHIEE, ISLE OP ELY, KENT, LINCOLNSHIEB, NOETHUMBEELAND, AND OTHBE COUNTY COUNCILS ; LATE EDITOE OF THE "fAN- ciees' gazette," judge of poultey at the eoyal aqeicultueal shows, 1887, 1891, 1892, and 1893, ETC., ETC. LONDON EDWAED AENOLD 37, BEDFORD STBEET, STEAND, W.C, IfIT •E HO MR. EDWARD BROWN'S WORKS. Poultry Keeping as an Industry, 6s, Industrial Poultry Keeping, Is. London : EDWAED ARNOLD, 37, Bedford Street. Heb Excellency THE COUNTESS OF ABERDEEN, WHOSE EFEOBTS IN ENCOTJEAOEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL PTJESUITS EOE THE SPIEITTJAL, SOCtAL, AND MATEEIAL IMPROVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE ; AND WHOSE KINDLY INTEEE3T IN POULTRY KEEPING, EECREATIVE AND INDUSTP.IAL, ARE HEREBY GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. PouLTEY culture, from its practical aspects, has been fully dealt with in my two works, " Poultry Keeping as an Industry for Farmers and Cottagers" and "Industrial Poultry Keeping," and the appreciation with which they have been received has led me to deal with the question from another standpoint, namely, that of pleasure or recreation. There are vast numbers of poultry keepers who do not wish to sell either egg or chickens. It is enough if they partly or wholly supply their own domestic needs, but the beauty of, and pleasure in, their fowls is of primary importance. For such " Pleasurable Poultry Keeping" has been written. That pleasure and profit can be combined is unquestionable, and it is hoped that in these pages will be found all necessary instructions for the successful conduct of their operations. EDWAED BBOWN. London, November, 1893, CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTION.—THE PLEASURES OF POULTRY KEEPING vii CHAP. I. SELECTION AND BREEDING ... ... ... 1 II. HOUSES AND HOUSING ... ... ... 13 III. HATCHING AND REARING—NATURAL ... ... 34 IV. HATCHING AND REARING —ARTIFICIAL ... 51 V. EGGS AND CHICKENS ALL THE YEAR ROUND ... 64 VI. THE PROFITS OF POULTRY KEEPING ... ... 71 Vn. EXHIBITIONS AND EXHIBITING ... ... ... 80 VIIL FEEDING ... ... ... ... ... 92 IX. DISEASES ... ... ... 103 X. AN OMNIUM GATHERUM ... ... ... 113 XL BRITISH BREEDS OF POULTRY ... ... ... 120 Xn. EUROPEAN BREEDS OF POULTRY ... ... 150 XIII. ASIATIC BREEDS OF POULTRY ... ... ... 167 XtV. AMERICAN BREEDS OF POULTRY ... ... 179 XV. UNCLASSIFIED BREEDS OF POULTRY ... ... 190 XVL BANTAMS ... ... ... ... 195 XVIL WATERFOWL AND TURKEYS, ETC. ... ... 210 INDEX ... ... ... ... ... ... 283 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. FIG. INTRODUCTION. THE PLEASURES OF POULTRY KEEPING. Historical — England the home of breeders — Poultry keeping as a recreation — Love of Nature in man — Economical value of poultry keeping—Eggs as food—Poultry for profit—Wide choice in poultry — Amateur poultry keeping — Universality of the pursuit. The domestic fowl is indissolubly associated with the history, as with the pleasures of man. Sacred writings, mythological records, legendary lore, and national cus- toms alike show traces of a pursuit which, though it has sometimes been debased to the lower passions of man, has to a greater degree ministered to his higher nature, and also at the same time contributed to his material needs. Ancient and modern warriors have been inspired by the courage of the game cock, literature has been enriched by similes drawn from the dihgence and maternal devo- tion of domestic fowls, science has found these minor members of our live stock valuable aids to the determina- tion of natural problems, the recreative instincts of man —man, I mean, limited by the conditions of modern life —have provided a delightful way of his gaining new strength for the battle of life, and some forms of religion have elevated members of this genus into deities or used them for sacrifice to the sods. ; viii INTBODVOTIOIf. England may be termed the home of breeders. It appears to be part of the British nature, wherever found, to endeavour to improve the quaUty of the animals, birds, or plants around. In no other country is there the same proportion of high-class stock as in this little island. It is to Britain that buyers turn for the wherewithal to improve their stock. This habit is shown in almost all sections of society, for earnest and skilful breeders are to be met with in large nimabers not only amongst those who have wealth and space at their disposal, but also among the very poor ; and this spirit of stock breeding permeates all classes, from the Queen down to her poorest subjects. It is, in fact, part of the British nature, and will find an outlet in one way or another. The wealthy breed their racehorses or their pedigree cattle, with the farmer, as far as his means will allow, following in their wake ; suburban residents breed dogs or poultry, and cottagers take up poultry and gardening ; whilst the deni- zens of our crowded towns make cage-birds or rabbits their pets, unless they are more favoured than usual and can manage to keep a few fowls or pigeons. Nearly every one of these, whatever be the animal or bird he breeds, desires to improve it in one way or another and, be it noted, the object is not a mere mercenary one. It is for the pleasure derivable from witnessing and aiding the process of improvement. To this spirit we owe a vast advance in the quality of our domestic animals, and, but for it, should not be in the position we are now occupying as the breeding centre of the world. There is another factor to be considered, namely, that the very limitation of space, which cannot but be the case with the majority of British breeders, has had a direct effect upon the stock produced. Few there are who can keep all the animals or birds they breed. TNTEODUGTlOlf. is and they have very speedily to kill off a portion, which, being naturally the worst, eliminate such as would have the tendency to reduce the standard. For instance, if a poultry breeder only has sufficient room for twenty fowls, he is almost certain to breed a hundred, and must get rid of eighty per cent., some of which will be killed and consumed, and others of which may be sold. Naturally, he kills off those who are halt, lame, and blind, most deficient in the special quahties for which he is breeding, reserving the best for himself. In this way the process of improvement goes on steadily, and in a few years the stock assumes a higher character. Some there are who beUeve apparently in mongrels rather than pure breeds, but we are not of that number, for we contend that all the success we have had as a nation in breeding has been due to the individual races of animals and birds we have produced or improved. Man needs variation even in his daily life, and for his perfect development must not give all his thoughts to one thing. In this day of specialism there is grave danger lest we should be absorbed by a single duty. If a man allows himself to be entirely taken up by his business or daily labour, he may become more successful in that one direction than his neighbour, but he is a worse man than he who has some variation, and his faculties suffer a serious hmitation. We want variety, and we must have it. Man also needs recreation.