Profitable poultry

by W. B. Tegetmeier

The white Dorkings, although exceedingly ornamental, are not of equal value in an economical point of view, being much smaller in size, and narrower and longer in the body; they are almost invariably bred with a rose or double comb, and are obviously a distinct variety from the coloured Dorking, the latter having evidently derived its size, aptitude to fatten, and other profitable characteristics from the large Surrey fowl, which differs only from what is now known as the colored Dorking, in the absence of the fifth toe.

The great drawback to the value of this most useful breed is in the delicacy of the chicken; in spite of every care they too often exhibit the evil effects of a constitutional delicacy when about three weeks old, when their wings droop, and they die without any evident cause, whilst other birds hatched at the same time, and under the same treatment, are running about full of health and vigour. There is a very erroneous opinion, in many parts of the country, that Dorkings can only be successfully reared in Kent or Surrey; the absurdity of this statement is evident from the fact that the best Dorkings, those that have carried off the first prizes at the various poultry shows, have not, with few exceptions, been natives of Surrey. The opinion has evidently arisen from their delicacy when chicken, and the fact that persons at a distance have often obtained a stock of Dorkings, and then without any introduction of fresh blood, they have continued breeding “in and in” until the breed has degenerated, not only in size, but in constitutional vigour; there is however no doubt but that on the dry chalky soil of Kent and Surrey they are more likely to do well than in any situation where the ground is wet or clayey.

Dorkings do not bear confinement well, requiring a good range; to attain a large size, and make good table birds, they must be liberally fed at every period of their lives, hence, and from the fact that they do not forage for themselves as well as the smaller varieties, they are not the best fowls for the cottager, especially as their egg producing powers are not remarkable.

I have found that pullets hatched in April and May usually, if well fed, begin to lay about Christmas, and there is no difficulty in hatching in the beginning of February, although there is always some uncertainty about rearing the chicken in cold weather; but I have found that by cooping the hens in a shed open to the south they have done much better than in an enclosed room.

To produce the fat fowls, that are seen in greater perfection in the London markets than elsewhere, and which are generally termed (although they are not) capons, Dorkings are cooped for fatting at the age of three to four months in summer and five to six in winter, being fed with oatmeal, mixed with water or milk; this must be given fresh three times a day, the first meal being early in the morning; and, in addition, the birds should be supplied with whole corn (either dry or boiled), gravel, clean water, and a turf or green meat; the most scrupulous cleanliness as to troughs, coops, &c., being observed. By these means a fowl, if previously well fed, will be fat enough for any useful purpose in a fortnight to three weeks; should they be required very fat, some mutton suet; or, what is equally good, the parings of the loins of mutton, may be chopped up with the food. The unnatural process of cramming is frequently recommended, but I have never found it necessary. It should be borne in mind that a fowl cannot be kept in the greatest degree of fatness for any length of time, as the over repletion soon causes internal disease. The houses must be dry, quiet, dark, and warm, and the fatting coops carefully kept from draught, and warmly covered at night during cold weather.

Spanish.—The true Spanish fowls, known by their uniform black colour, burnished with resplendant tints of green, the great development of comb and wattle, and the peculiar white face, which should be free from any other colour, are magnificent birds. Regarded as profitable poultry, their strong recommendation consists in the number and very large size of the eggs laid by them. The hens seldom attempt to hatch, and are bad sitters and nurses; their eggs should consequently be hatched by other varieties. The chicken are slow in feathering, but I have not found them so delicate as is sometimes stated, it is not however desirable to hatch them very early in the season, as they run about for a long time with naked necks and wings; and there is a remarkable difference in the fowls of the same brood, some being far superior in size and qualities to the remainder. In purchasing Spanish, blue legs, the entire absence of white or colored feathers in the plumage, and a large white face, with a very large high comb, which should be erect in the cock, though pendant in the hens, should be insisted upon. Although the flesh is of good quality, yet, from the want of size, the length and darkness of the legs, the Spanish is not equal to the Dorking for the table, and from the long period of their moulting, the laying in winter is considerably interfered with; nevertheless, the large size and number of their eggs renders them most profitable, and their handsome carriage and striking contrast of colour in the comb, face, and plumage recommend them to all; they are perhaps better adapted for a town fowl than any other variety, as when full grown they seem to suffer less from confinement to a small run; not unfrequently exceedingly good specimens may be seen in the stable yards of London.

The price of very good white faced Spanish always ranges high, notwithstanding that they have been largely bred in this country for many years; this arises from the extreme uncertainty in the character of the chicken, for even when produced from eggs laid by first rate stock red faced birds constantly make their appearance, and these, though equally useful as layers, are of no value as stock birds; it may be remarked, that those cockerels and pullets are most promising that exhibit a long bluish skinny face, as this generally changes into pure white.

In the West of England, a variety of the Spanish known as Minorcas are much esteemed as profitable layers. They differ from their more aristocratic relatives in possessing a white ear lobe merely, the face being red, and in a somewhat more compact and less leggy form.

BLACK BREASTED RED GAME.