W. B. Tegetmeier

“ The common open circular wicker coop I regard as an exceedingly useful article in a poultry-yard, but not for the purpose to which it is generally applied, of keeping the hens in, but, on the contrary, for keeping them out. I have found it very convenient for feeding chicken under; the oatmeal, grits, and other expensive food used for the young birds is apt to be devoured by those of advanced growth, an evil which is readily prevented by placing it under a large coop which admits the younger chicken, and enables them to feed undisturbed by the others. ”

“ As I have elsewhere stated, the rearing of early chicken is always attended with risk and trouble, and extraordinary success must not be expected; it should only therefore be attempted under favourable circumstances; and unless chicken are bred for the summer poultry shows, or for early table use, for which purpose they fetch a high price in the market, it is not a desirable proceeding; for the best and finest birds, that alone should be kept for stock, are those hatched in April and May, as they attain their full size without having their growth once checked by cold. ”

“ Natural eggs are not desirable for nest eggs, as they are very apt to break when they become stale, and so render the nest exceedingly foul.
When a hen becomes broody, which is shewn by her remaining on the nest a longer time than usual, and by the peculiar clucking noise she makes, it is desirable to give her three or four nest eggs to sit on, to test her steadiness for a day or two, and if she is found to sit well the eggs for hatching may be placed in the nest, either when she leaves it to feed, or by lifting her off in the evening ”

“ I am aware that these recommendations to leave natural operations to nature are contrary to what are frequently found in books, but I am merely writing the results of my own experience, and I have always found the more the hatching hens are meddled with, the worse the result. It is a notorious fact that when a hen steals [Pg 20] a nest in some copse or place where she can remain unmolested, she almost invariably brings forth a more numerous and stronger brood than when she sits in the hen-house. ”

“ All experiments that have been made tend to prove that each [Pg 7] of these kinds of food is unable to serve the purposes of the others; thus, to give an example, neither warmth-giving nor fat-forming substances are capable of adding to the flesh of a growing animal, nor can flesh-forming food increase the quantity of fat. In a mere elementary work, like the present, it is impossible to go into this subject at any great length. ”

“ Rice is the least nutritious of all grains, and therefore the worst that can be given to growing animals. In the husked state in which it is usually found in this country, it contains scarcely any fat, or bone-making materials, and only seven per cent. of flesh-forming food, (less than half the quantity contained in oatmeal,) being almost entirely composed of starch. Boiled rice is a useful variation in the food of fowls, and is much relished, but as the main support of growing chicken it is very objectionable. ”

“ With regard to colour, at present the fashion is entirely in favour of the light buff birds, which, to command the highest prices, must even be destitute of dark markings on the neck hackle; or any slaty tinge in the downy under portions of the fluff, or of the body feathers. The rage for light buff birds I regard as an undue prejudice, and believe the darker breeds will be found quite as valuable for farming stock; in fact, the extreme prices which are commanded by the lightest birds are simply owing to the difficulty of breeding them perfectly free from dark colour ”

“ 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. ”

“ Oats are not taken so freely as barley, which is apparently owing to the large proportion of husk they contain, which lessens their value as poultry food; but when used in the form of grits or oatmeal they are eaten with great avidity, and in this state furnish one of the most wholesome and nutritious varieties of food, containing eighteen of flesh-forming, sixty-three of starchy substances, and six pounds of fatty materials in every hundred. ”

“ The great difficulty in breeding the cocks is the tendency they have to come with black breasts and red backs—and for show such birds are valueless, although it is said more likely to throw good pullets than the spangled breasted birds which are sometimes termed hen-feathered. The silver spangled cock should not be hen-feathered, the hackle, and saddle feathers should be white, the latter very long, the tail spangled black and white, the breast regularly spangled up to the throat, and in colour the clearest white for the ground, and the brightest green black for the spangles is requisite. ”

“ My own opinion is decidedly in favour of the dark birds, both as to appearance and hardiness, and I think there are no more noble fowls than a heavy, broad-chested, dark Dorking cock and a compact short-legged hen. ”

“ 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. ”

“ No grain contains a larger proportion of flesh-forming substances than oatmeal—it is, therefore, the one best adapted to growing animals, and I have found that chicken make much more rapid progress when it forms the chief portion of their food than when fed on any other substances. ”

“ 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. ”

“ In all cases, over crowding must be carefully guarded against, especially where poultry are kept in a confined situation, for if the ground becomes tainted, the inevitable result is that disease breaks out, and that the chicken, being less able to withstand its influence [Pg 19] than older birds, die off rapidly, in spite of good food, warm housing, and every attention that can possibly be paid to them.
Many persons are in the habit of lifting off the sitting hens in order to feed them, I believe that all such interference is uncalled for and injurious ”

“ With regard to animal food there is none equal to the natural supply of worms and insects obtained by the hen; small worms, or a barrow full of mould, containing an ant’s nest, may be given if the chicken are in a confined situation, and will be found far superior to boiled egg, chopped meat, or any more artificial substitute. ”

“ To ensure healthy and large-sized chicken it is absolutely necessary that there should not be any relationship between the parents; breeding “in and in,” as it is termed, is well known by all rearers of stock to produce diseased and weakly offspring, hence it is indispensable that there should be an introduction of fresh male birds every two or three years. ”

“ This difference of opinion arises from the general ignorance that prevails with regard to the true principles of feeding. It cannot be too strongly impressed on all feeders of stock that the food eaten has to serve several distinct purposes when taken into the body. ”

“ The hens are extremely good sitters, their large size enabling them to cover a great number of eggs, and their docility, and the readiness with which they sit in any situation in which they may be placed when broody, being also great recommendations. I have found that the eggs hatch remarkably well, and that the chicken are equally, if not more hardy than those of other fowl. ”

“ The chicken require neither food nor drink on the day on which they are hatched; in fact, both are injurious, as they interfere with the natural digestion of the yolk, which is absorbed into the bowels at the period of hatching, and constitutes the first food. If grits, oatmeal, &c., are spread before the hen on the twenty-first day, she is induced to leave the nest, and the last hatched chicken, which are not perhaps yet dried, are unable to follow, and being weakly, perish; or unhatched eggs may be left. ”

“ Chicken, on the contrary, which are hatched at a late period of the year, have their growth checked by the colds of winter, and consequently never make large birds; hence the practice of hatching Bantams in autumn to prevent their attaining a large size, an object which is only accomplished by a sacrifice of constitutional strength and hardihood. ”

“ Another precaution necessary to be taken with early chicken, even after they have attained some size, is to avoid letting them run in the grass whilst it is wet with dew, otherwise they are very apt to get chilled, and die with cramp. When hens are cooped care must be taken to supply them with gravel and a little mortar rubbish, or broken oyster shells,—the first being required for the digestion of the food, the second to furnish the materials of the bones of the growing chicken. ”

“ Rice, especially, should always be boiled before use, and it should be cooked in such a mode as to allow the grains to remain separate, which may be easily managed by boiling it in a large quantity of water, to which a small piece of fat, as lard or dripping, has previously been added. The experience of all experimental agriculturists is in favour of cooked food for live stock of all descriptions: from the change effected in the starch it is more nutritious, and is more rapidly digested ”

“ The attempt to breed pure Cochins with a fuller breast I believe to be perfectly futile, their wings are so small in size that they never fly, and the muscles which move the wings and form the entire mass of flesh on the breast, are consequently of small size also; it would be as reasonable to expect the muscles of a blacksmith in the arms of a draper, as the plumpness of a Dorking on the breast of a Cochin. ”

“ The hens must be placed in coops, where all the sun can reach them; and there should be a little run of a few feet, enclosed by laths, wire-work or netting, for the hen and chicken to exercise in. The common triangular wooden coop is a very useful one for early chicken; but it should have a false bottom, to keep them off the cold ground, and this should be made to slide in and out, so as to be readily removed and cleaned. The coops, at night, should be warmly covered up with sacking or matting, and plenty of short hay or soft straw placed in the interior. ”

“ In farm-yards where there are large numbers of poultry, it will be found by far the most desirable plan to keep separately a cock with from four to six of the best hens, and to hatch their eggs alone. By this means the chicken are all certain of coming from the best birds, and a much smaller number of cocks may be kept with the main stock of hens than would otherwise be desirable. ”

“ I have traced many cases of disease, such as white comb in Cochins, inflammation of the stomach and egg passage, &c., &c., to their employment.
Hemp Seed is frequently given to cause the increased production of eggs, an effect which it can only produce at the sacrifice of the health of the fowls. Hemp is used in India as a most powerful medicine; the evil effects of the seeds on caged birds are known to all bird keepers. I regard it as one of the most injurious substances given to fowls.
Fresh Green Vegetables form an indispensable addition to the food of poultry. ”

“ Tallow Chandler’s Greaves, which are left on melting the fat from the stale scraps of the butchers, and the putrid accumulation of the marine store shop, are strongly recommended by some persons as causing an increased quantity of eggs. Animal substances which have once been in a state of putrefaction cannot by any subsequent process be formed into healthy food, and I can state from experience that greaves are exceedingly injurious to laying hens. Even dogs, when fed upon greaves, become offensive, mangy, and out of condition; their effect upon fowls cannot be less injurious. ”

“ The remark is often made, that chicken reared in the country by cottagers are more vigorous and healthy than those bred in the most expensive poultry houses; this I believe to be entirely owing to the more natural circumstances under which they are brought up. Fresh air, fresh grass, and fresh ground for the hens to scratch in, far more than counterbalance the advantage of expensive diet and superior lodging, if these latter are unaccompanied with the more necessary circumstances just described. ”

“ Moulting, being a natural action, cannot be regarded as a disease, but it frequently is much delayed, and the birds evidently suffer in such cases; it is therefore desirable, when fowls are not moulting favourably, to treat them as invalids, giving them food which is more nourishing than usual, such as a little chopped meat, either raw or cooked, keeping them in a warm and sheltered habitation, &c. ”

“ I have myself, however, never seen any cross-bred fowls equal for the table to the pure Dorking.
For home consumption, yielding numerous eggs, and large size [Pg 43] chicken, Cochins are very valuable; their hardihood, docility, and matronly habits, enable a greater number to be reared from the same number of hens, than can be obtained from any other variety; but as poultry for the market they are of little value. ”