THE POULTRY YARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 42, 20 February 1897, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE POULTRY YARD.

Brahma-Dorkin« Fowls. —This cross is a very favourite one, and generally produces most hardy and prolific birds both for table and as frequent layers of large egge. The best Brahma-Dorkings are bred by mating a coloured Dorking cock of large size and low on legs with large dark Brahma hens. Fancy points may be disregarded, bub good size is indispensable, and if tho hens are free from, or at least with only very slight, leg feathering, so much the betber. The chickens will prove very hardy and quick growing, provided they are hatched early and well looked after. February or March are the best months for hatching, the pullets commencing to lay about September, and the cockerels, with a little exbra feeding, prove excellent table fewls. For laying choose pullet 3 with grey hackles in preference to those with gold or brassy coloured, as the former are generally more prolific and do nob get broody bo frequently as the latter. If plumage be a consideration, then substitute a silver-grey Dorking cock with the Brahma hens, although this variety of Dorking is inclined to be small. A very handsome bird may be produced by crossing a white Dorking cock wich lighb Brahma hens, and in a park or orchard this breed looks very attractive, being nearly white. Whichever of these crosses be decided on, choose as parents large healthy specimens of pure blood, and hatch early. Brahma - Dorkings require no special feeding other than thab advised for other varieties generally, good sound grain and meal being the staple foods. In is not an easy matter to lay down any rule as to the quantity of food required by a given number of fowls, so much depends on the conditions under which they are kept. If they have a wide range, they are enabled to pick up a certain amount of food. In thab caee two meals a day will be sufficient, one morning and evening, except in very severe weather when the supply of natural fpod fails somewhat; then they must be allowed a feed ab mid-day. On the other hand, if tho birds are in closed constant confinement three meals a day must always bo allowed them, although the midday one may bo of a lighb character, such a« house scraps. A« regards quantity, the birds should have as much for each meal as they will eat eagerly, and no more. Food on no account must be allowed to remain on the run after they have finished, and if they are observed to be dainty, and picking the corn and meal over and rejecting what does nob please their fancy, it is a sure sign thab they are over-led, and if this Ptate of affairs be not rectified, a falling off in the number of eggs and disease of numerous types will coon make their appearance. In short, it is better to rather _ underfoed than over-feed poultry, and their owner must use his judgment aa to the quantity (o be given. By carefully watching the birds at feeding time ib ia very easy in a few days to determine how much they should have thrown to them, the right) quantity baing what bhoy will eat with relish, and no more. Again, fowls appetites vary, and are influenced by tho weal her and other causes, as also by fcho health of the bird. A hen when laying will, and ought to, eat more than when nob laying, and growing stock require mosb of all. The first feed in the morning, which should always coneisb of aofb food, musb bo given as soon as possible after the birds have gob off the roost, and the evening meal, which should always be hard grain, immediately before they retire to roost.