THE FEATHERED FANCY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16043, 27 October 1917, Page 12

THE FEATHERED FANCY.

(SPECIALLT WEITTIN FOR "THE PRXSS.")

;33v Silver Dun.)

The feathered fancy is to bo found in a]] lands, and tho culture of birds is indulged in by all classes. The many clubs* devoted to tho feathered fancy may assist, and do assist, in many ways to promote birdkeeping. It is, however, a common mistake on the part of those who belong to clubs to think, that they are the pillar of tho fancy. The culture of birds and all the so-called fancy and utility points were in existence before the days of [ clubs or shows. ! And the bulk of. those who keep birds and who, make experiments and who go in for research, arc not members of clubs, but merely men and worn on who keep a few poultry or a pet bird. "Don't breed from immature stock, don't breed from birds that are not in their second year, and don't breed from birds that are not 18 months old." Such is the advice I often read, and it is anything but clear what is the reason for such advice. I have bred strong youngsters from parents under 12 montiis, and as old as six and seven years. For choico I would prefer tho yearlings. Some apparently strong and healthy birds will throw weeds and diseased offspring; put thom to other mates and they are air right. As regards the maturity question, I notice that some stock breeders havo been breeding from immature stock, and that somo plant breeders use unripe seed. Another instanco to show there is no hard and fast rule in breeding. The crossing of blacks and yellows usually gives some excellent duns, blacks, and yellows. This season I put a black to a yellow, and got none of tho colours mentioned, nor, indeed, any of the odd colours usually coming from the cross. Tho result of colour blending is more or less governed by how tho colours used wilj produce. A London paper, in speaking of a laying contest, says: "Tho lying competitions hare shown us the hen is more thair 1 equal to laying 200 eggs a year." This mistake in spelling may after nil be only another instance of the wisdom of the "demon comp." It is said that v lions cannot make eggs unless they havo lime to make the shells. Feed and water usually contain on)« enough lime to shell one egg for each ten eggs tho feed would produce. The number of- eggs produced from liigh-priccd feed should not be limited because of & lack of lime. Keep crushed lime, rock, or oyster-shell before the hens at all times. Supply good grit also. A writer in an American contemporary states that Orpingtons kept at Archangel, Russia, have been known to average 26 eggs per bird per month throughout the winter. Moral: Let us import some Orpingtons from Archangel. Beetroot is relished by fowls. They will take it readily raw or boiled. The tops are usually thrown away, but if >:ut up and mixed with the mash the birds will eat them. Old fowls are used (alas) for the table as well as youne ones. From now on until Year more old birds will be potted than at anv other sea;;on. Old birds should be killed a few days before cooking. They should be boiled, or rather simmered, in a pot of water for two or three hours. The water should have a spoonful or two of vinegar in it. Steaming is better than simmering, and after it is well steamed the bird can be roasted like a chicken.