POULTRY.

New Zealand Mail, 22 April 1887, Page 15

POULTRY.

Advantages of Small Breeds of Fowls. Though small in Bize, the Leghornß and Hamburgs grow rapidly and mature early. It requires some time before a large fowl attains its fail size. The advantage of tbe small breeds is, that they permit ns to make a * short cut’ to the laying point, though they may be deficient in weight. So far as the cost if concerned, it has been demonstrated that it requires no more food for a large fowl than a small one, compared with tbe product. That is, we can produce as many sounds of Leghorn meat as we can of Cochin -meat with tbe same proportion of food, bat in lay in <>• qualities the small breeua are superior, °as they are usually non-sitters, and lay large eggs. Another advantage with them is that, being small, a larger number can be kept together, as they require less room on the roost. Beiug active they do not become excessively fat, and if allowed to run at large they will pick up a large proportion of their food during favorable seasons. Being usually clean-legged, they are not as subject to scabby legs as the Asiatics, and ■if kept warm in winter they lay about aB -well during the cold seasons as in summer.