THE FANCIER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1249, 6 February 1896, Page 28

THE FANCIER.

POULTRY.

Edited by Red Cap. BLACK MINORCAS. Birds of this breed are often taken for black Spanish by inexperienced people, because they have white ear-lobes. The birds, however, are quite different to Spanish ; the latter breed has a white face and ear-lobes, while the Minorca has a red face and white ear-lobes. Black Minorcas are considered one of the most popular breeds of the day amongst the non-sitting' varieties, but some people have an objection to them, as they say they cannot stand the cold weather —or, in other words, they do cot do well in cold, open, bleak places. We will give our experience of them, and the reason why they are s > popular and such favourites with townspeople. ' First, they are non-sitters; secondly, they lay large eggs and plenty of them ; thirdly, they are black, and do not show the dirt in back gardens of smoky towns. Many poultry-keepers, particularly thoso living in towns, do not want to be continually bothered with hens coming broody, as they only just keep a few fowls to have a supply of eggs for their own domestic use. Tiien, again, Minorcas lay large eggs, which most people like to see, even if they are white. The eggs will often go seven to the pound, very often six after the hens have been laying for a time. Some of our readers may say, "Are they large eggs when they weigh as much as that r" - Thousands of eggs laid by many varieties weigh considerably under two ounces each, but an egg which will turn the scale at two ounces is considered a very fair size. Of course, when pullets of any breed commence laying the eggs are much

smaller for the first few weeks. Some people complain about white-shelled eggs, and say they cannot sell them so well in many districts, because they resemble the -French eggs, but most people like plenty for their money, and therefore seldom refuse to buy Minorca eggs, because they are over the average size of ordinary lien's eggs. Then, again, the Minorcas are the best to keep in town, particularly where there are factories and largo works ; the smoke does not affect them at all. They always look clean and nice. If white birds were kept in such a town it would be impossible to keep them clean, however healthy they were.

A pen of Minorcas makes a handsome picture in a back yard or garden in a town. Their bright black plumage, white earlobes, red face, and beautiful overhanging combs in the pullets, all help to gain these birds many admirers. Many people have but little love for their birds, and only keep a mixed lot, an I quite accidentally perhaps one calls on a neighbour and sees a pen of black Minorcas. He is at once seized with Minorca fever, and cannot rest until he has a pen of these birds for himself. These are just a few reasons why black Minorcas are so popular and have spread well all through England. Whilst visit-

ing in various parts of England we take particular notice under what conditions fowls are kept by various people in small runs. In our opinion there is no breed of poultry looks better than black Minorcas, as non-sitters. In many instances wo the egg list from the owners of the birds, and where Minorcas are sheltered from the cold winds during the winter it is surprising what a large number of eggs they will lay.

Ten black Minorcas shut up in a nice covered run, with wire fronts so that they get plenty of air, and are at the same time sheltered from the cold wind, will lay more eggs than thirty which have their liberty and a grass field to roam over —that is, during the winter. Of course we are supposing them, to be all hatched the same time.

There is no variety of fowl pays better for shelter from the cold than black Minorcas. We were much interested in visiting some places in Lincolnshire which were very bleak. One man kept a few Minorcas in a large shed, and never allowed theni cut unless it was for a run for half-an-hour during the day. The egg list from September till March was over 100 eggs par bird. Some fowls, of course, lay a larger number of eggs than others ; tho laying strain has a great deal to do with it. Wo keep from fifty to seventy Minorcas in a small wood, and many of them never go in the house at all, but sleep in a holly tree. That is surrounded with other wood, so that the birds are sheltered. As a rule, some of them lay all through the winter. Whero a person has a bleak, open place which is not sheltered from the wind at all, go in for Minorcas, but it

does not matter how bleak the situation is if an open shed is provided for them to go to in the very cold weather. If they are let run out each day for an hour or half-an-hour they will do well. Minorcas are not considered tip-top table birds, especially for the market, but the skin and flesh is very white and juicy. Those who utilise these birds for their own table use, say they like them very much. Of course, there is not a deep cut upon the breast, and they are not classed as table birds. As regards crossing, where one only wants eggs we strongly advise a Minorca cock, but if table qualities are required before eggs then use heavier breeds. Where a great many people make a mistake who keep Minorcas confined in a limited space in a town is, they use their eggs for hatching. In such cases the

chickens, as a rule, do not grow and feather anything like so well, and if they do they do not have such splendid plumage as when the eggs come from stock birds which have been running on grass.

AVe often find a pen of Minorcas enclosed in a run 4ft by 12ft, sometimes smaller than that. On one occasion we went into a yard in London where a person had three pens of Minorcas, and the runs were oft wide and 10ft long, and the little house 3ft by 4ft. People who live in the country do not appreciate the space they have to spare in their gardens. The chickens are healthy and grow fast. In an early issue we shall go more fully into this, and also give some of the laying records of Minorcas. As show birds Minorcas stand at the top of the tree. Although we have been dealing with them as a useful breed they are also one of the greatest ornaments to the poultry exhibitions.

The immense combs in the cocks, and the beautiful shape of the liens with the comb drooping gracefully over one side of the head, at once gain them fa /our with those who are going round the exhibitions, and it is not to be wondered at. It must bo remembered those sent to shows are the pick of the country, that is, two or three of the very best from various yards all brought together, so that naturally they look more striking and different to an ordinary pen of Minorcas. If a person can get one or two really tip-top birds out of forty or fifty they ought to think themselves very fortunate.

If we got one really good bird, fit to win at an exhibition, from three sittings of eggs, we are quite satisfied. Wo have known five winners to bo hatched in one brood of Minorcas, but such instances are very few. These things are mentioned so that those who hatch and rear Minorcas will not be disappointed if their birds do not come up to the standard they expected. Minorcas are one of the best breeds, as non-sitters, for a working man who has only a limited space to keep them in, as a show bird, because they keep in much better condition, taking them on the whole, than they do when they have their liberty. They do not develop such long combs if allowed to run about as they do when shut up in aback garden. There are more prize Minorcas bred in small confined places than there are in large open spaces. They are often bred by a working man, or small poultry-keeper, and exhibited by the larger breeders—Farm, Field and Fireside.

Tho Department of Agriculture has in the press an illustrated pamphlet by Mr J. A. Henderson, entitled " Poultry and Eggs for Market and Export." This will be issued in the course of two or three weeks, and, as with other publications, will be supplied gratis