POULTRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1403, 19 January 1899, Page 5

POULTRY.

PLYMOUTH ROCKS.

A well-known breeder of tne barred Plymouth Rock gives us his experience of breeding these handsome and usetttl fowls. Those budding fanciers who are .striving to improve their flocks will hnd . points which should prove beneficial to them, especially in the mating of their stock birds. Our correspondent says : "Care should be taken in mating flymouth Rocks. If not, there are many of the cockerels come very light, and vice versa, and the pullets black. If the hens are of a dark shade, a light cock, with yellow legs and beak, should bo mated. Thisyis the colour that usually produces the best marked pullets, but the cockerels from this mating are verv light. It is very difficult to produce good pullets and cockerels from the same pen, unless there are a good number of stocK birds to pick from. If good cockere's are required, a medium coloured cock may be mated with dark hens. If mated in this way, a few black pullet 3 must bo expected. If the hens are of a light shade sv dark cock may be mated with them. Oreat care should be taken in mating thi3 A light coloured cock, with bright yellow legs and beak, will produce the best jnarked pullets, and a dark shade cocs the best coloured cockerels. When chickens of this breed are brought up under irees or shade their plumage keeps a much brighter colour than those which are exposed to the sun. In the summer months Plymouth Rock hens usually* lose ifche yellow cast from their legs—in fact, isome become quite white, especially if sallowed to sit. Their legs become yellow Again when they change their feathers, \at not such a deep colour as when pulie %. We do not mind a Rock hen havin g pale-legs if*we know the blood is right. This is" »ot always a point to go by, as there are* many half-bred Rocks which have much brighter legs than the pure ones. This is one reason why the purchasers of this ought to be careful as to where they prjwnr© the stock. If Plymouth Rocks are only required lor table and eggs these points may he lost sight of, and birds with short legs and an intelligent looking head sought after. We like to introduce fresh blood every year when eggs only are required, as it always pays in the end. The chickens are much stronger, the pullets lay earlier and the cockerels fledge much faster. They usually commence laying when about six or seven months old. It depends upon how they are attended to when young, and whether they are bred from a good laying strain. We have known them lay 60 eggs before they were eight months old. This is an exception, and not the rule. We had one hen which laid over ten months out of twelve. The pullets bred from this hen laid when five months old. The cockerels were very phort in the legs and broad in chest. They are heavy birds and stand confinement well, lay a brown egg, are very hardy, with no feathers on the leg, and stand the cold weather well. We prefer them to the Asiatic breeds, and better table fowls. We breed from a large ; mumber of tli#m every year, and have several strains of them unrelated. When table fowls are required, this Ikeed ought to be kept, especially if crocsfereds *re used. They improve them very wren. They can easily be bred with kg* ond skins, if these are preTb 'V ©tonnage of this breed fades very much *te* exposed to light, and especiSlv if n * sheltered from the sun. Some Shades fa, <* ore than otUr »- ?>? marirines **fc h Some P^P 1 * Wade, brown, especially w the cocks It can fte noticed more particu ; £Sy toi(ridthigaa.^»»Bpos ßlb J e - ?<> me " SlnJult, tht& plumage «&£» quite » distinct coiouT, fit for exhibition. " They are good thereto not show the dirt. The chickens S?be d>tmgoished from jmsE&*; When aUliatched but together, they are very dark on back— W* part may be called black—and light colour underneath. The mark of distinction is at the back of the head ; it is a small grey spot. The legs and beak are usually very yellow. They do not show the markings on their plumage until their feath ore grow. One vigorous cock may run with nine hens, and almost every egg will be JerHe.—-" Leader."