POULTRY KEEPING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1716, 18 January 1905, Page 67 (Supplement)

POULTRY KEEPING.

VARIETIES MORE PARTICULARLY CONSIDERED. The following are the leading general purpose fowls:—Langshans, Orpingtons, Plymouth Rocks, Cochins, Wyandottes, Brahmas. BRAHMAS. Thirty to fifty years ago the Brahma was one of the most popular breeds in Britain, and there is little doubt that it has rendered great service in the influence it has exerted upon other fowls. At the present time, however, it cannot be regarded as one of practical value, for the reason that it has been bred by exhibitors on lines which have seriously interfered with its economic qualities, namely, excessive feather production. Hence no one would think of keeping Brahmas as a profitable fowl. There are two colours, namely, the Darks and the Lights, the latter of which is better when used for crossing than the former. They are large in

size, the adult cock weighing 111 b and upwards. They are yellow in the legs and in flesh, very hardy, good winter layers, and the eggs are tinted. COCHINS. In respect to this variety the same may be said of Brahmas, only exhibition points have been carried to a still greater extent, and the Cochin is now practically a fancy fowl. It is very heavy, adult cocks weighing about 121 b and hens 101 b. It is slow in growth, a costly bird to keep so far as food is concerned, and it is a poor layer, though the eggs are very rich, and nicely tinted. Here again we have the same coloration of the legs and flesh as in the Brahmas. LANGSHANS. This fowl was introduced from China about twenty-five years ago, and it is very good in its flesh qualities. It is not quite so large as the two breeds just named, and is tighter in feather, having only a small strgak of feathers down the sides of the legs. When first introduced it was distinctly better for practical purposes than is now the case, but it never was characterised by the same amount of vigour that we should expect from the fact that the legs are dark in colour and the flesh creamy rather than yellow. Here again a useful breed has been injured by excessive development of exhibition points. Langshans are, or were, entirely black in plumage, rich in colour, but others have been evolved, notably whites, as may be expected by breeding under domestication. BLACK ORPINGTONS. This fowl, which was originated by Mr W. Cook, was due to a mixture of Langshan, Minorca and Plymouth Rock blood, and it has considerable vigour and useful properties. Beeper in body than the Langshan, its flesh is lighter in colour and may be termed grey, the legs being dark and with no feathers. The eggs, however, though somewhat larger than those of the Langshans are not quite so deeply tinted in shell, which might be expected from the infusion of Minorca blood. Its great popularity undoubtedly arises from the fact that it serves a very useful purpose, more especially for those living in our great centres of population, as it is less affected by smoke and dirt than light or coloured fowls. It cannot be regarded as first-rate for table purposes as it is very heavy ip leg meat, but occupies an average position in this respect. The Black Orpington has not been quite so popular of late years, and its place has been taken by other and newer breeds.