CROSS-BRED POULTRY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3010, 17 February 1881, Page 4

CROSS-BRED POULTRY.

. 1 Most persons who take an interest in poultry merely for the profit to be gained from them eithef'by the sale of eggs or of fowls for kUling, have some favorite broed or cross-breed which they will stoutly maintain is superior to all others. The most popular of these crosses is " half-bred Spanish," that is black fowls produced by a cross of Spanish ■with any other variety, the birds in many instances being widely dissimilar in their leading characteristics, and very frequently as varied in their market value. If we are to take the size of the eggs to be produced as the main thing to breed for —and as a rule, thie is the primary consideration —then we must Bolect Spanish ac the breed most suitable to commence operations with. But it is necessary in order to achieve satisfactory results to proceed with caution in selecting a breed with which to cross. It cannot be denied that the " " practice frequently produces good layers of fine marketable eggs ; but there is a stage far in advance of this which is attainable, and which we consider it the duty of farmers more particularly to aim at, and that is the production of a class of poultry which they could depend upon to be uniformly good. The breeds which are non-sitters must claim attention first, and from these wo will select Hambiu-ghs as entitled to most consideration. The primary reason which guides our choice in this respect is the great number of eggs produced by this breed. The eggs of the pure Hamburghs—with the exception of the black variely—are rather small for market purposes, but those laid by the cross-breed with Spanish, are much larger, and what is a matter of importance to the retailer, are Tery uniform in appearance. Of the different varieties of Hamburghs we should prefer either of the spangleds on account of their being larger than the pencilleds, and the blacks in our opinion having too great an affinity to Spanish to render a cross with them desirable, though they would no doubt be -very valuable in crossing with other breeds, when they might take a second position in value to Spanish. The crossed birds produced from Spanish and'Hamburghs bear a strong likeness to black Hamburghs, though they lack the brilliancy of plumage and splendid sickles of the true bred, and are of medium size, plump, and usually very active. They like a large run to range, and when this consists of a field they become extraordinary egg producers. They are comparatively small eaters, and many persons who have kept them aver that they will yield a greater weight of eggs on a smaller amount of food than any other variety. Another quality claimed for them is that they will lay at seasons when other bi'eeds fail to do so. From these facts it will readily be seen that they cannot fail to repay their owner for his outlay. The breeder must be careful to' raise all his stock direct from the pure Spanish and Hamburgh stock, or from their immediate descendants, and on no account should he attempt to introduce a further strain of blood from either side, as such an attempt is always followed by bad results. A number of farmers have already adopted this plan of breeding with the most satisfactory results. Another good cross is Polish and Spanish, which makes a fine, free-laying class of fowls, rather larger thaa the foregoing, though not quite so hardy. Of the fowls which brood, there is nothing better than game to cross with • panish, the former improving the chape and "quality of the flesh of the latter, and producing a very active and handsome class of stock which lay very freely. Some valuable experiments in crossbreeding for layers have been tried by Messrs J>e Moor and Co. of the Heidelberg Poultry Farm, and as these gentlemen are conducting their establishment on purely commercial principles, the results of their efforts must eventually prove valuable. Their first cross was between Spanish and Brahma, the progeny being fairly good layers, though they were not very taking to the eve. A"few Houdan and panish crossbreeds were also raised and gave satisfaction. In the second year a fine, upstanding Houdan cock, was mated with the BrahmaSpanish hens, producing very peculiar-look-ing stock, which proved better than any of those which had preceded them. This year wo are informed they intend putting an additional strain of Houdan into this stock j but we cannot say we agree with this step, as it is opposed to the theory of first crosses being best. They keep a large number of the true black Hamburghs, which are found to be very profitable. The fowls on the farm are kept for eggs only, table poultry not being studied. So far our remarks have been confined to fowls for yielding eggs only, as these are most in demand just at the present time when so many poultry farms are about to be started. For table poultry there are many possible ways of breeding heavy birds, the favourite apparently being a cross between Dorkings and Brahmas, the objects aimed at being to strengthen the somewhat delicate constitutions of the former, and to improve the flesh of the latter. The birds produced by this cross are certainly very fine, and when dressed for the table present a most appetising appearance. Cochins have also been largely used at different times for this purpose, but crossbreds from them usually run too leggy, and the hens exhibiting a strong disposition to brood they have fallen into disfavor. Houdans appear to us to bo the most suitable stock to use for breeding table fowls, inasmuch as they pufsess most of the good qualities of Dorkings without their weaknesses. The cocks are usually very active and vigorous, and the cliieken9 require much less attention than do young Dorkings. Another reason is that ■well-bred cocks of this variety can be purchased at much lower prices than Dorkings. Light Brahma hens would be our choice to mate with them. We prefer the light class as being better layers than the dark while they can be fed up to quite as large size. Malays would be useful for an occasional cross, but they are so fierce in their disposition that few persons care to keep them. No doubt we shall be told that all this crossbreeding is unnecessary, and that in advocating it we aro sinning against the established rules of scientific breeding ; but our defence must be that it ia better to endeavor to direct the efforts which are always being mado in this direction into a channel whero some beneficial, result i&jlikely to accruo than to attempt the impossible task of suppressing it altogether. Besides we are of opinion that the introduction of pure cocks into poultry yards where only common hens were formerly kept has been productive of much good by gradually improving the quality of our barndoor fowls and should only a little more care be used in selection of stock for breeding laying fowls our annual production of eggs might be increased to such an extent that we would be able to supply our own requirements, and not have to depend on the neighboring colonies to supplement the yield of our own poultry yards.—Melbourne Age.