Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1915 — LIGHT BRAHMA COMING BACK [ARTICLE]

LIGHT BRAHMA COMING BACK

Distinct Interest Shows in the Big Bird Famed for Table Use aad Good Layer. The Light Brahma Is the oldest pure-bred variety of poultry in America. It was Introduced Into New England from Asia more than sixty years ago. Hr. L K. Felch, of South Natick. Mass., has bred Light Brahmas continuously for nearly sixty years. This veteran poultry breeder, writer and Judge has been breeding poultry for seventy years, and Is past eighty years of age. He breeds several other varieties, but insists that the Light Brahma is the best variety of all and the most beautiful. Many will not agree with him, but there is a common saying, "Once a Light Brahma breeder, always a Light Brahma breeder.” There seems to be evidence that the Light Brahma is regaining something of its old-time popularity. At the recent Boston show there were 227 Light Brahmas in line and the quality was said to be the best ever seen in America. New England is and has always been the hotbed of Light Brahma interest. This is the largest of all varieties of poultry. Cocks weigh 12 pounds each, cockerels 10 pounds, hense 9% pounds, pullets 8 pounds. Greater weights are often attained. I once saw a cock weighing 17 pounds. Such extremes of size, however, are not desirable. The above standard weights are more desirable. But Brahmas should be large. A small Brahma is an absurdity. In spite of their great size the Light Brahma Is not a “big, awkward fellow with feathers on his feet" He is not so sprightly as a Leghorn, is rather slow in his movements, but he is not ungraceful, and in the opinion of many who do not breed this variety the Light Brahma is the most aristocratic of all folws. When right In size, color and shape he is an imposing show bird. The black and white colors are surely attractive. The neck or hackle feathers of the male are long and sweep back over a portion of the back. These '' thers are laced with blac':. The breast is white on the surface. The back is white, but towards the tail it merges into the beautifully striped feathers of the saddle, which should be long and abundant. The tail proper should be a glossy greenish black. The toe feathering should be abundant .and should be black and white. Most Light Brahmas are too light In color, often faded. The color should be intense. The beauty of the color lies in the sharp contrast of the white and black. "Strong” color is desirable in young birds because the tendency is to a loss of color in breeding. Moreover young birds that are Just right in color are likely to be too light when two or three years old. The -shape of the Brahma is peculiar to this breed. The body Is quite long, the breast full, the legs of fair length, the back is broad n nd rather flat in front with a concave sweep to the tail, which is carried moderately high and is broad. The head in mature sneeimens is very broad above the eye. .The comb is a “pea” comb. It is low, with three nearly parallel ridges of five rounded points each. The color of the eye is bright red. The feathering of legs and toes should be abundant, but not so abundant as in the Cochin. In fact, the Brahma is quite unlike the Cochin in type and in feathering. The Brahma matures slowly and it is not seen at its best until it is a year or more old. The chicks are very hardy, as is the Brahma. Light Brahmas are used more than any other fowls for capons in the eastern markets. They are also favorites as roasters at six to eight months of age. There is no better table fowl than the Light Brahma. Cocks and hens two or three years old. If properly fattened, are tender and of fine flavor. Because of size, birds of this variety are poor flyers, and usually can be confined by a fence three feet high, hence they are a favorite with many who have only a city lot. They bear confinment well. On aocount of their size, their low combs and their abundant feathering they do not suffer from cold winter weather, and are good winter layers. The experience of some is that they are almost nonsetters. This is true certainly of some strains.

Liver troubles are often caused by over-feeding and lack of exercise. Give the affected fowls a good physic of some kind and follow with a liver tonic. Give a limited diet for- a few days, and if possible induce the fowls to take a lot of exercise. If they are too far gone to scratch, better kill and burn their bodies. Unless a bird is very valuable there is not much profit doctoring the sick (files, which have to be fed with a spoon.

Growing cockerels should now be separated from the pullets, and the former given, an extra allowance of feed. They will need this additional amount more than will the pullets in order that they can be kept growing.

AH the old stock that Is not wanted should now be disposed of before they go into molt.

Lighter foods are best these warm days. Heavy food like com heats the blood. : — l — Already the fowls are assuming a rusty appearance. It is getting near their molting season,