As for the Game Breed, some fancy that their Flesh is more white and
tender than the other sorts; but they are always quarrelling, which
contributes to make themselves and their Brood weak.
Where we propose to raise a large Stock of Poultry, we should be careful to
secure our Hen-House from Vermin of all sorts, and keep it dry and clean,
allowing also as much Air as possible; for if it is not often clean'd, the
scent of the Dung will give your Fowls the Roop: So likewise there must be
easy Convenience for perching of the Fowls, disposed in such a manner, that
the Perches be not placed over any of the Hen's Nests, which must always
lie dry and clean, bedded with Straw, for Hay is apt to make the sitting
Hens faint and weak. When we design to set a Hen, we should save her Eggs
in dry Bran, and when she clucks, put no more in her Nest than she can well
cover; for as to certain numbers to be more lucky in hatching, there is
nothing in that: And if we fat Fowls, then use the Method prescribed in my
_Country Gentleman and Farmer's Monthly Director_, in the Month of
_January_, which is much the best way of any that has yet been discovered.
In the choice of Fowls for eating, those which are white feather'd and
white legg'd, are much tenderer and finer in their Flesh than those of
other Colours, and are much weaker; for which reason, those who understand
Cocking, do not approve of such as happen to be white feather'd: and those
which are black feather'd, are accounted the hottest and most fiery, and
their Flesh is coarser than in other Fowls.
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