Chicken Keeping the Old Way
Some time ago I downloaded some old books on chicken keeping from the late 1800s and early 1900s. I thought some of the information in there was worth reproducing here. The illustrations are beautiful in their own right so - just enjoy!
My favourite, possibly because it is a British book, is The Practical Poultry Keeper, orginally published in 1867. The language may be slightly old fashioned but there are some real gems to be found. I often think that if everything collapsed then books like this would be what you'd need to survive. Information from an age where DIY was normal.
The Practical Poultry Keeper must have been a real bestseller as it was reprinted over 20 times - as the author states in the preface to the March 1899 edition
"the first edition of this work was published in 1867, its object being to give practical details in such a practical way that it might be put into the hands of a person totally ignorant of poultry-keeping, with the reasonable certainty that its instructions would be understood by him, and if followed would command success. The writer does not think now, any more than then, that such a work previously existed; and such an implied opinion may possibly account for the singular hostility with which his own efforts were then received and reviewed by some who claimed to be the leading authorities in the poultry world.
Time proves all things, however; and the constant demand for rapidly- succeeding editions has proved that the practical poultry keeper did fulfil its intended purpose, and supply some real want, and was both understood by, and welcome to, the people for whom it was written."
Chicken Keeping from the Old Days
White Wyandotte, Plymouth Rocks and Golden Wyandotte in the first plate, Cochins, Dark Brahmas, Malays in the second.
Poultry Illustrations Set 1
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Duckwing Game, Pile Game, Grey Dorkings & Black-Red Game in the third plate and Buff Leghorn, Minorcan and Brown Leghorn in the fourth plate.
Poultry Illustrations Set 2
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Various Hamburghs in the fifth plate (some of the description is lost) and Golden Spangled Polish, Spanish and White-Crested Black Polish Hens in the sixth. The Polish look just like Edwardian ladies in their fancy hats, out for a stroll.
Poultry Illustrations Set 3
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The seventh plate is described as French Fowls although they look more like they're from another planet! The eighth plate is a selection of bantams, including Silver Sebright, Golden Sebright and Japanese
Poultry Illustrations Set 4
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The ninth plate is a lovely black and white photo of a child with some chicks from another book in the collection and the last plate shows a DIY chicken coop made from piano boxes.
Old Chicken Keeping Photos Set Five
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Black & white engravings by Mr W Oldham from the 1850 edition of JJ Nolan's Ornamental, aquatic, and domestic fowl, and game birds.
Old Poultry Pictures 1
Old Poultry Pictures 2
Old Poultry Pictures 3
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From The Poultry Book (1853) by Rev. W Wingfield & C W Johnson, Esq. with pictures by Harrison Weir reproduced using the Leighton Brother's Chromatic Process
Poultry Book One - Set 1
Poultry Book One - Set 2
Poultry Book One - Set 3
Poultry Book One - Set 4
Poultry Book One - Set 5
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From The Poultry Book (1867) by W B Tegetmeier. Yet more wonderful pictures by Harrison Weir and a number of monochrome wood engravings.
Poultry Book Two, Set 1
Poultry Book Two, Set 2
Poultry Book Two, Set 3
Poultry Book Two, Set 4
Poultry Book Two, Set 5
Poultry Book Two, Set 6
Poultry Book Two, Set 7
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From A Treatise on the History and Management of Ornamental and Domestic Poultry by Rev. Edmund Saul Dixon, A.M. This snappy title was published in 1857 and whilst the pictures aren't quite up to Harrison Weir's standards, they're well worth looking at.
Still working on the pages!
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