Index News About Products Contact Links

 

 THE SUSSEX AND DORKING FOWLS by Joseph Batty.

Large format hardback, 96 pages, black and white and colour illustrations.

Extremely valuable as the only British book currently available, which specialises in these two very early breeds of poultry, the Sussex and the Dorking, this is a welcome addition to the extensive list of poultry books. The book began as a study of Ihe Dorking only, in the hope of Encouraging more people to keep Ihis old breed, but the two breeds turned out to be so closely linked that one could not easily be separated from the other The contents cover background, the Sussex as a table bird, the origin of the Sussex and the links with the Dorking, physical characteristics, standard colours and the evolution of the breeds with notes on management. Dr Batty writes with enthusiasm and a lot of first hand. experience, having kept poultry for over sixty years, and the book Swell researched with a lot of references to earlier writers and publications. He has himself kept Speckled and Light Sussex, and his main occupation is currently research into old poultry breeds, with a view to reviving the standard breeds at both the fancy level andthe utility. Reviewed by Sheila holligon for the April 1997 issue of north island poultry and pigeon news digest

 

 

BANTAMS AND SMALL POULTRY by Joseph Batty.

Illustrated with black and white photos and drawings and colour photos.

 

Dr Batty begins his well researched book with a quote on Ihe origin of the Bantam from The Poultry Yaro written by Miss E watts round about 18S8, starting hatch e Bankiva jungle fowl may be the origin of our Bantam breeds the term Bantam would seem to establish the fact. Bantam is the name of a town and district in the North-West of Java. Miss Watts goes on to date the introduction of the Bantam into England as round about 1602 when the English erected a factory in Bantam. The term later became applied to all small or dwarf fowls.

Dr Batty goes on to define exactly what a Bantam is, how some Large Fowl breeds do not have miniature versions and how there is a group of true bantams which does not have Large Fowl counterparts, such as the Japanese Bantam and the Booted Bantam. He then gives a classification of the Bantam followed by an alphabetical listing with description of appearances, origin, exhibition faults and so on, with accompanying colour photos, Bantams do have some advantages over Large Fowl in that they take up less space, are easier to transport to a show and are a size which a child can handle - but they do not have their splendid magnificence. This is an excellent book for the beginner to poultry as he (or she) can get a very clear idea of what t he various breeds should look like and something of their history. . Reviewed by Sheila Holligon for the April 1997 issue of North Island poultry and pigeon news digest

 

 BANTAMS AND SMALL POULTRY by the famous Dr Joseph Batty and published by Beech Publishing House (£15) is a modern guide but with along history. Bantams have been known for hundreds years and their numbers have increased and now have a large following than the bigger breeds of hens. In his first chapter, Dr Batty defines what a bantam actually represents and looks at their links with the larger fowl. Most of the book contains detailed and thorough descriptions of the many breeds of bantam most of whom have deeply evocative names such as the Rumpless Araucana, Chantecle, Faverolles, La Flenche, New Hampshire reds and Scilian Buttercups.

What makes this book far more than just a review of breeds is the author's personal experience and truly authoritative tone. Old illustrations and gorgeous colour plates make this an attractive book. The useful appendix concentrates on common or general faults and these are particularly well illustrated.

Reviewed in the Small Holder magazine

 

DOMESTICATED DUCKS AND GEESE by Joseph Batty.

232 pages. Black and white photos and line illustrations, 16 pages of colour

Illustration.

 

This reprint of the 1979 book is very good value for money, and Is a good all round book for the novice and first time exhibitor. Contents cover a general discussion of the breeds; the duck run an pond, accommodation and breeding. Ten chapters on some of the breeds available and one on ducklings for the table. There are times when the description of a breed is a little terse, as in the case of the Call Duck which only merits two pages of text although it is such a very popular breed in the UK at present with a great variety of different colours to be seen at shows.

 The goose section begins with a delightful section on the Goose in Fable, very nicely researched, then goes on to management of geese, the various breeds available, preparation for the table, showing and ailments. Some very nice old prints are included here along with old photos which include one I had never seen before - Mrs Campbell herself, forever remembered for her creation of the White and Khaki Campbell duck. . Reviewed by Sheila holligon for the April 1997 issue of North Island poultry and pigeon news Digest

 

 

 

PEKIN BANTAMS by Margaret Gregson .

136 pages, hardback. Black and white and colour illustrations.

 

This book on Pekin Bantams is size first British book to be written about this very popular breed of poultry, and Margaret Gregson has struck exactly the right note between factual information and personal anecdote to produce a book which is Very pleasant reading. She obviously loves the breed very much and her writing comes out of first hand experience. She specialists in the breeding of Lavender Pekins and 10r the past four years has won two out of four classes at the major shows for that colour, obtaining Best Lavender Pekin twice. In 1996 here at the big Stafford show in the UK her birds won three out of four Lavender classes, plus the best Lavender Pekin.

 

Throughout the book, Margaret Gregson emphasises how suitable the Pekin Bantam is for novices to the fancy to keep, and recommends them as a breed for the disabled and for youngsters as it is very docile and placid to handle The history of the breed is covered along with recollections of past and present breeders. What to aim for in type' along with the current British Standard, colours (where she is quick to point out that Lavender is not an easy colour for the novice) and general management and how to care for the birds. She comments on the fact that "it should be noted that the breed is referred to as Cochin in the USA and there are sixteen colours and it is regarded as the most popular feathered leg bantam The general standard is much the same as the British."

 

Although Margaret Gregson shows and wins so much with her birds, what comes through in her book is her pleasure in keeping them and how much she and her husband enjoy their daily contact with them.

Illustrated with black and white drawings and photos, with a sectionof sixteen pages of colour photos in the centre, this is a book which will interest not only the Pekin fancier but the newcomer to the world of poultry.

Reviewed by Sheila Holligon for the 1997 April issue of North Island poultry and pigeon news Digest.