| CHAPTER | PAGE |
| I. Birds and their Relations To Man | 1 |
| Definition of a bird; Place of birds in the animal kingdom; Flight of birds; Voices of birds; Social relations of birds—Place of birds in domestication—Uses of birds in domestication—Place of wild birds in civilization—Classes of domestic birds |
| II. Characters and Habits of Birds related to Use | 8 |
| Feathers—Structure of feathers—Arrangement of the feathers—Decorative feather forms—Color in feathers—Growth and molting of feathers—Flight—Mechanism of the wing—Scratching—Swimming—Foods and mode of digestion—Peculiarities of birds' eggs—Development of the egg—Rate and amount of egg production—Incubation—Development of the embryo in a bird's egg |
| III. Species and their Divisions in Domestic Birds | 24 |
| Definition of species—Origin of species—Natural varieties—Varieties in domestication—Classification of domestic varieties of birds—Systematic mixtures of breeds and varieties—Pure-bred, thoroughbred, and standard-bred |
| IV. Fowls | 31 |
| Description—Origin of the fowl—Appearance of the original wild species—Distribution of fowls in ancient times—Development of principal races of fowls—How fowls were kept in old times—Modern conditions and methods—Native fowls in America—Old European races of fowls—Italian fowls—English races of fowls—German and Dutch races—French races—Spanish races—Asiatic races of fowls—Chinese races—Japanese races—The "hen-fever" period—How the American breeds arose—The modern Barred Plymouth Rock—Other varieties of the Plymouth Rock—The Wyandottes—The Rhode Island Red—The American idea in England; the Orpington—Present distribution of improved races—Deformed and dwarf races—Silky fowls—Frizzled fowls—Rumpless fowls—Bantams—Origin of Bantams—Varieties of bantam |
| V. Management of Fowls | 72 |
| Small flocks on town lots: Numbers in flocks—Houses and yards—Feeding—Growing chickens. Small flocks on ordinary farms: Numbers in flocks—Single houses for farm flocks—Feeding—Reproducing the flock—The hatching season—Broody hens—Setting the hens—Care of sitting hens—Attention at hatching time—Coops for broods—Feeding young chickens—Management of growing chicks. Large stocks on general farms: The colony system—Numbers of hens kept—Feeding, care, and results—How the chickens are grown—Adaptability of the colony system. Intensive poultry farms: Reasons for concentration—Concentration not profitable—Common type of intensive poultry farm. Broiler growing: The "broiler craze"—Present condition of broiler growing. Roaster growing: Description of a good roaster—General and special supplies—Large roaster plants. Intensive egg farming—Poultry fanciers' farms |
| VI. Ducks | 124 |
| Description; Origin—The common duck—Improved races—Ornamental ducks—Place of ducks in domestication |
| VII. Management of Ducks | 137 |
| Small flocks on town lots: Numbers—Houses and yards—Feeding—Laying habits. Growing ducklings. Small flocks on farms: General conditions—Feeding. Market duck farms: History—Description—Duck fanciers' methods |
| VIII. Geese | 157 |
| Description—Origin—Common geese—Improved races—Ornamental varieties—The Canada Goose, or American Wild Goose—Place of geese in domestication |
| IX. Management of Geese | 168 |
| Small farm flocks: Size of flock—Houses and yards—Feeding—Laying season and habits—Hatching and rearing goslings—Large flocks of geese on farms—Goose-fattening farms—Growing thoroughbred geese for exhibition—Growing a few geese on a town lot—Growing wild geese in captivity |
| X. Turkeys | 179 |
| Description—Origin—Common turkeys—Improved varieties—Bronze Turkeys—Influence of the Bronze Turkey on other varieties—Other varieties of the turkey—Place of the turkey in domestication |
| XI. Management of Turkeys | 190 |
| Size of flocks—Shelters and yards—Feeding—Breeding season and laying habits—Hatching and rearing |
OUR DOMESTIC BIRDS
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