Indian Game Book

Indian Game Book

Betty Wilcox is the first woman to be featured in the "Doyens of Poultry" series with her book on the Indian Game which is also the first in the series devoted to a Hardfeather breed. Betty is one of the tough pioneering women renowned throughout the Australian bush. With husband Con, she raised their family on a NSW cattle property, surviving drought and flood, excelling in dressmaking, poultry breeding and has represented Australia in international exhibitions as the undisputed master of fruit preserving. Her poultry breeding has been exclusively focussed on the Indian Game, devoting her entire life to breeding both the large and bantam varieties.

This book includes detailed chapters on the following: History of the Indian Game, The Standard Shape, The Standard Colours, Genetics, Breeding for Type, Breeding the Colours, Management, Showing, Judging, Buying and Selling, Glossary, References, Bibliography, Index.

$38.50 - Soft cover version, at much less than the price of one good show bird this book should be regarded as essential reading for anyone serious about breeding, showing and understanding the Indian Game.

$75 - Hard cover version, the collector's choice, green cloth hard cover with a dust jacket as shown above. 100 numbered and signed copies, these are selling fast, please be quick to avoid disappointment.

To order your copy please contact us by whatever means suits you. If you have any queries or need further information about this book please feel free to email.

Book Review (from Australasian Poultry Vol. 17 No 3 Aug/Sept 2006)

This is the fourth book in The Doyens of Poultry series and the first to feature a hardfeather breed, the indomitable Indian Game. It's also a ripping good read. The author, Betty Wilcox, won't be known to most readers, but certainly has the knowledge and experience to pen a speciality breed book like this one.

Betty has bred and exhibited bantam and large Indians for many years, showing successfully at Lismore, Grafton, Quirindi and other northern locales. Betty is also highly skilled at fruit preserving and has judged preserving many times and enjoyed years of involvement with the district exhibits at the Sydney Royal, helping prepare the northern NSW district's display. In addition, she is a serious collector of antique bottles, specialising in preserving and produce jars and Grafton bottles. Her collection, she says, exceeds 2000 jars!

The Indian Game follows a similar format to the previous titles in the series. An introduction is followed by an outline of how the author became involved with the breed and a brief overview of her achievements with them. A precise history follows, with the origination of the breed in England discussed, along with early introductions to the USA and to Australia.

Detailed sections on shape and colour are included, as well as dedicated chapters on breeding to achieve standard type and colour. A section on genetics supports these chapters and explains how to breed the perfect bird. Separate chapters discuss management, showing, judging and buying and selling, and the book concludes with a helpful glossary, and references, bibliography and index. A 16-page colour plate section illustrations and supports the information in the text.

Indians are not an easy breed but this book will set you on the right tract. The author knows the breed and knows it well, so you will pick up tips for management, feeding and producing young that apply only to Indians, and clarification of breeding stratagems for achieving the unique shape and feather pattern. An interesting, informative book and one Indian devotees will want to read.