The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-08-23
BREEDING PLYMOUTH ROCKS.
The Blush Tinge That Never Changes.
practical poultryman. J


a writer in one Of our poultry jour
nails states that Barred Plymouth
Rocks should be bred with more Of
that blush tinge which never changes
with age. That is true, but we do not
want to get the pullets so light in color
that they will have kind of gray
look, as some have. That spoils the
whole Plymouth Rock appearance.
We want that clear distinct barring
that makes the bird have rich, blush
steel color. as | would describe it, so
that the feathers when plucked from
The specimen will be evenly barred
throughout, more distinct at the tip of
the feather, diminishing toward the
stem, with great regularity not run
min" dark down to where the feathers
overlap and then underneath almost
solid white. Such plumage in
females clearly indicates lack of care
full breeding somewhere. Many of
our breeders are looking too much at
the unimportant points, to the loss and
sacrifice of the points that 60 to make
it what it should be.
To illustrate, | will give an instance:
Some years ago when | was exhibiting
at our county fair ] took several cock
erels along to sell, and after having
sold out | had a customer for two
cockerels, which | brought from home
the next morning, selecting two finely
barred and shaped birds. One Of them
suited him, but the other he would not
have at any price simply because he
had dark stripe on his beak. So l
returned the following morning with
one not worth half as much in shape
and markings, but he took him because
he had clean, yellow beak. He had
bred Rocks long enough to know some
thing about them, but he had let this
one hobby run away with his all
round good judgment. Don't under
stand that | do not like a yellow beak;
but l do not sacrifice grand points in
other very important sections for this
one.
Aim at medium in color, neither
those extremely light slate colors in
females, as the very dark, black and
white barred, but a medium is what
we are after, and breed so that we may
get the males and females as near of
a color as possible. In shape do not
like the heavy, blocky build of a
Chocin, with the Lanshan back on the
male, nor the very long back Of the
Java. These are points to be watched.
Back should be medium in length, with
slight raise to the tail. Tail not
carried too high; of medium size.
Sickles only trihe above the main tail
feathers, and nicely covered. Neck
arched, which gives a very pleasing
effect to the style of the bird. Comb
should not be too large and beefy,
evenly serrated, straight on the head,
following slightly the curve of the
head, avoid by all means the comb
that runs down the neck. Such pro-
duces muley look that is very obiec-
tionable.
The female should be of the same
characteristic shape as the male.
Back should raise slight, with small
cushions to the tail: tail well spread
at the base and carried somewhat
closed at the end, but not pointed; top
or main tail feathers slightly curved;
tail should be we'll barred to the skin.
We see many that are rather fair look
ing from the outside, but when the
feathers are opened they are all blurred
and run together. The same is the
case with the wings of the females,
and causes one of the severest cuts.
usually. We should aim to remedy
this all we can. A regularly barred
neck is pretty hard thing to get. too
one free from that mealy appear
ance.
[ have given a few disconnected
points that may help some one out of
a rut. F. J. MARSHALL.