Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1899-04-25
Rocks and 'Dottes.

add their comparative value as
business fowls. / have bred botf
varieties, and many others, fol
several years, and what few state
ments make come from my own
experience.
Rn the first place, let us consider
the egg question. The Barred p.
Rocks on an average lay larger
egg than the Wyandottes, yet
have Wyandottes that can match
them. AS to the number of eggs
laid during year, find very lit
tie difference; this point, of course,
depending on the manner in which
the fowls are bred and fed, and, in
fact, the latter statement holds
good for every other quality in the
fowl
When it comes to color of eggs, /
find a considerable difference.
have brought my White Wyan-
dottes to very dark egg standard,
but my Barred p. Rocks have fail
ed to climb those last few steps, re-
CARELESS of all the trouble and eX-
pense to which | have been to put
them on an equal plane with my
White Wyandottes in this quality.
Now comes the question of mar
ket value. In this find the Wy
andottes decidedly the better, but
by that do not say that the Bar
red p. Rocks are not good. The
'Dottes, when dressed for broilers,
show plump meaty breasts, fine
Neoned carcasses, with rich yellow
skins, which are free from the dark
pinfeathers that so detract from
the appearance of the Rocks. The
Rocks for broilers are somewhat
bony, and form very little breast
until past the broiler line.
When it comes to roasters there
is slight difference. The 'Dottes
still have the same features, but
Sthey fall short of the Rocks in
weight. On the other hand, the
growing Rocks have thrown
a good breast perhaps a little
coarser in quality and the pin
feathers which took away the rich
effect when chicks, have now nearly
all developed into feathers, and the
birds show a clean yellow carcass.
Here consider the 'Dottes first.
There is another important point,
and that is growth and maturity.
This is an important point, and
counts one for the Rock. find the
'Dottes are slow growers, and that
the pullets do not reach maturity
that is laying age, until two to
four weeks later than the Rocks. /
suppose many will pick me up here,
but by honest comparison in my
own yards find this is too true,
and as these two breeds have been
bred and raised under my own care
and the selfsame conditions, want
no other proof.
Some people claim that the Rocks
are harder, and must confess that
as for fertile eggs and rugged
chicks l think they are a little in
the lead; yet after the down is shed
can see no difference.
When it comes to the question of
food, | find that the Rocks are
more ravenous, and naturally re-
quire more food than the 'Dottes.
If you are thinking of raising
show birds, the White Wyandottes
are the easiest to perfect, as it re-
9uires less knowledge or color
breeding and experience in mat
ing, which must be employed in
breeding Rock show birds. Now
lei me say here, do not expect to
breed show birds from nothing, or
even something from nothing, for as
you become initiated you will find
it difficult to raise prize winners
from even the best of something.
Ihave tried to bring out the prin
c;Da1 noints of difference in these
two breeds and, as you see, for
general prof. they just about bal
rance. From my statements one
might say, he ''has no preference"
but let me say ] have, and that |