Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-04-13
NEW BREED OF CHICKENS.

The BUT orpingtOns" are alreadya popu-
laf oeed although comparatively new in
Ihls s county. They were originated ia Eng
lana. Dy VIM. Cook and sons who gave them
the name they now bear, and who brought
them To American little over a dozen
years ago. Both in England and ia the
united states they met with much favor,
ana az once became very popular,
AS a general purpose fowl they are perhaps
unexceiAed by any OF the older breeds, and
equaled by but very few. As nearly as it
Is possible for any one breed to meet all
requirements, the Orpingtons are able TO do
so. they are at ouce large, beautiful, and
goou egg producers combination of good
qaulities not possessed by many Others For
tAnie Iowis they are the equal OF the Cochins
ana Bramas, while for eggs they will closely
follow most OF the smaller early. For these
reasons they would undoubtedly make a
GOOD breed FOR orCiler raising. In appear
ance they are strikingly handsome, being OF
Deautiful DuH color with deliberate state
illness OF mannnr quite attractive. They are
large In size, the cocks weighing from eight
70 ten pou nds, and the hens from six to eli sht.
Ehey should average about nine for the
males and seven for the females. AS winter
layers they are at tper best, for they arr
large enough TO stand oxtrem cold we'll, and
at the same time arr active enough to make
the BEST possible dse Of their food. Even
old hens usually lay freely all winter, as
| they monlt early, sud are therefore able to
commence laying at tbs beginning of winter.
Their eggs are OF varying shades OF brown
from light bun to dark rich orange with
| ten slight purplish tinge. They are OF
4
ladeed Il Is almost impossible TO tell which
| is the little end" or which is the other The
shells are very thick and smooth, making It
very difficult TO test OUT the infertile eggs
until the process OF incubation is well adj
vanced. The pl1mage of the female should
be one even. smooth, shade OF hnff except
the cape which should be somewhat darker.
No foreign color should be present either In
the web or tiuif. The under color should be
of the same shade AS the part OF feathers
exposed. Both black and white ia either tall
or wings, are equally Objectionable, but
black Is very hard TO avoid and does not
disQualify, unless in considerable quantities.
The color OF the male should be the same as
that of the female, only the feathers OF the
neck, back, saddle and hackle ST. Id be
| darker and OF rich metallic lasteT Red
plumage in the cocks is objectional, Though
there is universal tendency to f.Iis color.
The color, especially Of the heAs, becomes
much lighter with age.
While their great popularity has caused a
brish trade In them, II has also helped to
bring about rather high prices, yet very
reasonable considering the quality OF stock
generally offered by breeders. Many OF our
breeders annually import new birds from
England, and spare neither trouble nor ex-
pense 20 secure and maintain only the best.
Since one may be thus sure OF obtaining
really good stock. a fair price should not be be-
grudged for II. Altogether. there ia probably
| no better Eaying fowl. for farmer or fanoier
than the popular EuH Orphington
OBSERVER.