Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1905-03-21
LAKENvELDERS.
One of the New Varieties of
Standard Bred Fowls.


past year, none have attracted
greater interest than Lakenvelders
The unusual and attractive combina
ton of black and white, together
with the trim graceful form anc
active movements of these birds
have excited expressions of admira.
tion from thousands of visitors at
st. Louis, Herald Square, and a
score of other poultry shows where
"A Shadow on a Sheet" have been
exhibited.
The male Lakenvelder presents a
color scheme that is quite unlike
that Of any other male fowl known.
In all parti-colored breeds, with the
solitary exceptions of the Light
Brahma and Columbian Wyandotte,
the head and neck hackle of the cock
and cockerel are invariably lighter
than the body color. This order is
reversed in the Lakenvelder; here
we have the head and neck of the
most intense glistening black resting
upon back, wings, throat and breast
of snowy whiteness, with black
saddle hackles and tall The effect
is most striking and beautiful.
Parti-cOlored fowls, however
beautiful, when viewed close at hand
are usually Disappointing when seen
from slight distance. The beauti-
full barring or penciling which is the
delight of the fancier in the show
room, becomes indistinct and lost to
the eye when the birds are turned
loose upon a hillside. This is not
the case with the Lakenvelders, since
the bold masses of color are distinct
and effective to the eye whenever
the birds are visible. The black and
white markings of flock Of Laken-
velders ranging in the open are as
effective as those Of the belted cattle
which the Dutch also call Lakenvel-
ders.
Aside from their artistic value,
Lakenvelders possess economic quail
ties which are worthy of the highest
consideration, They closely resemble
the Single COmbed Leghorn in form,
size, and habits, and fully equal the
latter as table fowl, being full
breasted and small boned. Aslayers,
Lakenvelders are unsurpassed by
any Mediterranean breed. Their
eggs are of porcelain whiteness and
are not small in size, Lakenvelders
are semi-non-setters, like the Leg
horns, and although many do not
offer to sit at all, they are excellent
mothers when their instinct develops
in that direction. AS foragers
Lakenvelders are unsurpassed, con-
stantly in action; one writer has
very appropriately called them
perpetual motion egg machines"
they thrive best when given free
range and left to themselves. Under
such conditions they require very
little or NO hand feeding, their
fOraging rendering them self-sup-
porting, except in bad weather and
in winter. Their extremely active
temperament prevents them from
becoming a nuisance about the
premises by frequenting dCOrways
and piazzas; intact that they are an
attractive display upon lawns, and
can be given liberties which would
be intolerable If accorded less active
varieties
Lakenvelders, although a new i'm
portatiOn in both England and
America, are in reality an ancient
variety in Holland and Westphalia.
1t is the merest conjecture as to the
origin and history, and there is not
the slightest evidence for the sup
position that they originated only
three or four generations back, as
has been limited by one writer.
The official Standard of English
Lakenvelder Club is as follows:
LakenveIder Standard,
COCK-Comb, single, erect, evenly
serrated, following the contour of
he head, moderate size; lobes, white,
almond shaped; body color and
wings white; neck hackle. full, black,
special attention to the feathers
Ibout the head; saddle haclle.
lack, free from stripes or spots;
all, black, full, sickle feathers long
md carried at an angle of As de-
rees.