Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-06-27
THE COLUMBIA WYANDOTTE
A Successful Candidate for Public
Favor md Some OF Its Points.

When we consider that there are
now seven varieties of Wyandottes
duly recognized the enthusiasm of the
breeders of Columbian Wyandottes is.
1t seems to me- a little of pointer.
For the partridge and silver penciled
varieties, beautiful and useful as they
are. We're not able to arouse such an
excess Of interest in WyandOttes or
, such enthusiasm over themselves, says
a writer in the New York Tribune Far
| mer. Or. at least, II the few breeders of
them were enthusiastic they have not
developed into the many as the breed
ers OF Columbians have already done.
Looking at the matter from purely
common sense point of view, there were
few who room for another Wyandotte
variety. Yet here 1t is, crowding itself
into a field already more than full and
attracting to itself the interest and
commanding the favorable predictions
of many scores of poultrymon and
| Judges.
I think nothing else than the very
general and eager interest in the new
Wyandotte is as good testimony that
there was a lack in the old favorite
the Columbian comes, it seems to me-
| largely from the common hope that
here is what is virtually a strengthen
ed white Wyandotte. There are not
| maryland had almost said there Is
not another-among all the breeds to
precede the Columbian, no matter how
long their standing. with such a per-
sistent hold on admiring breeders as
the Light Brahma has kept And no
matter how surely one after anothe,
of the lovers of the Light Brahma
came to the reluctant conclusion that
1t did not fill the bill as regards Ameri-
can ideal poultry, there was still
clinging to the OLD favorite in the
heart, even after the common sense
had been thoroughly convinced
American markets have decidedly
preferred white bird. The white
Wyandotte was the only one TO dress
Off In accordance with the demands of
the market and give full tale Of eggs
as well. besides being fairly easy to
breed. In the Columbian wyandotte
we have one which is white for all
practical, market purposes. with the
strength of an out cross added. and Also
/
that has been more or less Of a favor!tc
in America for so years. AS to their
admission to the standard. IT was said
IN advance that the standard desired
their admission even more than did the
breeders. References have been seen
recently to what Is called the "interna
tional race" between English and
American Columbian W-yandotte breed
ers as to which country shall produce
the better bird of this breed am
not sure that any American breed re-
ceived with favor In America has es-
capped being copied in an English
type differing quite radically in some
points from the original breed as shown
on this side of the ocean.
TWO points in which the Light
Brahma failed to commend itself to the
majority of poultry raisers were the
| long gear which seldom suits Amcri-
| cans, and the feathered legs. Another
| that might be mentioned is the lonS
period required for maturing. This was
| so much longer than the favorable
growing season, and meant such long
feeding before production began, that
no bird coming under this CHASING has
been able to become a universal IN
| vorite. But many who could forgive
| the Brahma all else could not forgive
the feathered legs. On the other hand
the markings were generally liked. the
eggs were large, the disposition quite
The Light Brahmas as they once were
But 1t seems to be the general belief
that Wyandotte with this strong
Brahma backing ought to be the best
layer yet produced OF course. the breed
ers of Columbia Wyandottes make
the same claims that new breeders al
ways make for their new favorites-
that they are the best ever" And
every interested poultryman must wish
that these claims may be proved true