The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-01-23
THE BLACK oRPlNGToNS

\. >. w. entltled ne l)pIidE OIDillS
ton" This government publication
was devoted to q new breed Of fowls
that had been originated in England
by w Cook OF Orpiugton House. !
was immensely impressed with the
representations made for this new
breed. Some Of these points follow:
L. They are strictly utility fowl
capable Of producing eggs and flesh
in the greatest quantities. This APP
pcaled to me since was looking for
a single fowl hardy and prolific that
was adapted to farm conditions in the
North West. We already had the
splendid little I.eghorns with their
great regulations as layers, bat as
table fowls they are inferior. Again
we had the larger breeds such as the
Cochns and others that are large birds
but they are Indifferent layers The
nearest approach TO my ideal hen for
our prairies was the Plymouth Rocks.
These are fairly large and prolific lay
ers. Now the question with me was
simply this Are the Black Orpingtons
an improvement over the Rocks Are
they larger and are they better layers
and are they harder? From this gov
eminent publication CLEANED the facts
that they are all this and something
more.
g This publication also stated that
these birds ,.ere accounted the hard
lest of birds since they had succeeded
in all other climes as well as the with
ering heat of the tropics. This APP
pealed to me.
3. They are OF such strong individu-
ality that they are the best known
breed for use on common fowls, where
ii is desired TO increase the size of
the individuals and also to increase the
egg production. In this | saw ready
means whereby our farms could i'm
prove their flocks with certainty and
with little expense All that is nee
essary is to purchase one or two Black
cocks and the thing is done.
Finally after much thought | con
cluded to investigate this breed for
myself. SO | procured some eggs Of
the American representative of w.
Cook and Mrs. S. Matched them under
her Plymouth Rock hens. The chicks
came strong and healthy from the
start and great was our surprise when
the pullets commenced laying long be-
fore the Rocks We're thinking about
it, The next season the way those
few chickens multiplied was a wonder.
And they were handsome. Great CLOS
sly black fellows tame and contented
had for a couple of years and from all
sources came good reports. Where the
cocks We're used on common hens.
especially the ordinary barred Rocks
the birds came nearly or quite black
and of the Orpington conformation.
Even with the common yellow hen
the chicks were mostly black. And
with this change in color came
change in size and egg producing quail
tiles. The Black Orpingtons are great
winter layers with proper care. So
good was the blood employed in estab-
fishing the Black Orpingtons that it's
prepotency carries far. This is a most
striking illustration of the old saying
that Blood will tell"
So pleased were we with the re-
suits obtained that next secured sew
eral settings of eggs from Cook him
self and olso imported fine cockerel
of Cooks breeding. But the encroach-
ment of neighbors and the difficulty of
keeping large flock in town so ham,
pered Mrs. Shepard that we deemed It
best to send all our Orpingtnos
tons to the farm just outside the city
limits where the birds could have more
freedom and would not trouble neigh
bors. During the past year the flock
has had this opportunity and once
more number of fine. large cockerels
are available for farmers use.
During the time we have had the
Black We have had the opportunity
to become acquainted with them thor
oughly. They are large. quiet, non
flying birds but good rustlers and for
ayers. They weigh more than the
Plymouth Rocks, the cocks sometimes
going to IL and Is lbs. and the hens
one or two pounds less. They are
great layers and so do not sit so early
as some other breeds. But this is east
ly remedied by keeping few scrub
hens to hatch the first litters. But when
they do commence to sit they are pa.
tient and careful and make most ex-
cellent mothers.
Some things have initiated against
the rapid introduction of the single
comb Black Orpingtons. And one is
the stiff price at which Mr. Cook held
these birds. At the Madison square
show single cocks sold as high as
xS00 on This ic NOT forp,ar'c prics,