Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-04-20

contention in the choice OF breed for
commercial poultry keeping seems to
be between White Leghorns kept for
egg production and Plymouth Rocks,
White~W yandottes. Rhode Island Reds
or other general purpose fowls. At the
present time the latter type of fowls
is more popular upon the general
farm The Leghorns are gaining in
popularity. however and will probably
continue 10 do so as the use Of incu-
bators and public hatcheries increase.
The Leghorn has a much smaller
carcass, and hence there is not so much
income from the sale of young cock
erels and old hens. As a matter of
fact, the smaller size of the Leghorn
fowl Is not as much of an argument
against the breed as is commonly sup
posed, for Leghorns eat less food. oc-
cupy less house room and when not
confined are better hustIerS and secure
a larger portion of their living off the
range than do the larger breeds of
chickens. A more important objection
to Leghorns is that artificial incubatorS
and brooders are necessary to keep Up
the flock Again, Leghorns are wild,
nervous and thinly feathered, and If
Ill treated and poorly housed the egg
yield, especially in winter, will be less
than that of the general purpose fowl.
Leghorns when kept in large numbers
by those who give careful attention TO
poultry keeping can be made very
profitable. but for the reasons just Civ
en- the farmer or the beginner at poul-
try keeping should be slow in taking
up this breed.
Strain or Family Important.
In the mind of those who are not
experienced in animal breeding too
much stress is laid upon the breed and
not sufficient consideration given to
individuality Of particular families or
strains of the breed The reason for
this will become clear when it is ex-
planned that the majority Of our COM
mon breeds of poultry have originated
in the last forty years and have been
selected chiefly for feathers rather
than for meat, egg yield or general
vigOr. This does not mean that pure
bred chickens will be any less prac-
teal as meat and egg producers than
mixed or scrub chickens. On the 9th
er hand, standard bred poultry are bet
ter from any viewpoint than scrub
chickens, but one strain of a breed
may be vigorous growers and excel
lent layers, while another flock of the
same breed whose ancestors have been
carelessly selected with regard to prac-
teal points may be poor in these quail
tiles
Egg laying tests of a few lots from
different breeds of fowls are of little
value in determining the worth Of
breeds. for it is quite possible that a
| good strain of the poor breed may ex-
| eel poor lot Of the best breed and
| the results of such tests be exactly op-
| posite to the real truth. For this rea-
son l consider the majority of the
| breed tests as published by poultry
papers and government experiment
| stations as of little value
| In Australia, however, the govern
ment has conducted egg laying tests
on such a large scale and with pens
entered from hundreds Of different
breeders that the average of their re-
The ranking Of the three leading
breeds in the Australian tests is Single
Comb White Leghorns, Black Orping-
tons, Silver Wyandottes. It should be
stated, however, that Barred Plymouth
Rocks, White Wyandottes and Rhode
Island Reds, the favorite general pur-
pose American breeds, are practically
unknown in Australia.
Principles of Breeding Simple.
The art of breeding fancy poultry is
less complicated than many old breed
ers would have US to believe Va.
rious so called systems of breeding
have been advertised and much talk
ed about, but any breeder having a
thorough knowledge Of the desirable
points in the breed and who breeds
from the best birds has about all the
system necessary.
"Inbreeding'' means the mating OF
individuals that are related, but be
cause of the analogy taken from hu
man relationship a deep seated popu
lar prejudice exists against this Gus
: tom. Inbreeding is the shortest and
quickest way of tntensifytng any
characteristic. The reason for this i
because outside qualities are no
brought in to interfere with famil!
traits; hence the inbreeding of fowls
or other animals that have tendency