The Greeley tribune., 1912-03-21
READS PAPER
ON WYAND0TTES

The following paper on "Wyan
dottes' was given by Eugene +
Gordon at the last meeting OF tn
Weld County Poultry association
The Wyandotte like most othe
popular breeds is the result o
crossing. Just what crosses wer'
used to build up the breed is mat
ter OF some doubt. But It Is gener
ally agreed that the Wyandotte'
Wore made from crosses OF Sebrigh
Rantams, Bun Ccchins, Dark Brah
mas and Silver Hamburgs. Sucl
being the case We might expect tt
mad them exhibiting the merits o.
the various breeds that enter into
their composition. the meat OF thu
Brahmas. winter eggs Of the Coch'
fms and Brahmas. and the great lay
ing power Of the HAmburgs.
In a general way the Wyandotte>
are distinguished by their value a
meat producers and as egg ma
chimes. The carcass Of the Wyan-
dotte at all stages OF the growth OF
the bird shows fitness for the table.
It Il we'll rounded in shape and ita
yellow skin appeals to the trade and
to the consumer. In its prepared
ness for market at all stages Of de-
velopment this breed is e1celled by
NO other breed and eQualled by
verv few This characteristic gives
70 the breed its uneQualled value ~
producers of broilers. AS produc-
ers of eggs the Wyandottes again
appeal to the poultryman as their
eggs are of good size for the market
but not so large as to make their
production in large numbers diff
cult. AS long as eggs are sold by
the dozen it is not desirable to pro-
duce eggs much above the standard
weight.
The feathering of the Wyandottes
makes them suitable for cold clim-
ates since their wealth of feathering
protects them from the cold. Their
rose combs also is desirable feat
ure in climates like that of north
ern Colorado. In their power to
Withstand cold weather they are ap-
preached only by the Orphingtons,
Brahmas and the Rhode Island
Reds.
All breeds have their peculiar
faults and the Wyandotte is. Of
course, no exception. Only one
common fault is that when they are
kept closely confined they are in
clined in feather eating. For this
the way they feather out is. in large
measure responsible. They often
reach the size of one and one-half
pounds with only neck and wing
feathers. Then the pin feathers
start all at once. These pin feath-
ers are easily broken by scrambles
for feed in close quarters and thus
the habit is easily acquired. The
remedy is apparent. Do not crowd
the birds and feed plenty Of green
feeA.
The especially good qualities OF
the Wyandottes are their early
maturity, plump yellow skins. clean
legs, small combs. They stand fore
ing we'll without getting of their
feed. This enables the breeder to
get them on the market earlier than
other breeds can be placed there.
Az soft roasters they are excelled
only by the Brahmas. They come
to the weight of four or five pounds
without the rangy appearance Of 50
many other breeds. Some breeds
pass the early broiler stage quickly
and develop great amount of bones
With little meat and can not be
placed on the market to good ad-
vantage until they have almost
reached their growth in frame. The
Wyandotes on the other hand keep
their plump we'll rounded shape
With plenty of meat during their
entire growth and so are ready for
the table at any time
As general purpose fowl they
are hard to beat. They please the
farmer and the fancier. This gives
them utility value. They are hardy,
aaV to raise, and they are pleas
Ing to look at. Eggs. meat and
beauty, what more can you ask in q
breed. They are increasing in pop
charity as the statistics of the size
of entries in the shows will attest
This breed has not had q sudden
rfoe to popularity but its growth
has been steady and substantial. 1t
- not passing fancy.
One does not need to have parti-
eolored birds to tax his skill as a
Breeder Color is hard to get in the
Whites and shape is hard to get in
any bird. II one had to breed for
shape alone or for color alone the
lob would be easier, but to breed
Ter both and to get both is no easy
matter. Since color makes the va
riety and shape makes the breed,
breeding any white bird is a matter
- tax any ones ingenuity. Tne
birds that are best in shape are
seldom also best in color. Double
mating is also necessary to produce
the best results inshape. One fault
to be guarded against is getting the
birds up on too long legs to have
the typical Wyandotte shape. Too
many birds tend to run to the Rock
shape and many White Wyandottee
arc little more than White Ply
mouth Rocks with rose combs
Good combs are hard to get also
There are very few Wyandottes
with combs that are near the ideal.
Head points will be the last to be
perfected in this breed. have
never seen bird yet that thought
had a good comb. A few pictures
in the poultry journals seem to
show that some breeders get good