The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-05-02

most common of these, are large, the
male weighing eleven to twelve pounds
and the hen eight and half to nine
and ii half. This large size is one of
the chief points in favor Of the Brah-
mas. They are slow ma turing, and it
takes considerable feeding to get their
large frames thickly enough covered
with meat to be in good market condi-
ton. Like all feathered legged breeds.
the Brahma is clumsy and for this
reason does not make first class
mother. The pullets are too slow in
maturing to lay many eggs the first
winter. Even when matured they are
not heavy layers, though they do most
Of their laying in the winter, when eggs
are high. This is largely because their
large size and heavy feathering make
them less susceptible to cold. As meat
producers the Brahmas are about
equal to the general purpose breeds.
though for high class capons they are
perhaps little superior. There are
two varieties of Brahmas, light and
dark. The light Brahmas are tho more
popular. The black variety is more
difficult to breed for color. and much
attention to fancy points has caused
utility to be largely lost sight of.
Cochins are the second Of the meat
breeds in size, the males weighing
eleven pounds and the hens eight and
4 half. They are Of the same massive,
full feathered type as the Brahmas,
averaging trifie shorter legged and
wider across the back. Like the Brah-
mas, they are hardy. They are not as
good layers however, and are just as
slow in maturing. There are four va
common.
Both these breeds have served good
purpose il grading up the mOngrel
strains Of the country and providin.
foundation stock for the American
breeds At present, however, they
have few points of superiority over tn.
American breeds as meat producers
and are inferior to them in L.: ing abil
ity AS show fowls they a.e price!
because of their size and beauty.
The smallest and quickest maturing
| Of The Asiatic breeds is the I.angshan
They are Objectionable bet duse OF
| their black color, white skin and feath
| cred legs and do not excel the Amer
lean breeds in any practical qualities
| An English breed. the Dorkings. ars
good meat producers. but poor layers
| For the man who is in the poultr!
business from utility standpoint ont
of the general purpose or laying breed.
will be more satisfactory than any O1
the meat breeds.
The Laying Breeds.
The laying breeds originally came
from the region around the Mediter
ranean sea, and hence are often re
ferred to as the Mediterranean breeds
The most popular of these is the Leg
horn. Leghorns are small birds, no
more than half the size of the Asiatics
They are very active and good for
ayers They outrank any If the othe
breeds in laying qualities. laying botl
summer and winter If properly care,
for They are not adapted to the poul
tryman who pays no attention to hi
chickens, as they will not lay unles
they are given good care. They la.
white eggs weighing ten to the pound
The eggs of the American breed
weigh eight to the pound.
The small size Of the Leghorn hen
makes them cheaply kept. They ar
early maturing. often beginning to Ia,
when they are four and half month
old Their flesh is of good quality. bu
their size is against them from a mar
ket standpoint. The only way til
cockerels can be disposed of at prof
is to sell them as broilcrs at tw
pounds weight or smaller. OF the sey
eraI varieties Of Leghorn the whit
and brown are the most popular froY
a utility standpoint.