The Greeley tribune., 1912-03-21

angular in shape and now they are
a bird OF curves. But in swinging
away from the angular type the
breeders went too far and produced
brids that were too round and lack
ed the length Of body essential 10
egg production. Now the shape mas
been bred back to the egg type
again, without losing the curves ana
COLBY shape. At one time the stand,
ard shape had no back and carried
the tail too low. What is true OF
the changes in Wyandotte shape Is
also true in greater OF less degree
of other breeds but the significance
of it all is that ideals change ana
as they change the breeders change
their breeding TO produce the shape
that will accord with the standard.
In the Wyandottes as in all other
breeds the birds vary greatly In egg
laying power. Hens may be bred 10
lay as we'll as bred to produce Ger
tain shape and color. mere the
strain Of . variety comes into
prominence. II the birds are oreo
from good laying stock the good
layers selected from these and the
drones culled out good laying
strain can be built up. Drones are
by NO means uncommon even IN
pens Of good layers. They must De
culled out il one wants to secure
egg machines. Yet many OF the
fancy breeders Of show stock find
these drones excellent producers OF
show stock and retain them in their
breeding yards and they can AFFORD
to do go. But the average poultry
man and farmer wants birds that
produce eggs and the ultra fancy
birds do not meet his requirements
When one wishes to buy birds. no
mater Of what breed, he may be
sure that the breeders who win the
great prizes in the big shows are
not going to sell stock that in com
petent hands will produce birds that
will endanger their own chances or
winning. They may sell eggs from
their best birds but their best birds
are not for sale. Moreover eastern
breeders seem to think that west |
ern breeder will be satisfied with an
eastern Gull and some of the birds
sent out west are fit for nothing |
but the pot pie.
The great wins at Madison Square
and elsewhere are valued as adver-
tising. Here condition is the great
factor in winning. Western exhib-
itors do not take as great pains in
their birds for the
show room and consequently west
ern birds in competition at eastern
shows do not often win. Too many
breeders buy up good birds here
and there to make up winning pens
or specimens and yet these birds
may be worthless as breeders when
crossed with birds Of differing
blood. These facts should keep
one on his guard when buying stock
or eggs either for that matter.
When a breeder can truthfully say
that his birds are from eggs laid by
hens bred on his own farm he Is
getting near an honest standard of
Advertising.
The best known breeders of
are breeders of the
white kind OF birds. Arthur Dus-
ton Of Massachusetts, George Rudy
Of Illinois, J. C. Fishel of Indiana.
the Owens farms of Massachusetts,
Charles Keller and Henry Dipple.
both of Indiana. There are several
others less we'll known but who
have excellent stock. Mrs. Graves
of Massachusetts is considered by
many the most expert breeder OF
the White Wyandottes in the coun-
try, and yet she is seldom heard OF.
She does not exhibit for the sake of
but is satisfied with her
business based on merit alone.
In conclusion we do not claim for
the Wyandottes every virtue but we
claim for them as great combina-
tion of good points as was ever COM
bined in single breed. In size,
egg producing power.
early maturity and continuous TT
ness for market, in color of meat
and skin, they are hard to beat.