The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1915-08-12
lRy z. o. wELcoMEN

winch iS tue Debl DTeeu Oh lONlS'
Is one OF the popular and continually
reiterated queries. II we look TO ex.
perienced poultry keepers for our an
swer we often find them so prejudlced
against breeds that they do not han
die and so biased in favor of those
they prefer that their evidence only
makes our confusion more complete.
II We examine the matter In the
light of pure logic we find that the
most popular breeds and varieties OF
chickens are SO universally bred by all
types OF poultry keepers that even
were one sort better than another It
would require wiser expert than the
world has yet produced to point 1t
out and prove his case.
saw the other day this statement:
''Leghorns are universally admitted to
be better layers than any other breed"
Even IL that statement be true Il
proves nothing as to the relative lay
ing abilities of Leghorns and other
breeds. Sometimes Leghorns do not
lay we'll When that is the case the
reason for their failure is likely to be
the same as those that cadse speci-
mems OF other breeds to lay poorly
and there are many reasons for poor
laying that have nothing at all to do
with the breed as such.
/ have no prejudice against any
breed. but during the past ten years
have examined great many reports
OF egg production in private letters
and In our poultry periodicals, and
have yet to find any evidence that any
one breed or variety. as individuals or
as fiocks, surpasses another in inner
ent reproducing capacity.
The largest authentic individual
egg-record that l know of-3lS eggs
In less than one year-was made by
Brahma. The next largest-310 eggs
in one yearly a Plymouth Rock
The largest flock records that | have
seen reported by apparently depend
able people were made by Asiatic and
American breeds as we'll as Mediter-
raneans.
II we divide chickens into three
great s--Mediterraneans, Asiat-
les and Americans-and then exam
Inc the difference In those classes we
will much simplify the matter. Hav-
ing selected the class that seems best
suited to our temperament, circum-
stances, location and market, the
choice OF the breed and variety is
mainly a matter OF whim or fancy.
In the Mediterranean class we have
several varieties OF Leghorns, black
and white Minorcas. Black Spanish.
several varieties OF Hamburgs, several
varieties OF Polish, blue Andalusians.
The Leghorns are hardy. small. ex-
ceedingly nervous and active but tam
able; forage widely when at liberty,
high flyers when confined to small
yards or parks. They are nonsitters
and not so likely TO become overfat
On full and careless feeding in confine-
ment as are the larger and less active
breeds. When marketed their small
size limits the returns.
The Minorcas are considerably larg-
er than Leghorns and lay a very
large white egg. They are not SO
nervous and "flighty" and are good
market fowls whenever their white
skin and dark legs are not objection
able. They are nonsitters.
The Black Spanish, once deservedly
popular. no longer possess any par
ticular desirable qualities, as rule.
The Hamburgs are ncnsitters. lay
white egg, are small and not con-
sidered TO be sufficiently hardy for
general utility purposes. They and
the Polish Ga crested head) are fan
ciers' rather than farmers breeds.
The Blue Andalusians are nonsitters,
lay large white eggs. are larger than
Leghcrns and smaller than the Mi
norcas and have slate-colored legs.
In the Asiatic class we have the
ors OF Cochins; black and white Lang
shans. These breeds lay large brown
eggs, are large in size and are usually
very persistent sitters. They are
quiet and aforementioned, cannot fly
over a fence and are heavily feath-
cred. including legs and feet. This
last feature is Objectionable on heavy
soil that becomes muddy in wet wealth.
er. Aside from that, they are less af-
fected by climatic changes than are
the more thinly feathered. larger
combed breeds. These heavy breeds
easily become too fat to lay well, IL
carelessly fed. but care in feeding
forced exercise in litter and skillful
breeding will produce individuals and
stocks that will lay as many eggs per
hen in a winter OF year as will any
other breeds. When marketed for
meat each bird brings an appreciable
return.
In the American class we find the
Plymouth Rocks. several varieties;