Milford chronicle., 1915-10-29


raised under favorable conditions, and
in fact believe that this is true of al
most any of the standard breeds, yet
some are naturally better than others,
at least for certain purposes.
The lighter or smaller bodied fowls are
generally classed as the egg-laying
types, while the heavier ones are often
referred to as meat types. While it is
true that the larger bodied birds can be
made to produce a great number of eggs,
yet it is generally conceded that for egg
production the smaller fowls far out
shine their heavier sisters.
Be this as it may, desire to call at
tention at this time to a breed that has
long held sway as a veritable egg ma
chine. This popular, indeed almost uni
versal opinion, is attached to the White
Leghorn.
There is at the present time a vast
army of poultry breeders who are lovers
of the Single Comb White LeghOrn, and
indeed this is not at all surprising, when
one takes into consideration the world
wide fame which this particular type
enjoys. This in itself, however, does
not prove the assertion made for tho
qualities of the White Leghorn. but on
the contrary. there are several good
reasons to which the fame of this beau
tiful and profitable bird can be attributed.
First, it will be found that most per-
sons who are lovers of chickens prefer
a white fowl for its exquisite beauty of
plumage over that of her cOlOred sister.
That any white fowl is beautiful no one
will deny. but in the choosing of beau
tiful one must naturally take into con-
tho ofrroIfffac of tho broad
lected. Unless the breeder desires to
select his fowls for the sole purpose of
engaging in the production of fancy
fowls, eggs and meat are the two quail
fications uppermOst in his mind, and of
these two the former is by far the most
important. AS the White LeghOrns are
not to be compared with other and
larger breeds when the production of
meat is concerned, yet this is a second
ary consideration with the man who de-
sires to realize a profit from chickens.
1t is a known fact that more profit is
derived from the production of eggs
than meat, and this has been a potent
factor in selection of the Leghorn by
large commercial egg farmers.
The egg producing quality of the
White LeghOrn is its most sterling quail
llN, anu dl LGI dill llllo 10 NOlAoAANACn NAAC
chief reason for great popularity which
it now and has enjoyed for some time
past. No man has ever built a reputa-
tion in a day, nor has the White Leg
horn come to the front of the feathered
kingdom in a short time. Only after
years of constant good performances
has this breed succeeded in building up
a reputation as an egg-laying breed, but
at this time it enjoys the unique distlnc-
tion of being the most popular egg-lay-
ing breed in this country.
The distinction, however, is that be-
ing encroached upon by the Notified An
coma, but as yet the White Leghorn
leads its rival or runnerup by many
points.
Many people condemn the White Leg
horn for winter laying on account of its
large comb claiming that this freezes,
thus rendering the bird unfit for winter
egg production. This is indeed a poor
argument for any breeder to advance,
for the White Leghorn when bred with
care and with attention to all the nee
essary details, enjoys a rugged consti- !
tuition thus enabling them to resist sue !
cessfully the sudden changes in climate, |
a condition which is absolutely essential
to egg production. The product of this !
fowl is a large white egg, which is |
greatly in demand today in most of our |
markets. They are natural layers un-
der favorable conditions. White Leg |
horns are not unlike any other fowl, in |
that they must be given proper care and
attention and surrounded by favorable !
otherwise they will not yield. |
1t is an established fact that more |
eggs may be gotten from birds that
have no inclination to sit than can pos |
sibly be had from those that are prone |
to get in a broody state continually, /
which is the natural impulse of all of |
the larger bodied fowls. The White !
Leghorn being an almost nOn-sitting |
breed, it therefore stands to reason that |
the persons breeding them are thus en-
abled to get a greater quantity of eggs
from them than is possible from the ;
natural sitting breeds.
While the White Leghorn is not gen
erally accepted as a meat fowl, yet .
broilers may be supplied from flock of /
this breed as soon, if indeed not little
sooner, than from any of the other So
called meat breeds. Breeders of this .
fowl do not lay claim to the fact that
they can be raised profitably as road
sters, but when DrOlierS are desired the |
White Leghorn will produce them with
as much profit as readily as any other
variety, and they can generally be pro-
duced at less cost to the breeder.
The young are thrifty, and as gen
eral rule vigorous, thus reducing to a
minimum the mortality of the chicks. |
Leghorns, however, will not thrive any
better than chicks of any other breeds /
under adverse conditions, or where the /
breeder refuses or neglects to give |
them the care and attention so essen
tial to the proper raising of chicks. |
The White Leghorns are given the dis
tinction of being veritable egg machines, |
and there is little doubt but what they |
will live up to this splendid reputation, /
you do your part by them, but
should you fail in carrying out your !
mart so will the birds.
The average breeder who desires to
adopt a breed for the production of !
winter eggs rarely ever considers the
White Leghorn for this purpose, owing
to the fact that the general opinion pre-
walls that they are not a breed that pro-