The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-07-24
By F. 0. wELCOME0

(By F 0. WELCOME-)
(Which is the best breed of fowls?"
is one of the popular and continually
reiterated queries. If we look to ex-
perienced poultry keepers for our an
swer We often find them so prejudiced
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.
If 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 a wiser expert than the
world has yet produced to point it
out and prove his case.
1 saw the other day this statement:
'Leghorns are universally admitted to
be better layers than any other breed"
Even if that statement be true it
proves nothing as to the relative lay
ing abilities of Leghorns and other
breeds. Sometimes LeghOrns do not
lay well. When that is the case the
reason for their failure is likely to be
the same as those that cause 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.
1 have no prejudice against any
breed, but during the past ten years
have examined a great many reports
Of egg production in private letters
and in our poultry periodicals, and l
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-recoTd that 1 know of-31S eggs
in less than one year-was made by
a Brahma- The next Iargest-31O 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 well as Mediter-
| raneans.
If we divide chickens into three
| great classes 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 matter of within or fancy
In the Mediterranean class we have
several varieties of Leghorns, black
and white Minorcas, Black Spanish,
| several varieties of Hamburgs, several
/ -
The Leghorns are hardy, small, ex-
ceedingIy 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 confne-
nent as are the larger and less active
breeds. When marketed their small
size limits the returns.
The Minorcas are considerably Iarg-
er than Leghorns and lay a very
large white egg. They are not so
nervous and Eighty and are good
market fowls whenever their white
skin and dark legs are not objection
| able. They are nonsitters.
The Black Spanish, once deservedIy
|
ticular desirable qualities, as a rule
The Hamburgs are nOnsitters, lay
a white egg. are small and not con-
sidered to be sufficiently hardy for
general utility purposes. They and
the Polish "a crested head are fan
ciers' rather than farmers breeds.
The Blue Andalusians are nonsitters
lay large white eggs, are larger than
Leghorns and smaller than the Mi
norcas and have slate-coIored legs.
In the Asiatic class we have the
light and dark Brahmas; several col
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 slow-motioned, 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.