The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-12-29
POULTRY THEORIES TOLD.
George p, Coffin. Judge Of Recent Show,
Gave Talk In Barre.

of birds, gathered TO the number OF about
80 In the court room at the city building
to listen 10 the lecture given by George
p. Coffin of Freeport, Me, judge of the
llth annual exhibit OF the associa alton.
The remarks made by the speaker We're
very interesting and helpful 10 those OF
the audience who were doubtful as TO
the methods by which they could improve
their birds and the manner in which they
should properly care for the flock.
Mr. Coffin opened his lecture by tell.
ing of the four types of hens which one
will find in the world on a tour of inspec-
tion. The first and most common of the
quartet is the mongrel, which is found
in nearly every barnyard through the
country, they being obtained by the con.
stant mixing of breeds and lack OF care
in raising the chickens. The second class
is that of the mixed strains. where the
poutryman crosses his breeds once. thus
getting bird which often lays well, but
is inferior to the pure boods. The third
type is the pure bloods; they are birds
that are bred in the same strains but.
lack purer strains. The fourth species is
that of the standard bred, which is the
nearest perfect of any of the fowl kind,
they being bred by the experienced poul'
trymen, until nearly all the defects are
gone and they can be placed in class by
themselves.
In speaking of the egg producing OF
the different breeds. he stated that il.
would be difficult task for any man to
give anything definite as to what breed
of hens were the best layers, as hens
which have been tested at the same sta
tion with the same method of trap nest
ing two years in succession will differ
greatly in their egg laying qualities;
one year a certain breed may lay better,
and the next year the other strain will
have the better record.
In the pure standard bred bird there
are about 100 varieties in the United
States to-day which are recognized by
the American Poultry association, each
and every one of these breeds starting
from one class of fowl ages ago. To-day
the wild bird from which they originated
is extinct. The different strains have
come from several countries, as the Leg
horn from Italy, the game from Spain,
the Ham burg from Germany. the Orping
tons from England and the Rhode Island
Reds, Plymouth Rocks and Wyandottes
from the United States.
Remarks about the work OF the judges
brought to the minds of the listeners the
extremely hard situation that judge is
placed in when giving out the prizes at
an exhibit as the fowls in order to be
perfect, as the standard bred are sup
posed to be. are rated by their color OF
feathers. eyes, color OF the legs and the
tails of the birds. A fecture of perfect
bird that many would not know is the
a absence of the least amount Of fuzz en-
the legs or toes of the fowl as even one
plume Of the fuzz on toe would dis
qualify bird from the show. thus Civ
ing prize to bird that might be in
ferior in every other way.
In order to keep up a strain and make
prize producers, one must plan to nave
the flock in good condition, as white
feathers are apt to come out if the hens
are little weak or sick in any way. De-
fects also are apt to be inherited by one
strain from the older birds, many cases
of this kind being known among the big
poultrymen.
In his closing words, Mr.. Coffin stated
that in order to put bird in condition
for an exhibit discontinue the old meth
ods of soap and water and let the iced
do the work. yellow corn for all fowls
with color is the best thing to liven up
the feathers and brighten the combs and
legs. while boiled rice and milk is better
for the white feathered bird, as the yell
low corn was said by experts to have a
tendency to color the feathers dingy |
shade of the faintest yellow.
Fowl Exhibits Taken Home.
Prize birds domieiled in the Church |
street gymnasium since Monday enjoyed
a farewell serenade this morning before
stepping into their shipping crates and
to journey homeward. The ex- |
odus really began late last night with |
the closing of the llth annual exhibit oil |
the Vermont Poultry association, which |
opened Tuesday morning. All OF the |
birds endured the admiring gaze OF many
visitors with wonderful fortitude and
Except for an casional cluck OF exhilara-
ton at the prospect of getting home
again, the prize winners were decently
,ircumspect and the casual caller at the
yym. this morning could not have dis
,efneu the ulUeIefte DttNVth tiiV ie"tit
cred members that were honored with
blue ribbons and those that had to be
content with less conspicuous coiors.
Officers are satisfied that the associa
ion has continued to justify its exist
,nce and point to the heavy registration
If birds this year as an indication that
he annual poultry show is a fXture.
Poultry breeders from four New England
states were attracted to Barre by the big
how and there is plenty of cumulative
to show that they are well
pleased with their visit. Until rather
ate last night many people were taking
advantage of the last opportunity for IN
pecting the exhibit and an added and {
feature of the 1916 show was
he free lecture given by Judge Coffin at
itv hall on the closing night On date
n the near future not definitely deter
mined. the officers of the association VIII
meet to check up the accounts Tor the !
ear. The annual meeting is not far dis
ant and il is expected that the city
where the exhibit is to be held In 1917
will be decided at that time.