The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1917-04-24
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~ E.ARMERs
y PROF, JWHLARD DOLTE
Copyright. Western Newspaper Union)
BLACK cHlcKEN
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black is the combination of all colors
Az least that is, what the artists tell.
US. But It would not he advisable for
you to try to create a new breed OF
black chickens by crossing several
breeds OF various colors together be-
cause you probably would fail
Black chickens have always enjoyed
more or less popularity with the fan
clers, but they have never been taken
up by the rank and file of poultry
keepers to any great extent This ia
probably due to the fact that the black
varieties are quite hard TO breed true
to color and there is something
funereal in the color that does not ap-
peal to the general public.
One OF the earliest of the true black
breeds to be recognized was the
Black Java, the female progentor of
the popular Barred Plymouth Rock
This old fashioned black breed pre-
sumably came from the island OF
Java and enjoyed considerable popu-
larity in the eastern states before the
Civil war days but II was almost
swept out of existence by the wave Of
Barred Rocks that rolled over the
country shortly after the creation OF
this breed
Another OF the early black breeds
was the Black Mnorca. from the
island Of that name This breed is
still quite widely bred and is much
more popular than its white sister,
but 1t Is not destined for a very great
future, in my estimation. because it
has no advantages over the Leghorn,
and the latter has the backing Of
very much larger and more nhuen-
tial body OF admirers The Black
Minorca will always have it's place,
however, and as a large bodied heavy
layer OF the largest white eggs pro-
duced it merits attention.
No one can tell just when and where
the Black Langshan and the Black
Cochin were first developed, as both
came from the interior Of China,
where they had been bred pure by
the monks for generations The
Langshan is the largest of the black
breeds and was at the height of its
popularity shortly after the war.
Since then 1t has been gradually de-
clining in numbers, although recent.
ly II has been undergoing little
boom which has revived interest in
this valuable breed
II remained for the Black Orping.
ton to truly demonstrate that black
breed could compete with any other
color and hold its own against all
comers This comparatively new
breed was brought out in England by
Thomas Cook, the originator Of all
OF the Orplngtons, and It is the larg-
cit, trnest, and possibly tho most pop
ular OF all OF this wonderfully popu-
lar family of fowls. Tho large chunky
body, the short, clean legs. the small
comb, rapid growth and early ma
turity combine TO make II rs much a
farmers fowl as a fanciers pet. and
there seems TO be no reason for its
ever losing ground
Black Wyandottes can never over
come the lead Of the Orpngton and
Black Leghorns have never been pop
ular The purely fancy breeds. like
White Crested Black Polish, IIou-
dams, etc, have small field among
those who breed chickens purely for
the pleasure they derive from this
national pastme
One advantage Of breeding black
fowls for show purposes Is that os-
tensiblv It is not necessary to use the
double mating system In order to Sc
cure males and females of the same
shade Of color, but you will find that
most Of the successful showmen use
double mating even with solid col
ored varieties. like the blacks, as GER
tain birds are much better pullet
breeders than cockerel breeders. and
vice versa Double mating is also
used 10 get the correct shape in the
self colored breeds
In breeding black fowls there are
serious problems entirely aside from
those Of shape and size, that make the
game we'll worth the trouble for the
true poultry fan Years OF effort may
do away with white and red feathers
In your strain. but he who can get a
dead black color without purple bare
upon the surface Of the plumage is
indeed a past master II you once
achieve this victory let me caution
YOU never to introduce male bird
into your flock from any outside
source, When you need new blood
always buy female and use one Of
her oockerels the next year.