The Holly chieftain., 1920-04-01
COMBINATION OF UTILITY
AND FANCY m POULTRY
How to Produce Fowls With Ex-
hibition Qualities and Heavy
Laying Qualities Combined


Laying Qualities Combined.
(By L. E. Heasley. Holland, Mich..
in Poultry Item, Sellersville. Pc.
1t is my purpose to treat this
subject in two divisions in order
chat might get the facts clearly
before your mind. In the tirse
secClOn we WIll LreaI The possiDh-
Illes OF such combination with
recorded instances and tAelr per-
iornlal.ces, anu IN the sevOnd Sec
.lOn, the uethOds winch have
proved successful in Producing
chem.
IL was but very few years ago
mat the general impression prc-
valied among The pOl.tty raising
puDiic thai lows which they saw
IN Cne eXiiibIIlOn nall would noe
aid cOulu nOL iay u profitable nulii-
DER OF eggs and That Wnlle -Lhey We're
DeauCllui 20 iOok upon alia mignC
De the source OF much pleasure,
ohat it would be Necessary 10 get
what was called utility tOWi IN
order to get good, layer Among
many the crossing OF any two pure
bred fowls wa ssupposea 10 produce
The much-sOugnC-iOr high layer.
MANY times any hen VINO had q
combination OF c0lOrs and any flock
containing every conceivable mix
ture and body shape was supposed
to assure q better egg yield than
was possible with fowls possessing
The quality OF feather and form
which was required to pull down
the blue in an exhibition. One OF
the reasons for q discussion of this
subject is the fact that there are
still those who have no settled con-
victiOns on these points.
The history of the human race
seems to prove that there is an in
born ability in mans nature to ap-
preciate beauty of both color and
form in all things of life, both ami
NAL and inanimate. The individu-
ais are few who do not attempt to
add beauty to their surroundings,
even though the addition of such
things of beauty would not add to
financial income. You will see.
this trait manifested in most any
homew hich you might enter. You
find rugs"on the flooor, curetins at
the windows and pictures on the
walls, all or. any of which DO not
add to the direct financial income,
but all of which do serve to bring
out the very best OF mans ability
in his life work, ending indirectly
in financial gain.
This same characteristic is mani
fest in the correspondence of the
average poultry breeder who is
continually receiving in his mail
inquiries for poultry which will be
heavy layers but Il would like to
have them good enough to take to
the fair in September" or Il don't
car for fancy birds-it's layers |
Want-of course l would like to
have them good enough to win in
our local show" etc.
Therefore, recognizing the above
we accept that it would be- the
proper procedure to breed poultry
with this combination of egg-laying
ability and exhibition quality COM
bined if it were demonstrated to be
possibility.
Of course those who have been
observers of efforts to increase egg
production during the last few
years, this question has been an
swered to their own satisfaction.
There has been enough proof both
official, public and private to sat
isfy the most skeptical when
brought to their attention. In one
OF the Egg Laying Contests sixty
breeders who had produced hens
laying over 200 eggs in this contest,
gave reports as to any test OF
Standard quality by way of the
show room. The result was that
eight had not entered a show while
fifty.six had entered and won 653
firsts, Az seconds, 243 thirds, 1893
fourths, 92 fifth, 142 specials and
18 sweepstakes. Moreover, many of
the same hens which had laid over
200 eggs won prizes before or after
the contest at San Francisco
Worlds Fair, New York, Chicago,
in ten State shows, eighteen State
Fairs and many local shows. In
one of the, recent official egg con-
tests, one OF the hens making a rec
ord of over. 300 eggs in one year,
carries q score Of "a points. Par
dOning q personal reference, will
say that repeatedly won in shows
with hens whose records in official
egg contests were over 200 eggs.
Only recently, I was able to verify
the records Of hen whose record
is 301 eggs in one year and is her.
self fine exhibition hen as well
as having sons who have won in
strong competition the present sea-
son.
You will also find on the Govern
ment Poultry Farm at Beltsville,