The Nebraska advertiser., November 05, 1897, Image 6

About The Nebraska advertiser. (Nemaha City, Neb.) 18??-1909

Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE

                
AN ESSAY ON CHICKENS.
Of Intoroat to Poultry Koopors
unci Bird Lovors.
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Sporlnl WdHhliiKton hotter.
Under tin. supervision of Prof. D. H.
Salmon, clilcf of the bureau of animal
industry, of the department of agri
culture, a voluminous bulletin lias been
prepared showing tlic standard vari
eties of chickens. The collation ami
elaboration of the work devolved upon
George 12. Howard, secretary of the Na-
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PLYMOUTH ROCK COCK
EREL. iiahhed
tloniil Poultry and Pigeon association.
iciillenieu of experience In agricultural
ufTali'H way that this worlc ih above
criticism, and that it covers every va
riety of chickens known to the scientific
tiludcnts of fanning and its concomi
tant, industries.
There are 87 standard varieties of
chickens; and a numberless variety of
promiscuous breeding. There are four
general classes of chickens; the Ameri
can class, the Asiatic class, the Mediter
ranean class and tlic ornamental class.
Trof. Howard gives considerable atten
tion to
Tli riymoiilli HooK,
which, he says, Is regarded as the most
popular of all varieties, as a general
purpose fowl. It Is of medium size, of
hardy growth, and has good laying
qualities. It is believed to be the best of
all practical fowls for the farm. The
3 tarred fowl Is the best known variety
of the Plymouth Hocks, ami It has a his
tory dating back to more than a quar
ter of a century. It is generally under
htnod that the Itarred fowl came from a
cross between a Itlack .lava and an
.American Dominique. It Is also a mat
ter of record that they have been pro
duced by crosses with the I'll Game,
Jjight Itrahma and Dark Ilrahma.
The history of the Iiarred fowl is very
long and interesting. It is of grayish
white, regularly crossed with parallel
bars of blue black, running in straight
distinct lines through the entire length
of the feathcr.aud showing on thedown,
or under color, of the feathers. On the
hackle and saddle feathers these bars
-lire smaller than on other portions of
.the body. The bird is medium-sized,
with brond neck, flat shoulders, full
breast, body broad and compact; medi
um sized wings, that fold gracefully,
the points being well covered with
breast and saddle feathers. A medi
um sized head, ornamented with up
right, bright-red comb and wattles; a
lnrgo, bright eye, and yellow beak, leg
i ami toes, places the picture before us in
Uls entirety. The difference between
the IJarred and the Pea-comb Itarred
is that the latter has a small, firm ami
.even pen-comb, instead of the single
HEAD OK REDCAP COCK.
comb. Their eggs are brown in color
nod nveruge eight to a pound. They are
.rood sitters and excellent mothers.
The characteristics of t lie Itarred
Plymouth Hock are noticeable in the
other Plymouth Itock classes, excepting
that of color. The size, shape, general
outlines and qualities are t he same in
the other varieties as in the Itarred.
The White Plymouth Kock Is pure
white In plumage throughout, and the
.on If variety is a clear buff, uniform in
-hndc except the tail, which is a deep
buff of copperish yellow-brown. The
l u If color should extend to the under
color as much as possible; the deeper
the better.
The standard weight of cocks Is oy,
pounds; hens, 7y. pounds; cockerels, 6
pounds; and pullets, 0'y pounds.
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general-purpose fowls, and is rated next
tc the Plymouth Hock, .'rom the first
they sprang Into popular favor, and
have continued so to the present time.
Their origin is comparatively recent,
dating back lens than 26 years. They
c.une originally from the Dark Ilrah
ma, Silver-Spangled Hamburg and the
llrcdas, a Trench fowl. Not a few au
thorities say that the Wyandottes have
Cochin blood in them, from the fact
that their ancestors produced single
combs and feathered legs.
The hen of the siher-laced variety la
marked similarly to the male, except
ing the back and the wing, which are
whiter In male than female. The breast
t-f the female is of much importance in
breeding good birds; the lacing should
be large and distinct, the white centers
of each feather to be free from black ot
brown penciling.
The (Jolden Wyandotte is marked like
the silver, excepting that the color is
golden-bay and black instead of whits
and black. The white variety Is, per
haps, the favorite of the Wyandotte
t 'asses, from the fact that it is not so
dUlicult to breed feather, the plumage
being pure white throughout. They are
for this reason the more practical fowl
for the farmer, or those who keep poul
try for market. The buff Wyandotte is
in color a rich, deep, clear buif, uniform
In shade throughout, except the tall,
which Is of a deeper buff or eopperish
brone color. The blacks are of a rich,
gloss black, witli greenish iheen, ex
cepting breast primaries, secondaries,
tail and fluff, which are pure black.
The standard weight of cocks is 8y,
pounds; hens, oy, pounds; cockerels,
7y. pounds; pullets, & pounds.
JllVIIN.
This variety is the oldest of the
American class, and at one time wan
considered the most profitable of all
breeds. At present they are not raised
extensively, the more modern or newer
breeds having seemingly supplanted
tnelr favoritism. There is no reason
why this should be so, as they are prac
tical and good general-purpose fowls.
In size they are about like the Plymouth
Kocks, but differ in general symmetry
and appearance. They are good lay
ers, and do well in winter, and for table
SILVER-LACED WYANDOTTE COCK
EREL. purposes they make nice eating. They
mature early, are good sitters and inoth
ets, and are easily kept In confine
ment. There are three varieties of Javas
black, mottled and white. The stand
ard weight of cocks is 9y, pounds;
liens, 7'a pounds; cockerels, S pounds,
and pullets fly, pounds.
lOllllllllll(N.
Similarity in plumiigeof thcAmcrlcnn
Dominique and Itarred Plymouth Hock
has been the price of the former's pop
ularity. Their color is grayish-white,
nieli feather regularly crossed with
parallel bars of blue-black, producing
the effect of a bluish-tinted plumage,
tho color being the same throughout.
The illustration of itarred Plymouth
Hock feathers shown will do equally
as well as for the markings of the feath-
ir oi the Dominique. I hey Have rose
combs, in both male and female, mid
bright yellow legs. Those who are par
tial to these colors of plumage will
find the Dominique a good bird to keep.
They are good layers, hardy, mature
early, and dress well for the table.
The standard weight for cocks is S1..
pounds; hen", Gy, pounds; cockerels.
7y. pounds, and pullets, ay, pounds.
ilrrsoy llliies.
The least known variety of the Amer
ican class is the Jersey 111 ues. They
are one of the largest rteedsof poultry,
being in size between the Plymouth
Hock and the Light Itrahma. Their
plumage resemble that of the Andn
luslan, being blue throughout. Their
breast and Huffs are light blue; hackle
and sickles, very dark blue, ap
proaching black; shanks and toes dark
blue; the lower surface of the toes light
er in shade, and the nails white. They
are not as good layers as are the others
oi' their class. They are hardy and eas
ily kept In confinement. They are not
popular for table purposes, preference
being given to yellow-skinned and yel-h.w-legged
birds.
The standard weight of cocks Is 10
pounds; hens, 8 pounds; cockerels, 7
pounds, and pullets, 5 pounds.
llrahiiiiiN.
The leading variety of the Asiatic
class Is the Light Itrahma. This fowl
has a history that would 1111 pages were
It recorded. They are the fowls which
caused the "hen fever" of the fifties,
about which so much has been written
in later years. The Ilrahma is a char
acteristic fowl; it is unlike other va
rieties, and it should not be confounded
hi shape witli the Cochin.
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The Uvandotte Ib another of
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'J he average Light Itrahma male is In
height G Inches; back from the
ground 10 Inches; keel from the
ground. 8 Inches; length of body, front
of breast to rear of fluir, J4 inches;
height of tall, a trifle over 21 inches;
Middle hangers to rear of fluff, 2",
inches: eve. from tin to beak. 2 1-0
inches; length of head and beak, 3
inches; brcust to rear of n drop line
from point of beak, three-fourths to 1 Vi
inches. As specimens depart from tills
proportion they become nwkward and
valueless as exhibition stock, and often
also as vg producers. In shape, ob
long, with full, broad and round brenst,
carried well forward. The fullness
and oblong shape is typical of the
Itrahma and is characteristic of pro
lific birds. The curves of the neck and
BLACK JAVA COCKEREL.
back arc facsimile In shape of the out
lines of an Qi;.
In plumage the male is pure white,
excepting hackle, tail and flights,
which are black, and white striped with
black. Any other color but white and
black is against the standard-bred bird.
The Light Itrahma is a valuable bird
for the farm. They have always been
made to pay for their keep and have
seldom been set aside by any who have
bred them. They are the lnrgest of
domestic poultry and do as well in con
finement in small runs ns on free range.
As layers they will average from 12 to
l.'l dozen of eggs a year, and lay ex
ceptionally well in winter. Their eggs
are large, about seven to a pound, of
a rich brown color and excellent flavor.
For table purposes they arc good; they
do not mature as early as do the va
rieties of the American class.
The Dark Itrahma is not so popular
as the light the difliculty being in
breeding them true to feather. Their
delicately marked plumage is extreme
ly pretty when bred to standard re
quirements, but if not so bred it be
comes most disagreeable and unsatis
factory to the breeder. The head and
neck of a Dark Ilrahma male are sim
ilar to those of the light, the head be
ing white, and the hackle rather more
striped. The back is nearly white, n
little black appearing here nnd there.
The black should predominate between
the shoulders, but Is nearly hidden by
the hackle flowing over it. The saddle
feathers are, like the hackle, silvery
white, striped with black, which should
be distinct. As the feathers appronch
the tail the stripes become broader till
they merge into the tail coverts, which
are rich, glossy green black, with a
margin or lacing of white. The tail is
pure black, with green gloss.
The color of females is n white
ground, closely penciled with dark steel
gray, producing a beautiful effect,
frosted or silver gray in nppearance.
There should be no show of pure white
in the plumage except in the margin of
the hackles.
For practical purposes the Dark
Itrahma is not to be as highly com
mended as the light. The standard
BACK VIEW OF BUFF COCHIN COCK
weight of Light ltrnhina cocks is 12
pounds; hens, 9'2 pounds; cockerels, 10
pounds, and pullets, S pounds. The
standard weight of Dark Ilrahma cocks
is 11 pounds; hens, 8y, pounds; cock
erels, 9 pounds, and pullets, 7 pounds.
CoehliiN.
The four Cochin classes are very
popular with breeders. They are sec
ond to the Ilrahma classes in the meat
breeds, weighing but a pound lighter
thnu the Light Itrahma. Old and ex
perienced breeders of Cochins are pro
nounced in urnise of their qualities us
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profitable fowls, they being hardy,
good winter lasers of rich, brown,
medium-sized eirirs. and fairly good
tabic fowls. The chicks grow well and
develop rapidly under proper care.
The Ituir variety is the most bred of
the Cochin class; their soft, mellow,
buff tone offers an attraction to fan-
' cicrs that is hard to resist. In color the
jltulf Cochin, male and female, is of a
rich, deep, clear bun", uniform In shade
throughout except the tail, which
I should be a deeper buff or copperish
bronze, under-color same as surface
color, but of lighter shade and should
extend to the skin. In breeding select
females as near as possible to the de
sired shade of bulf, as free from dnrk
or white in wing and tail aild of am
even a color as can be. To such females
mate u cock of deeper shade, with some
little black in wing, nnd tail of deep
buif of n coppery luster.
The Partridge Cochin is a beautiful
yet diillcult fowl to breed, nnd in
plumage is much after the pattern of
the Dark Itrahma, the color being red
nnd brown, instead of tiie steel-gray of
the latter. The head of male in
color is bright red; hackle, bright red
or orange red, with a distinct black
stripe down the center of each feather;
saddle feathers same as hackle; breast
and body rich deep black; wing bows,
red; primaries, black on inside web,
with a bay edging on the outside web;
secondaries, black on the inside web
nnd rich bay on the outside web, ter
minating with greenish-black at the
end of each feather; wing coverts,
greenish-black, forming a well-defined
bar of that color across the wing when
folded; tail, black; sickles, coverts and
lesser coverts glossy greenish-black;
the latter may be edged with red;
thighs, blncjcj shnjiks, yellow nnd well
covered with black or brownish feath
ers, the middle toes being also well
feathered.
The fcninle is the prettier of the two.
Her head is small and of n brown
plumage, with a stout, well-curved
beak, yellow In color. Her cj'es nre bay
and mild in expression. The head is or
namented with n small single comb, set
perfectly straight upon the head and
bright red in color. The wattles arc
SINGLE - COMB WHITE
COCKER.EL.
LEGHORN
small, well-rounded and line in texture;
the enrlobes nre well-developed and nre
nlso fine in texture.
The neck Is nently curved, with
nbundnnt hnckle flowing well over the
shoulders. The pluninge is bright
red or ornngc red with a broad
black stripe down the middle of each
feather.
Itlack Cochins nre much more ensily
rnised than are either of the nbove
named vnrieties. Delng of one color,
the care bestowed in breeding parti
colored or penciled birds is not
necessary, and the time may be spent in
furthering their general utility in ci;
production. A one colored bird is the
more practical bird for the farmer and
market poulterer. The Itlack Cochin
is of a rich glossy black plumage
throughout.
The standard weight of Huff, Part
ridge and White Cochin cocks Is 11
pounds; hens, By. pounds; cockerels,
9 pounds; and pullets, 7 pounds. Itlack
Cochins are of the same weight, ex
cepting cocks, which should weight
10y. pounds.
LmiKNlKiiii.
Laugshans are the smallest and most
active of the Asiatic class. They are a
practical fowl in more senses than one,
and their prolific laying and excellent
qualities make them a profitable fowl
for the farmer and market poultrymnn.
They nre one of the oldest vnrieties of
poultry and have alwnys been held in
popular esteem. The shape of Lang
shnns is distinct from that of the
rtrahmn or Cochin, nnd should not be
confused with either of the last-named
varieties. Langshans have white flesh
and dark legs, while the others are yel
low skinned nnd j-ellow legged. The.
quality of the flesh of the Lnngshnn is
excellent, being line grnined, tender,
and nicely flavored. As layers they
rank among the best, averaging from
12 to 13 dozen n year, and as winter lay
ers they are recommended. The chicks
nre hnrdy nnd mature early. Lang
shans are good sitters nnd mothers, be
ing of gentle disposition; they nre
easily kept in confinement or on free
range. Iteing excellent forages, they
are Ideal fowls for the farm, and will
gather during the year a considerable
proportion of their food.
The Langshan is a stylish, niedlum
sized bird, not overgrown or gawky in
nppenrnnce, of nttrnctive nnture nnd
lively disposition.
There ure two varieties of Lnug-
shans the black and the white. The
black In plumage of neck, back, saddle,
sickles, a glossy metallic black, with
greenish sheen; breast, primaries,
secondaries, tnil, fluff, shank nnd toe
feathers, black. The undercolor is
black or dark slate. The White Lang
shan is pure white throughout.
The standard weight of cocks for
both varieties is 10 pounds; hens, 7
pounds; cockerels, 8 pounds; and pul
lets 0 pounds.
I,;lmrii.
Leghorns are the best known of the
egg-producing varieties or Mediter
ranean clnss. They are the premiers in
laying and the standard by which the
prolificacy of the other breeds is
BEARDED SILVER POLISH HEN.
judged. Of the origin of the Leghorn
fowl there are differences of opinion,
and there is but little information to
be found anywhere concerning their
early history. It is generally conceded
that n rnce of fowls benrlng a close re
semblance in many respects to the
Leghorn Ins existed in Italy and other
parts of the continent of Europe for a
long period. Leghorns were first in
troduced into America from Italy. The
story goes that as early as lS.'tt a vessel
from Leghorn, Italy, brought to this
country as a part of its cargo a small
shipment of fowls, which were at once
nnmed "Leghorns." They immediately
became popular, their prolific laying
and nonsitting qualities being recog
nized at this enrly date.
White nnd brown Leghorns were the
first vnrieties known. Modern breed
ers nre responsible for some of the
subvnrieties of the breed, nnd, in point
of color nt least, exhibition birds of to
day, even of the older vnrieties, vary
considerably from those seen ut the
present time in Italy.
The Leghorn fowl holds the same
place among poultry that the Jersey
holds among cattle. The question of
profit in poultry has been decided in
favor of egg-producing breeds. They
are lively, active, and of a restless dis
position, the best of foragers, and will
pick up a good part of their living dur
ing the year. Leghorns are light eat
ers and the cost of raising them to ma
turity is about one-half that of the
Asiatic varieties. Their eggs are pure
white in color, and weigh about ten to
the pound. As table fowls they are
fairly good. By many they are con
sidered excellent. The ouly thing that
can be said against them is that they
are small in size. They must be warm
ly housed in winter to lay well and pro
tect their pendulous wattles from
frostbite.
In shape a Leghorn cock should be
graceful; body round nnd plump,
broad at the shoulders, and tapering
towards the tail. The tail should be
well balanced on a fair length of shank
and thigh; the length of the leg giving
the bird its sprightly nnd proud enr-
&2&$m
HEAD OF SINGLE-COMB BROWN LEG
HORN HEN.
ringe. Closeness of fenthers adds to the
general shape and secures n freedom of
angles which always proclaims the pure,
bred, typical specimen. The breast
should be full, beautifully curved,
rather prominent, and carried well for
wnrd. Neck, long, well nrched, and
carried erect; back, of medium leight,
with saddle rising in shape, concave
sweep of the tail, and long, well curved
sickles nre ehnrncteristlcs of the bird
that are much thought of. The wing
is long, well folded, nnd tightly carried.
Hackle and saddle feathers, long nnd
nbundnnt and flowing well over the
shoulders and saddle. The legs are
bright yellow in color nnd free from
fenthers; toes also jellow, but a dark
shade on the same is allowable. The
head is the prettiest portion of the
bird, being short nnd deep, yellow benk,
full bright red eyes, and bright-red
face. The comb is single and of medium
size, perfectly straight and upright on
the head, free from side sprigs, deep
ly serrated with live or six points, and
bright red in color. SMITH D. FRY.
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