406 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ditions and are accustomed to shift for themselves. They are generally 

 hardy, vigorous, and yield a fair return in eggs or as table poultry; they 

 respond fairly well to generous treatment, and, if selected with some care, 

 are by no means to be despised, even when their product is compared with 

 that of the standard breeds. 



IMPROVEMENT OF BREEDS. 



The improvement of the common poultry should begin in most cases by 

 breeding from birds selected for their shape, size, and productiveness, and 

 by bettering the conditions of life under which they are kept. If the owner 

 is willing to go a little further and to bestow somewhat more attention upon 

 his birds, he may cross them with males of a standard breed, or replace 

 them entirely by purebred males and females. 



CARE OF FOWLS. 



The standard breeds have been brought to a higher plane of development 

 by extra care and more skillful management, and if they are to maintain 

 this improvement they must be continued under the conditions which brought 

 it about. They suffer more from neglect and unhealthful surroundings than 

 do the common fowls, because less accustomed to these conditions. The 

 standard breeds, for these reasons, may not always give satisfaction, if their 

 characteristics and requirements are not understood. If, however, the high- 

 est returns are expected which care and skillful management can obtain, 

 then a breed of fowls should be adopted which has been bred for generations 

 with this object in view. 



POPULAR VARIETIES. 



The most popular fowls in the United vStates are the American breeds 

 known as the Plymouth Rocks and Wyandottes. They are of medium size, 

 good as broilers, good as roasters, good egg producers; the hens are good 

 sitters and good mothers, and for these reasons they are known as general- 

 purpose fowls. In the Barred, Bufif, and White Plymouth Rocks, and the 

 White, Buff, Silver, Golden, Black, and Partridge Wyandottes, there is a 

 sufficient range of color to meet almost any taste. 



EGG PRODUCTION. 



For farmers who desire fowls more particularly for egg production, the 

 Mediterranean breeds, particularly the Leghorns, Minorcas, and Spanish, 

 are to be recommended. The birds of these breeds are smaller, more active, 

 and greater foragers than the Rocks or Wyandottes, and as layers they are 

 unsurpassed. Should it be desirable, on the other hand, to raise heavier 

 birds than the Plymouth Rocks, we should naturally turn to the Asiatic 

 breeds, which include the Brahmas, Cochins, and Langshans. 



