Egg Breeds Described 15 



GENEKAL CHARACTERISTICS AND SIZE OF EGG BREEDS 



While those breeds and varieties of fowls that 

 may be classed as distinctively egg producers vary 

 somewhat in size and form, yet they differ so ma- 

 terially from the general-purpose and meat breeds 

 that they may well be placed by themselves if for 

 no other reason than the one distinguishing char- 

 acteristic of size. Almost without exception the 

 noted egg- producing breeds are small or medium 

 in size and possessed of a neat, trim appearance, 

 which gives them an air of activity. They are 

 also somewhat longer-legged in proportion to their 

 size than the meat breeds, yet those having the 

 most robust constitution do not appear to be small 

 or long-legged. 



While mature fowls of some of the heaviest 

 breeds of this class should weigh from six to eight 

 pounds, yet the weight is seldom mentioned in de- 

 scriptions. This is undoubtedly due to the fact 

 that egg production is the chief consideration, re- 

 gardless of the weight of the fowl. 



The specific purpose for which these fowls are 

 reared being egg production, the breeder does 

 not care to sacrifice this product for increased 

 meat production, except as increased vigor in the 

 individual is likely to bring an increase in size, 

 a subject that is discussed somewhat fully in the 

 chapter on breeding. 



