Warm Quarters Required 21 



Sensitiveness to cold. All of the noted egg 

 breeds have large combs and wattles, which 

 make them sensitive to low temperatures. Some 

 of the breeds having extremely large combs and 

 wattles are so liable to have them frosted in the 

 colder latitudes that warm quarters must be pro- 

 vided if the production of eggs in the winter 

 time is a requisite. Theory and practice agree 

 that a lower degree of temperature will be en- 

 dured without serious results if the quarters oc- 

 cupied by the fowls are free from drafts. 



Breeders have sought to remedy this some- 

 what serious objection by breeding "rose -combs," 

 that are not so readily frozen. In practice this 

 is found to be only a partial remedy, as the wat- 

 tles, when extremely large, are almost as sensi- 

 tive to cold as the large, thin, upright combs. 



The egg breeds are much closer feathered than 

 the fleshy Asiatics (Brahmas, Cochins and Lang- 

 shans), which endure low temperatures so well. 

 The thicker coat of fluffy feathers of the Asiatics 

 undoubtedly forms a thicker dead air space than 

 do the thinner and more compact coats of the 

 egg breeds. The comparatively long and naked 

 shanks, large combs and wattles, with a compact 

 coat of feathers, ill prepare the latter to withstand 

 the severity of the northern winter when more or 

 less exposed by the neglect or indifference too 

 often accorded the fowls on the average farm. 



