Useful Qualities 57 



Early maturity. These fowls are hardy, grow 

 quickly and pass through the delicate stages of 

 early life rapidly. They closely resemble the most 

 hardy of the noted egg breeds in this respect. 

 They are considered to be hardy at all stages, 

 which is an important point for farm poultry. 

 The many cares of busy farm life during the 

 growing seasons of the year sometimes prevent 

 giving the fowls the close attention which the 

 more delicate breeds require in order that they 

 may be brought safely to a stronger stage of 

 development. Hardiness at all stages of de- 

 velopment is, therefore, an important character- 

 istic of farm poultry. Early maturity produces 

 early -laying pullets. The so-called general -pur- 

 pose breeds mature early and frequently produce 

 pullets that will lay at five months of age. 

 Early -hatched pullets, as a rule, will lay at an 

 earlier -age than those hatched later in the sea- 

 son. The early- hatched fowls generally grow 

 most rapidly and reach maturity in the shortest 

 time. Early -hatched fowls are usually preferred 

 for breeding as well as for utility. 



Good sitters and good brooders. While these 

 fowls are not as persistent sitters as the Asiatics, 

 yet they may be depended upon for natural in- 

 cubation, particularly if the hens are kept until 

 they are two or three years old. They make ex- 

 cellent mothers, as they care for their young 



