CHAPTER V 



FANCY BREEDS 



WHILE the breeds discussed in this arbitrary 

 class are more or less useful, yet they are less 

 adaptable as farm fowls than those mentioned as 

 egg or general-purpose breeds. Fowls of these 

 breeds will undoubtedly lay a good number of 

 eggs under favorable circumstances, and will pro- 

 duce flesh that is excellent for food, yet they are all 

 less important for the furnishing of the useful prod- 

 ucts than are the varieties mentioned in previous 

 chapters. This class of fancy breeds includes 

 great variety as to size, form and color. Some 

 of the breeds, in the hands of skilful poultrymen, 

 would prove quite satisfactory as general-purpose 

 fowls, yet, in the hands of the farmer, under 

 ordinary farm conditions, they are of minor value. 



Nearly all kinds of fowls may be greatly im- 

 proved by skilful breeding and management, and 

 undoubtedly these so-called fancy breeds could 

 be improved as to useful qualities if given food 

 and management conducive to that end. The 

 fact remains, nevertheless, that the same skill and 

 care transferred to other breeds will give much 



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