White Leghorn Breeders' Symposium 



Changes in White Leijhorn Type iu the Past Ten Years Have Improved the Layinfi Qualities— The Best 



Layers Are Birds That Come Nearest the Standard Requirements — Average Flock and 



Individual Egg Laying Records — H hite Leghorns For Market. 



IN ORDER to get the views of successful and prom- 

 inent breeders of White Leghorns, on the proper 

 type for Standard and market requirements, the 

 average yield of eggs laid per capita annually, the cost of 

 feeding and marketing the broilers, we sent a list of 

 questions to leading fanciers in the East and West. 



The contributors to this symposium are; 



N. V. Fogg Kentucky 



W. W. Kulp Pennsylvania 



Robert Herman (Connors Poultry Farm) .... New York 



Huff Poultry Yards Pennsylvania 



J. C. Punderford : . . . . New Jersey 



Hutchins Brothers New York 



Harmon Bradshaw Indiana 



H. E. Humphrey New York 



George Barrows New York 



Robert D. Parmenter Illinois 



Harlo J. Fisk New York 



C. W. Sixt Ohio 



George B. Ferris Michigan 



L. S. Dayhoff Pennsylvania 



E. J. Huber Wisconsin 



1. Have the changes in type of the White Leghorn 

 of ten or more years ago been any improvement towards 

 increased egg production? 



Yes, some of the best layers I have ever bred were 

 birds that came nearest the Standard requirements, and I 

 believe the changes in type and shape have done much to 

 improve the laying qualities of these birds. — N. V. Fogg. 



The White Leghorns of today are beautiful in shape 

 and are far better for egg production than any that were 

 bred before, unless the body is left to become narrower. 

 If you breed for good width across the back, you get 

 room in the egg-making part. The better shapes bred "to- 

 day can do nothing but help to make better workers. — 

 W. W. Kulp. 



I can see a vast improvement in the egg production 

 of White Leghorns in the last few years. — Robert Her- 

 man (Conners Poultry Farm). 



As to my type of a laying Leghorn, the change in 

 type of the Leghorn of the present day from that of ten 

 years ago is an improvement toward increasing egg 

 production. — Huff Poultry Yards. 



1 tiiink the changes in type and shape of Leghorns 

 in the past ten years have made a large improvement in 

 egg production. — J. C. Punderford. 



The type and shape of the S. C. White Leghorn in 

 the last ten years have not only beautified the bird from 

 a fancier's standpoint, but have increased the egg pro- 

 duction — the increase in size, the long, deep body and 

 well rounded breast indicating vitality and vigor. — 

 Hutchins Brothers. 



Yes. — Harmon Bradshaw. 



I do not think the change in type and shape of the 

 White Leghorns has made any particular improvement 

 toward a larger increase of eggs, since the best layers are 

 the ones that are bred as the Standard requires; namely, 

 a long well-arched back, which makes the best layers, 

 in my opinion. — H. E. Humphrey. 



Indirectly, yes. It has stimulated the breeders to be 

 more thorough. — George A. Barrows. 



I don't believe the change in type and shape has had 

 any effect on increasing egg-production. That is my de- 

 cided opinion. — Robert D. Parmenter. 



Yes, I think they have. — Harlo J. Fisk. 



1 think not.— C. W. Sixt. 



The changes in shape and type of White Leghorns 

 have had no effect upon egg production. — George B. Fer- 



' Yes.— L. S. Dayhoff. 



I do not believe that the changes in type and shape of 

 White Leghorns have changed the egg laying qualities to 

 any material advantage. — E. J. Huber. 



2. Do you consider there is a fixed type for layers, 

 and if so, describe what important characteristics, as to 

 shape and outward appearance, the ideal layer should 

 possess. 



As a rule, my best layers are birds of about average 

 size, with broad breasts and backs and bodies of good 

 length. Their combs are of good size, but not too large, 

 and their tails carried about the same as required in 

 Standard. — N. V. Fogg. 



To be a good layer it is not absolutely nece^^ary that 

 a hen be of a certain shape, but I do know that I breed 

 one of the tmest strains for eggs, from shape breeding. I 



WHTE LEGHORN HEN 

 A noted winning hen of excellent exhibition type, show- 

 ing good length of body and a well spread tail and fine 

 head points. Bred and exhibited by G. L. Wheeler. Penn 

 Tann, N. Y. 



want them wide first. It will give strength and room 

 for the egg organs. My results, according to others, 

 proved I was right over and over again. — W. \\". Kulp. 



I have found a fairly large bird with a long back will 

 lay a large number of good-sized eggs that command an 

 advance over the market price. — Robert Herman. 



I think there is a fixed type for layers. An ideal 

 layer has: first, a small head; second, a slender neck; 

 thjrd, a long body, tapering from back to front; fourth, 

 sh'ort and small-bonea shanks; fifth, is a restless and busy 

 hen.— Huff Poultry Yards. 



The lengthening of the pelvic cavity is looked for as 

 an egg type much the same as we look for a distinct dairy 

 type in a cow. — Hutchins Brothers. 



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