Silver Duckwin^ Leghorns 



One of the Handsomest and Most Useful Varieties of the Leghorn Family. 

 J. H. Drevensledt 



only, 



SINCE their introduction in the United States, less 

 than twenty years ago, Silver Duckwing Leghorns 

 have virtually remained at a stand-still, as far as 

 any public interest in them is concerned. The few 

 breeders in this country who bred and exhibited Silver 

 Duckwin^- Leghorns did their share to improve the va- 

 riety to a point where in characteristic shape and grace- 

 ful carriage, they rivaled the best specimen seen in the 

 White variety, the winning females at New York being 

 especially fine in type. But notwithstanding the beauty 

 of form and color markings, they never became as popu- 

 lar as their excellent qualities deserved. 



Of their early history in America, very little has been 

 said or written since their appearance in the show room 

 in the early 90's. Mr. J. W. Fiske of Passaic, New Jersey, 

 one of the pioneer breeders of Silver Duckwing Leghorns, 

 in this country and a most successful exhibitor of them 

 at the lea ing shows, kindly furnished us with the follow- 

 ing data. 



"In reference to the Silver Duckwing Leghorns, 

 would say that in October 1893, I purchased four Silver 

 Duckwing Leghorn pullets from a party in Massachu- 

 setts. From another party, whose name and address I 

 cannot recall at the present time, I purchased a Silver 

 Duckwing Leghorn cockerel. In November, 1894, I pur- 

 chased two more cockerels from a party by the name of 

 Hurd in Massachusetts and in March, 1895, one cockerel 

 from a party by the name of Hanchett in Westfield, Mass. 

 My experience with this breed has been quite limited, al- 

 though I had quite a number during the ten years that I 

 kept them. I found it very difficult to raise first-class 

 birds and thought that I would import some eggs from 

 England. In February, 1895, I ordered three dozen eggs 

 from Mr. H. Hesford, St. Johns, Eng., and three dozen 

 from Mr. H. Hinson, St. Ives, Eng. From these eggs, I 

 hatched six chickens; three only, lived. The result, of 

 course, was very discouraging and I wrote Mr. Hesford 

 and he sent me an- 

 other sitting of 

 eggs, but only two 

 chickens were 

 hatched. These did 

 not amount to 

 much and both 

 died very shortly, I 

 then ordered in 

 October, 189 5, a 

 trio of Silver Duck- 

 wing Leghorns and 

 a pair of Golden 

 Duckwing Leg- 

 horns from Mr. 

 Hesford. They 

 were leceived in 

 good order. I ex- 

 hibited a pair of 

 Golden and a pair 

 of Silvers in Bos- 

 ton in January 

 SILVER DUCKWING LEGHORN HEN 1896; the Golden 

 A very good model of the active, Duckwing cockerel 

 sprightly type of Leghorn female, the 

 body lines being very graceful. 



ake, in our opinion. 



caught cold and did not recover. I raised quite a number 

 of Duckwings and disposed of nearly all, sold quite a 

 number of eggs, but a number of the people to whom 

 I sold the eggs complained that the chickens did not 

 show good color, 

 when matured. I 

 bought the entire 

 stock from a party 

 by the name of 

 Fuller in Allen- 

 town, Pa., and ex- 

 hibited, from time 

 to time, in Boston, 

 New York and lo- 

 cal shows, but the 

 competition was 

 not very keen; not 

 more than two or 

 three at the most, 

 competing. I prob- 

 ably won my share 

 of blue ribbons and 

 was very much in- 

 t e r e s t e d at the 

 time, but the last 



JUN COCK 



SILVER DUCKWING 



.- male of good type, but does not 

 few years I have show the characteristic Leghorn car- 

 , , ,..^, ,. riage of the body and neck, owing to 



had very little time the rather low pose of the bird when 

 to devote to photographed. 



poultry raising and sold the entire lot about eight years 

 ago. I trust what little information I have given you will 

 be all that you require and am very sorry that I cannot 

 give you a better account." 



Thomas Peer, Fairfield, New Jersey, has bred Silver 

 Duckwing Leghorns for quite a number of years, and 

 being a successful and experienced breeder of BuflE, 

 Brown and White Leghorns, Mr. Peer's opinions on the 

 comparative values of the different varieties are entitled 

 to considerable respect, consequently we submitted a 

 number of questions to him, to which Mr. Peer sent the 

 following answers: — 



1. How do Duckwings compare with other varieties 

 of Leghorns as layers? 



I have bred White Leghorns and Browns and Buffs 

 and 1 know from my personal experience that the Silver 

 Duckvirings are just as good layers as any of the other 

 varieties. Mr. E. G. Wyckoff told me that the Silver 

 Duckwings were the best layers that he had on his place. 



2. Do Duckwings breed true, i.e., do they re- 

 produce as large percentage of exhibition males and fe- 

 males as Browns or Buffs? 



I can honestly say that the Silver Duckwings breed 

 more true than the Buffs or Browns and produce a much 

 larger percentage of exhibition males and females. 



3. Is it necessary to use double mating to produce 

 both exhibition cockerels and pullets or can both be ob- 

 tained from single matings? 



Last year I used double matings, this year I did not 

 and I find that I have just as many good chicks in propor- 

 tion to the number hatched as I had with the double mat- 

 ing. 



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