POULTRY 



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putting on flesh and producing high-class market eggs eeo 

 nomically. They are usually marketed at the age of five to 

 seven months when they should dress when fattened from 

 5 to 7 pounds in weight. 



Egg Breeds. The so-called egg breeds of chicken are small 

 active hardy fowls, which mature quickly, make excellent 

 broilers when dressed at the age of ten or twelve weeks, and 

 are very prolific layers of large white eggs. They are often 



FIG. 58. Rhode Island "Red hens and pullets. 



spoken of as non-sitters though a small percentage of them 

 do sit and make excellent mothers. 



Meat Breeds. The meat breeds of chickens consist of the 

 largest fowls. As a rule they are classed as fair layers of large 

 brown eggs. They are splendid sitters and mothers and on 

 account of their abundant plumage are capable of withstand- 

 ing extreme temperatures of cold without materially affecting 

 their egg yield. In sections of the country where capons are in 

 demand, the meat breeds are considered the best for the pro- 

 duction of this class of dressed poultry. 



Classification. The principal breeds of chickens may be 

 summarized as follows: General-purpose hens, Plymouth 

 Rocks, Wyandottes, Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds, Hou- 



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