CHAPTER V 



FANCY BREEDS 



WHILE the breeds discussed in this arbitrary 

 class are more or less useful, yet they are less adapt- 

 able 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 produce flesh that 

 is excellent for food, yet they are all less important 

 for the furnishing of the useful products 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 improved 

 by skilful breeding and management, and undoubt- 

 edly these so-called fancy breeds could be improved 

 as to useful qualities if given food and management 

 conducive to that end. If one desires to attempt 

 improvement for useful purposes it will be best to 

 select fowls of one of the more useful breeds, as the 



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