148 THE AMERICAN BREEDS OF POULTRY 



Those whose fancy runs to a lemon color produce few more good 

 birds than they themselves require, and instead of their breeding 

 carrying a strength of color that enables it to reinforce the flocks of 

 customers and prove beneficial and popular in the hands of buyers, 

 they themselves must secure reinforcement from rich golden buff birds. 



The condition once existed when the, eastern breeders had buffs 

 and the western breeders had reddish-buffs, and the early western 

 breeders of Rhode Island Reds had to explain that their Reds were 

 not Buff Rocks or Buff Wyandottes. The west held to the hot 

 colored buffs for a long time, tolerating black in tail in preference 

 to white, and hoped to get an intensity of color that would be fade- 

 proof, so that the buff female would not present a washed-out appear- 

 ance in every section save neck. 



A few constructive breeders, however, laid emphasis on a sound 

 buff under-color that would feed and reinforce the true buff surface 

 color; and in picking males that would produce good females they 

 examined the breast feathers very carefully and rejected any male 

 that did not have an even sheet of buff color the entire length of his 

 breast, free from white shafts in the feathers and free from whitish 

 lacing around the breast feathers. The all-buff females have resulted 

 from the continued use of such males. 



Breeding buff color. The beginner today can start with birds that 

 are infinitely superior to what the early breeders had to work with, 

 and such chickens can be hatched from a single setting of eggs or 

 purchased at reasonable prices. With such foundation stock available, 

 the beginner can follow the advice of C. R. Baker when he says: 



The foundation stock with which the beginning is to be made should possess 

 evenness of color, no sharp contrasts either in surface color, under color or between 

 the two, good colored quills and all sections harmonizing. Remember that our 

 males have a tendency to breed lighter and our females darker in reproducing. Do 

 not try to work contrary to nature's laws. As rapidly as possible get your breed- 

 ing lines established and in hand with quite a considerable knowledge regarding 

 them. 



Only strong, well grown birds have luster and life to their plumage 

 color. The vigorous and strong may be depended upon to produce the 

 right kind of chicks. For this reason, it is well to use cocks and hens 

 for breeding in preference to cockerels and pullets. Cocks and hens 

 have come through the molt, are fully mature, and any weakness has 

 had time to show. If a cock or hen is broken in color, mealy in 

 appearance, do not accept any excuse other than bad color. In no 

 other color is it as important to know what sort of color the cocks 

 and hens carry. Cockerels and pullets that fade are not valuable for 

 reproduction purposes. 



