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THE AMERICAN BREEDS OF POULTRY 



No fowl has been more plas- 

 tic in the hands of breeders than 

 the White Wyandotte, and so 

 much thought has been bestow- 

 ed upon it by men of great abil- 

 ity that the Whites have led all 

 other Wyandotte varieties in 

 shape. The birds of no breed 

 are as intelligent as are White 

 Wyandottes. They are an ideal 

 fowl for the fancier. As a com- 

 mercial fowl, they feather ra- 

 pidly, reach broiler size quickly 

 and are always in a plump con- 

 dition. They have made high 

 records as layers. In short, their 

 popularity is justified for it is 

 grounded in merit. 



Defects found in White Wy- 

 andottes and how to mate to 

 overcome them. It should be 

 the aim of the breeder to com- 

 bine pure white plumage and 

 Standard shape, and competition 

 is so keen nowadays that he cannot afford to fall far short of the 

 actual accomplishment. 



The start should be made with good birds that have generations 

 of good breeding behind them. They should not only be of a well 

 established family of the variety, but the immediate parents of the 

 birds should be in the hands of a careful breeder who has not toler- 

 ated the infusion into his flock of the blood of a single mediocre indi- 

 vidual. 



The beginner can then be sure that no green-shanked, or white- 

 lobed or feathered legged specimens will show in his crop of young 

 stock. These are all marks of inferior pedigree. Neither will the begin- 

 ner, if he gets high-class stock which is today "stay-white," have to 

 struggle with that persistent old fault of brassy necks and backs in his 

 males. 



Of course each variety has its characteristic faults which must be 

 considered and controlled or the stock will "run out." One of the most 

 important features to watch is the shape of the head. The head should 

 be round, broad across the skull and the eye should be clear. A pullet 

 showing a narrow skull and long head should be immediately condemned 

 to the pot. To breed such a female will result in a production of cock- 

 erels long in leg. angular in back, pinched in tail and high in breast. The 

 round head is a controlling feature in the variety. 



A Typical White Wyandotte Male Head. 

 The head is broad, eye intelligent, beak 

 nicely curved, comb fits the head, wattles 

 well! rounded, ear lobes of proper shape 

 and soft texture. The head of the Wyan- 

 dotte is a study in itself. It is the most 

 intelligent head possessed by any breed of 

 chickens. 



