AMERICAN POULTRY CULTURE 



man who breeds Leghorns of a good size can also 

 look after the market side of the business, too, be- 

 cause Leghorn chicks are very hardy, grow fast and 

 feather out quickly, and have nice yellow skin and 

 legs. Though they never get " big," they make 

 their first pound of growth in a comparatively short 

 time. 



The Minorcas, while larger than the Leghorns, 

 are not nearly so well adapted to American mar- 

 ket requirements. In this country birds with yel- 

 low skin and legs always sell first and at a higher 

 price than the other kinds, though this is a mat- 

 ter of prejudice and is being gradually done 

 away with. 



With regard to the color of eggs, some markets 

 prefer a white-shelled egg and others a brown- 

 shelled egg ; the beginner should ascertain the pref- 

 erence and consider this as a factor when selecting 

 his breed. All American varieties lay brown- 

 shelled eggs, while all Mediterranean varieties lay 

 white or light-tinted eggs. 



White-plumaged fowls are not the most desir- 

 able for dirty, smoky locations, or for sections of 

 the country where hawks and other prowlers 

 abound. Fowls with dark plumage do not make 

 the best market variety, on account of the black 

 pinfeathers on the dressed carcass. 



Here are a few additional points the beginner 

 can well bear in mind when selecting a breed : 



106 



