CHAPTER XXVII 



THE GENERAL PURPOSE FOWL 



There are several breeds of fowl that come up to the ideal in 

 both eggs and meat, when we get the best specimens. These are 

 what we mean by a general purpose fowl, a breed that will lay a fair 

 average of good sized marketatjle eggs and when it is time for her 

 to be sent to market will bring the cost of raising and caring back 

 in meat. 



This can not be done with the small breeds because the carcass 

 will not weigh enough, nor will the public pay the top price for what 

 they do weigh. 



For an egg farm the small breeds are the favorites, and there are 

 reasons for this that do not appear in print very often, because every- 

 one seems to be afraid to speak what they think for fear of hurting 

 someone else's feelings or some other foolish thing. Now, this is 

 all nonsense, because there is no breed of chickens or animals in the 

 world that is going to please everybody. We are all built on a 

 little different plan, that is, our likes and dislikes are our own, just 

 as much as our clothing or money is ours, and it is one of the greatest 

 blessings of humanity that there are a variety of good things, some 

 one of which suits every one of us. 



After raising a great number of the different varieties of poultry, 

 and thinking each variety the best ever, I finally took up with Orping- 

 tons in 1904 and will stay with them as long as I keep a chicken, 

 because they fill the bill as one of the best general purpose fowls 

 that was ever bred. Hens that will lay near the two hundred egg 

 mark, all through a flock and will dress seven or eight pounds of 

 good, wholesome chicken meat do not find rivals every day; and any 

 flock of Orpingtons that are bred and raised right will do this. Take 

 them from chick to market and they are satisfactory all through. 

 The chicks are hardy, easily raised, quiet and easily kept in bounds. 

 They grow like weeds and until they commence to run to leg are 

 fit for the table at any time. After they commence to make long 

 legs it is better to leave them for soft roasters. The pullets will 

 commence to lay at six months of age and lay good sized eggs that 

 will bring the same price as hen eggs. 



For those who like a yellow legged fowl there are the rocks of 

 all varieties, all good and as handsome as the best. The Rhode Island 

 reds and whites; the Langshans, black and white, are another good 



