3o8 TYPES AND BREEDS OF CHICKENS 



Fig. io6. — Wliite Orpingtons. 



Meat Breeds. — This group comprises only the Asiatic 

 class, though contrary to theory more meat poultry is pro- 

 duced from the general purpose breeds than from the spe- 

 cial meat breeds. This condition is probably due to the 

 fact that the meat breeds are not so precocious as the general 

 purpose breeds and present the dif&culty of fewer eggs and 

 hence fewer chicks. The Cochins, Langshans, and Brah- 

 mas constitute this group. 



General Purpose Breeds. — This group comprises the 

 American class, the English class, and the French class, and 

 as indicated by the group name are valued for their dual 

 purpose. They produce a reasonable number of eggs and 

 are large enough for use as meat poultry. The English 

 breeds of this group, were originally valued chiefly for 

 meat production, but the breed shape has been slightly 

 changed by environment until in America they are regu- 

 larly classed as general purpose fowls. The most popular 

 members of this group are the Plymouth Rocks, Rhode 

 Island Reds, Wyandottes, and Orpingtons. 



