92 



LESSONS IN POULTRY KEEPING — SECOND SERIES. 





appearante he will not count 

 tbis fault a^'aiust them. 



Partridge and Silver Penciled 

 Plymouth EocliS are very hand- 

 some fowls, but at present 

 require great skill in Ijieeding. 

 Li lie all laced and penciled 

 fowls, they will always be 

 difficult for most breeders to 

 handle, and if their popularity, 

 as compared with the other 

 vaiietieH of the breeil, follows 

 the same course astbatof simi- 

 lar colored varieties in the old 

 breeds, they are not likely to 

 come into a general and lasting 

 popularity, but will be bred 

 mostly by those who want gen- 

 eral purpose fowls with single 



Houdans. 

 fomlis, and have a decided preference for one of these colors. 



In Wyandottes we have, naming tliem in the order in wliich they were admitted to the 

 "Standard," the Silver Laced, Golden Laced, White, Black, Buft", Partridge or Golden Penciled, 

 Silver Penciled, and Columbian. 



The typical Wyandotte, as compared with the typical Plymouth Eock, is a shorter bodied, 

 compact, blqcky fowl, and a little smaller fowl. But many breeders of Wyandottes breed 

 tliera as large as Standard Plymouth Rocks, and larger than the general run of Plymouth 

 Bocks, while It Is probably true that Wyandottes as they run are smaller than Plymouth 

 Bocks as they run. The difference in size is one which any breeder of either variety who 

 chooses to do so may easily overcome breeding Wyandottes to Plymouth Eock weights, and 

 vice versa, so that for general use we may s:iy that there is no material difl'ereuce in size 

 lietween Rocks and Wyandottes. Tlie real differences in this respect are, that the most sym- 

 metrical fowl In each breed is likely to be the fowl about standard weight and size for the 

 breed. Wyandottes of Plymouth Eock weights are apt to be a little coarse and "cochinny; '" 

 Plymouth Eocks at Wyandotte weights a little undersized. From this It follows that if a 

 pouUryman wants fowls which \ve may term small medium in size, he can get them in Wyan- 

 dottes without departing as far from a good type as he would if he tried to breed Eocks to 

 the same weights. Conversely, if he wants large medium fowls he can get them in extra 

 large Plymouth Rocks, which will be a little coarse, but not so far away from the breed type as 

 if he tried to get as large fowls in Wyandottes. In egg production there is practically no 

 difference in average number of eggs laid. The Wyandotte eggs average a little smaller, as 

 would be expected, but the difference in this respect is not important. 



As Ijetween the different varieties of the Wyandotte, the White is by far the most popular, 

 ranking as one of tlie few most popular fowls. The Buff, though far behind the White, comes 

 next in popularity, and so far these are the only varieties of the breed to gain and hold any 

 great popularity, though all the laced and penciled varieties have had their booms, and have 

 m:iintained a following la)ge enough to keep them well in the public e>e. The Black W.Min- 

 dotte has never attracted much attention. The Columbian Wyandotte is by many regarded.as 

 a "coming" variety. Being >. white fowl with black points like the Light Brahma, it will 

 drfss like a white fowl. 



Of all these varieties the White furnishes the greater proportion of specimens of good size 

 and with true Wyandotte shape. This is because more people are interested in It, and more 

 of those interested in it are especially interested In market poultry culture. 



Of Jihode Island lieds there are, as has been said, two varieties differing only in the shape 

 of the comb, one having a single, the other a rose comb. Taking the average Reds as we find 

 them, the single combed variety might — on its looks — be termed a Bed Plymouth Eock, and 



