PRODUCING EXHIBITION SPECIMENS 



SOME OF THE BREED'S GOOD QUALITIES-DEFECTS DISCUSSED-HOW TO FEED THE FLOCK 



H. C. LORD 



OF COURSE we think that the Reds are the coming 

 breed, in fact, they are here and here to stay. We 

 consider them the most prominent breed of today. 

 We say prominent because we think there are more 

 breeders breeding Reds today than any other Standard 

 variety or breed. In spite of this great advancement in 

 popularity, there is still plenty of room for improvement. 

 In our opinion, some of the so-called breeders are making a 

 great mistake in breeding as they are. The longer they 





TO-PEN-A-BEE 

 Rose Comb R. I. E«d Cock winner of first as cockerel at Detroit, Jan- 

 uary 1909 and first as cock at Indianapolis, September 1900. Bred and 

 owned by Irving A. and Frank C. Sibley, South Bend, Ind. 



keep breeding those clean under-colored birds free from 

 smut, the more trouble they are going to have with the 

 pepper and white which is noticed so much in wings and 

 tails, also the white at the base of the tail and hackle. With 

 out the introduction of this so-called smut, we cannot see 

 it any other way but that we are breeding away from nature 

 and also from the beautiful black points which are required 

 in the present Standard. We have the black wing and tail 

 points almost as we want them in our Reds. Take as an 

 example the Light Brahma. Look at their undercolor and 

 you will see why they have such beautifully marked wings. 

 Why? Because clean white under-colored birds are not 

 being bred and we think if our Red breeders would use a 

 little more smut in their breeding specimens, instead of being 

 cranks on the clean under-color, it would be beneficial in 

 the future. When we say breeding specimens we do not 

 mean that our exhibition specimens should be of this descrip- 



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tion, but that they should be used only for the production 

 of the latter. 



We also seem to be having a great deal of trouble with 

 the judges about the color question, some of them preferring 

 the lighter shade of red, while others prefer the darker shade 

 and it seems that in order to be able to select a winner, we 

 must know who is going to be judge so that we can select 

 a color to his Uking; consequently we think the sooner we 

 decide upon a certain shade, the better for all concerned. 

 We shall then try to show color that is pleasing to all and 

 not to some one individual. 



Then again, some look for color only (both judges and 

 exhibitors) and pay no attention whatever to shape. We 

 may be wrong, but our idea is that we want shape, and more 

 of it, first of all, then, after we get the desired shape, let us 

 get the color. 



The Color Question 



As for the color question, we think a, good many of us 

 will have to cull more closely than we have in the past, al- 

 though it is true that some of those off-colored hens are 

 producers of good specimens; there are also many that are 

 not. 



Our idea is that we can get a good even color in our 

 flock only by breeding from those that best retain their 

 color through the breeding season, which we think a great 

 many of our best breeding specimens are doing, and it will 

 only be a matter of a few years more when those off-colored 

 and mottled specimens will bid us their adieu. 



One thing we should remember is, not to sell tiiese non- 

 producing birds to the novice and tell him they will produce 

 good results, when we know they will not. Use them either 

 for home consumption or for commercial purposes. 

 Good Qualities of the Breed 



We have given the above subject more time and space 

 than we intended so will ''start to finish'' by giving you an 

 idea of some of the good qualities of tlie l)reed we all love 

 so well. 



The Rhode Island Red is a fowl that will answer any 

 poultryman's purpose. They are a very hardy bird which 

 means a great deal, as the losses by disease are very few as 

 compared to the more delicate breeds. 



Another point in their favor is that they mature very 

 early, and if forced for laying will commence to lay at an 

 early age. They are of good size, are one of the breeds for 

 egg production and not inclined to become broody as early 

 as most of the other well-known heavy breeds. If they are 

 used for brooding they are the l^est of motiiers. What 

 more can we ask for in the way of a commercial fowl? 

 Ideal Bird for the Fancier 



As a fancier's bird they are unsurpassed. My reason 

 is that a genuine fancier wants something that will take 

 intelligent breeding, time and good management to produce 

 the best. This the Reds certainly do require. If you doubt 

 this, just breed them in a careless reckless manner and take 

 note of what you have after the first year's work. 



The fancier's work starts with the selection and mat- 

 ing of his breeding specimens and if his pens are improp- 

 erly mated he cannot get good results from them. This is 

 something that a study has to be made of before one can 



