WHY RHODE ISLAND REDS ARE POPULAR 



THEIR BEAUTY MAKES THEM ATTRACTIVE TO THE FANCIER-THEIR UTILITY QUALITIES ARE EXCEL- 

 LENT-THRIVE IN ALL CLIMES AND UNDER NEARLY ALL CONDITIONS-MATURE QUICKLY-LAY EARLY 



GEORGE L. BUELL 



ABOUT fifteen years ago, after breeding two or three 

 other breeds of fowls quite successfully, I ran 

 across a trio of S. C. Rhode Island Reds that had 

 been sent to a man here by his son-in-law, who at 

 that]time was connected with one of the agricultural colleges 

 in Rhode Island. At first sight they impressed me as being 

 about the right fowl for a general utility breed and I pur- 

 chased a sitting of eggs. In one year from that time I had 

 no other fowls on the place. I think it is needless to say 

 that if once a man becomes a Rhode Island Red enthusiast, 

 there is no use trying to persuade him to discard them for 

 any other breed. 



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FIRST PRIZE SCR 1 RED PULLET M^NSO^^ SQ. GftRDtti N'Y 



1909-1910. 

 WADE HAMPTON, R0GER5VI LLE , T E NN. 



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The Reds thrive under nearly all conditions and in all 

 climes. I have shipped them to the extreme northern, 

 southern, eastern and western parts of the United States 

 and have the most favorable reports from all sections. 



In confinement they do as well or better than either the 

 larger of smaller breeds. I sold six hens last fall to a man 

 here in my home town and when I came to deliver them to 

 him I asked him if he had a run for them and he said; "No, 



I only have a portable pen and yard which I intend to move 

 to different parts of the yard, as I cannot let them run at 

 all." I said, "You had better not take them as you have 

 so small a place, I am afraid you will not be able to do any- 

 thing with them." But, his mind was made up to have 

 them so he took the hens. I met him only yesterday (May 

 10th) and asked him how the chickens were getting along. 

 He said, "The next day after I took them home they laid 

 six eggs and have laid continuously ever since, except through 

 moulting and I have kept them in that small portable yard 

 and pen every day since I have had them, until two weeks 

 ago, when I moved to a larger place and can now let them 

 have a run." This portable yard and run was about eight 

 feet square and the roosts were built up off the ground with 

 the run underneath and he had only a very small back yard 

 in which to move this portable coop; the back yard being 

 too small for the six hens if they had had the entire run of 

 the whole yard. 



The Reds mature very quickly and I find no trouble in 

 making them lay in from four to five months after they are 

 hatched. Prom the two sittings of eggs one man hatched 

 eighteen pullets on July fourth and every one of these pullets 

 was laying in December. He told me that on several days 

 in December and January every pullet laid. 



Why should the Reds not be popular when you take 

 into consideration all of their qualifications? 



As eggs producers they are second to none, in fact, I do 

 not believe there is a breed, large or small, that is their equal. 

 As mothers you cannot find their superiors and as a table 

 fowl they are as good as the best, with their fine grain, yellow 

 skin and plump breasts.- 



For a fanciers' fowl, where will you find a handsomer 

 one? We all have a preference for some color, but we think 

 that the Reds with their brilliant red plumage, especially 

 the males with their black, greenish sheen make a grand 

 sight indeed for the fanciers eye. 



What qualities can you ask for that are not found in 

 the Reds? I predict that in five years from today the show 

 rooms of this country will show more Reds than any other 

 three breeds combined; and the Reds have done it them- 

 selves. It cannot be credited to the fanciers as no class of 

 fowls ever made its appearance that "got it" from the old 

 fanciers, as did the Reds. They won all their popularity 

 themselves on account of their general utility qualities, until 

 today they are at the head of the list. I have yet to hear 

 the fancier of other breeds say that he has a better fowl 

 than the Red; his great cry is that they do not breed true 

 to color. For my part, I would rather have a hen with, 

 occasionally a white feather in her wing and have her lay 

 200 eggs in a year, than to have one with a perfect wing and 

 lay only 1.50 eggs per year. Fact, is the color is not bother- 

 ing us much in the last few years and will bother us less in 

 the future. 



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