Making a Start in Campines 



The Selection of a Reliable Breeder From Whom the Fnrohaso is to be Made — The Best Way to Start is 



Through the Purchase ol Breeding Stock Rather Than EfJfSs or Baby Chicks— Extraordinary 



Results From a Pair of Birds— Do not Buy Small Birds With the Thought That 



They Will Mature— Insist on Getting Good Individual Quality 



By E. F. Dean, Williamsportt Peniia* 



THiE matter of selecting a breed or variety and the 

 securing of stock of that kind is really a very im- 

 portant problem and the intelligent selection must 

 be based upon a general knowledge of breeds and varieties. 

 If this knowledge is not personal the assistance of some 

 reliable poultryman should be solicited. After the breed 

 has been decided upon the selection of stock of the kind 

 desired would be a very simple matter if all stock of the 

 kind selected were of the same quality, but, since this 

 is not the case, the selection of stock often becomes a 

 most perplexing matter on account of the variance in 

 quality of that of the different breeders. It may, in 

 order to obtain just what is wanted, be necessary to 

 make purchase from various sources, discarding or re- 

 turning that which is found to be not to your liking. 



The purchase of stock of the variety selected should 

 be with the idea of quality, health and vigor, as these 

 three things are absolutely essential if results are to be 

 secured. If absolutely a novice I would advise the pur- 

 chase of the best trio you can afford and in one breeding 

 season you can with care successfully raise to maturity 

 many more birds than one would imagine. For instance, 

 a number of years ago I purchased one cockerel and one 

 hen (Buff Orpingtons) from one of the leading breeders, 

 for which I paid as I then thought, an exorbitant price 

 ($75), but after the breeding season was over I took 

 an inventory and found that I had successfully raised 

 106 chicks. The undesirables were disposed of at the mar- 

 ket at prices ranging from sixty cents to one dollar and 

 a quarter each and even then I had more than I cared 

 to winter over and disposed of a number at prices from 

 $3 to $S each and found that I had recovered my pur- 

 chase price and a nice little sum toward the feed, beside 

 having a fine flock of thirty birds to start with the next 

 season. This is my own personal experience and I have 

 little doubt that there are others who have done even 

 better. 



Now I will make a few statements as to why I have 

 "Stuck to Campines." I have been an ardent admirer of 

 this wonderful variety and not blindly as I have bred all 

 varieties of Leghorns, Buff Orpingtons, Dark Cornish 

 and two varieties of Rocks, not only before breeding the 

 Campines but during this time. Two of the above varie- 

 ties may now be found in my yards for sentimental rea- 

 son only. Now, the Campine possesses all the qualities 

 of egg production that have ever been known to any 

 other variety, the eggs being large, pure white and very 

 numerous. As a table fowl they are unsurpassed, having 

 a full breast, resembling that of a pheasant to a very 

 great extent. They mature very quickly and on very 

 little feed, in fact I do not believe Campines have an 

 equal in this respect. In comparison with. other varieties 

 in actual tests the results are remarkable, in fact, I am 

 at a loss to know where they get what they make the 

 eggs out of. This same condition exists in growing the 

 young, they seem to thrive on practically nothing. 



Now let us forget the financial advantages and go 

 to the "fancy," as our English brothers call it. The 

 beauty of the Campines. is without comparison and they 

 are not only beautiful but attractive— two qualities that 

 do not always come together. You will have to admit 

 that Campines are beautiful after looking over the illus- 

 trations in this book, so it is not necessary for me to 

 elaborate further on this subject. If a man has a fancy 

 he does not want that fancy to be easy, for if such is 

 the case he will become careless and the work will be- 

 come monotonous and it will cease to be a fancy. Not 

 so with breeding Campines — if you are breeding as a 

 fancy or for business you have a lot to study. 



In this part of the chicken business I take the great- 

 est pleasure and interest. It is indeed a study. Often I 

 spend weeks stud3'ing my matings before actually mat- 

 ing for certain results and I seldom go wrong. I do 

 not want to lead you believe that every specimen pro- 

 duced from the mating is what was expected, but that 

 I seldom fail to get what I mated for. 



Now in closing I would advise the greatest care in 

 selection of stock and in purchasing same let your wants 

 be known to the breeder from whom you purchase, that 

 is, tell him whether you want birds from which to 

 breed females of exhibition quality or males of exhibi- 

 tion quality, or birds of both sexes. 



Be sure that the birds which you purchase for breed- 

 ing have a sound undercolor and that their backs are 

 clear. (Absolutely hen colored). 



Do not purchase a male bird with a large unsightly 

 comb, unless he has so many other good qualities that 

 this defect may be overlooked. 



Purchase birds of good size and weight, with good 

 long backs. Do not let a breeder tell you that he has 

 some birds of late hatch which will grow to be wonders, 

 as nine times out of ten the birds which he is offer-- 

 ing you are weaklings from the flocks hatched in regular 

 breeding season. In other words, purchase fully ma- 

 tured stock and you will see at once what you are de- 

 pending upon and your chances for success are much 

 greater. 



Do not buy day-old chicks. 



The most satisfactory way to go into the chicken 

 business is to purchase a pair or trio and not more than 

 a pen "of one male and six females, and by so doing you 

 will grow with the chickens and you can give both old 

 and young the necessary individual attention and you 

 will know their every wish and each bird will know you, 



If you have $100 to put into chickens, you have $25 

 more to go and see what you are going to get for that 

 money and any honest poultryman will be tickled to 

 death with this method of doing business. 



You can not go wrong if you select Campines for 

 your yards and are careful in the selection of your foun- 

 dation stock. ' 



