Secrets in fowl breeding by Burnham Geo. P. (George Pickering) 1814-1902

Author:Burnham, Geo. P. (George Pickering), 1814-1902
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Poultry
Publisher: Melrose, Mass.
Published: 1876-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

TO PRODUCE PRIME SHOW BIRDS.

Fowl fanciers who aim to produce tlie finest samples for competition in the public exhibition rooms, annually, have in late years made up a largo majority of American breeders ©f the higher grades and varieties of thoroughbred poultry.

The cnltivation of prime specimens, with this view — sometimes only a trio or a dozen in a place —has been the studious work of skilled amateurs or more experienced fanciers for years in succession also, in this country.

Other advanced breeders have imported good samples of various kinds, with which they have entered the arena of competition, and frequently borne aw^iy the palm as breeders or owners of the favored fowls.

In addition to these two classes of winning "fanciers," there have been many larger American poulterers who have shown superior stock of their own raising, which have deservedly won leading prizes for the best in our show rooms, season after season.

But there are " secnits " about raising such successful show-fowls, which all who undertake to accomplish this thing have not yet compassed. And some of these " points " Ave propose to explain, to the best of our ability.

We have cultivated a great many superior fowls in our time ; and in years past we have been very successful in the exhibition-rooms, amongst lively competitors !

We entertain no doubt that most of the fowls imported from China or from Europe — after careful manipulation and domestication under skillful hands in America — are greatly improved upon the originals, in the progeny we produce.

Evidence of this is furnished in the fine Cochins among us of various colors, and in the Brahmas of late days; the original stock of all which varieties came from abroad, and which, after being bred in the United States a few years skillfully, have been sent to England and other countries • hence, admittedly the finest samples of poultry in the world, as we are all aware.

And this very stock again, first so improved among Americans, has subsequentlj' been farther improved upon in England ; and theprogeni/ of our own productions here (raised in Great Britain) have once more been returned to us, British-branded, in many an instance still better than those we have supplied the material for in the first place, from American cultivated flocks.

Notiniy this advance made tlnx)u<jh careful handling: and judicious mating, on both sides of the Atlantic, from year to year—our most ambitious fanciers continue to aim for improvement upon all previous efforts. And it may be safely assumed that, in 1875 and'76, at the principal public American exhibitions there were displayed in quantity and quality the best pens of show-fowls ever seen here, yet—of the leading varieties.

The attainment of this high standard of excellence has been effected only through studious and well-considered experiments in breeding. Certain "strains" of prime stock have been pretty well established, and these have been sought for lai-gely in all quarters, at liberal prices, in consequence of their popularity.

These birds and their progeny, when properly selected

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