TYPE INDICATIVE OF LAYING QUALITY.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 447, 10 November 1904, Page 2

TYPE INDICATIVE OF LAYING QUALITY.

While type has reached an advanced position among stock breeders, and the selection and mating of animals is almost invariably along those lines, there seems to have been little or no attention given to this truly important matter by the breeders of standard poultry. True, there has been some theories advanced, but with little or none investigation to warrant the deductions made. By some people the Leghorn is accredited with being the real and only egg type hen. While quite willing to grant due credit to the little Leghorn for her good reputation and sterling worth, after extensive investigation with several breeds, it seems certain that no particular breed has the honour of possessing the much coveted distinction. The term type is, mainly suggestive of shape, and because the Leghorn has proved valuable as an egg producer, her impulsive admirers have claimed the Loghorn shape was essentially the egg type. Unfortunately all Leghorns are not good layers, some especially good as regards shape being notorious failures when it comes to laying eggs. So also with other breeds—some fowls proving almost phenomenal, while others of the same family or flock are very indifferent, to extremely poor, as layers ; while of the several breeds tried the Wyandots (White and Buff), and the Rose Comb gave the largest proportionate number of good .to extra layers. The Plymouth Rocks (White and Barred), the Buff Orpington, and the light Brahma all furnished specimens of exceptional merit, and in weight of eggs laid equalled the best records of any of the other breeds. It has been demonstrated that it is possible to cultivate by artificial means a habit of thrift in a flock that tends very materially towards increasing the egg yield. Then by the careful selection for breeders of those females giving the best yield of eggs, and which almost invariably comes from.the industrious, active working hens, and weeding out those of excessive fat forming tendencies, a general elevation of the flock is soon apparent. So that one is inclined to believe that the active, industrious bird is more reliable, as the egg typo in hens, than any particular shape of body.