POULTRY NOTES.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, 27 August 1903, Page 5

POULTRY NOTES.

ORPINGTONS. This breed of poultry derives its name from a small town in Kent. The originator, Mr W Cook, manufactured the singled-combed blacks by crossing the following: Langshans, Minorcae and black Plymouth Rocks, and used the black Hamburg and rosecombed Langshan (sports from the early imported single combs), to duce the rose-combed black Orpington,! The. two varieties, black single combsj and buff single combs, are by far the' most perfect and useful. The more recent introductions, white Jubilee, are only in the improving stage. The color of both male and female in the blacks, which we will treat first, should be a rich green black, free from all tint of purple. Head neat and comb not too large, breast deep and broad, back broad and not long, stands low on leg. Weight of full-grown male about lOlbs, female B|lbs. Breeding for excess of green sheen is apt to bring red feathers in the cockerels; this applies to nearly all black breeds of fowls. The hens are grand layers, eggs rather on the small, side,-ejolflp- ot eggs a rich brown.

Orpingtons are a sitting variety, make excellent mothers, and if not wanted to act in a maternal manner are easily checked. As a table variety they are hard to beat; flesh white, juicy, and plenty of it. As a breed the Orpington is extremely hardy, chicks are easy to rear, and grow fast. Since the introduction of this breed the Dorking has certainly taken a back seat; the more recent arrival being found far more vigorous, suitable to almost any climate and soil, and more profitable. The size of eggs could be improved by selecting and breeding from hens laying the finest. We have seen Orpington eggs large enough for anything, and no doubt a little trouble taken would improve the.average size. For laying qualities the hens' combs may be extra large and droop over

somewhat, but on no account keep a flock of large and heavy-headed females. Let them have email neat heads. For breeding purposes the cock must stand on legs set wide apart, and do not let them be too long. One of the surest signs of weakness in constitution in any fowl is being narrow between the legs. This means a flat" sided fowl. No fowl ever "caught on" in England like the Orpington. At a recent sale .£l5O was paid for a black Orpington cock, and JJIOO refused for a buff. The buff is of a more recent production, being first brought before the public as a pure breed in 1894. Mr Cook used Cochin, Dorkin, and Hamburg as a foundation of his strain, but many of the best authorities in England state, and not without reason, that the buff Orpington is identical with the "Lincolnshire Buff"—a breed ol fowls largely rnised in the eastern counties of England to supply the London market. No matter how it was made, or where it came' from, the buff Orpington stands to-day as "the most popular utility fowl." It differs somewhat in shape from its black cousin, being taller and not so typical. The color should be a pure rich butY, free from red, flights and tails free from black or white feathers. At present it is seldom you find such a bird. The under color should not be white, but a buff feather to skin. The buffs mature quicker than the blacks, their white legs also being an advantage They are certainly harder to raise from a fancier's point of view than the blacks, many coming mealy in color, legs yellow, tails and flights ' black, etc. Still, with all their faults as regards color, they are very hard to beat as an all-round fowl. A flock of buff Orpington pullets is certainly one of the prettiest sights a lover of pdultry could desire, especially when running over a good grass paddock. Would advise breeders not to breed from Hark and Sight birds, but select your maie bird as near as possible in shade of buff color to the females you intend to breed with. The cockerels will always be darker than the pullet?, and will have two or even three shades of buff in plumage. The tail is a darker shade than the breast, and back and wings darker and also brighter. Select your neatest headed pullets for eggproducers, We also prefer those with bright clear faces, not those hairy or covered with small feathers, And sesecure cock or cockerels-low on leg and not too long in back to mate with At present this variety throw a certain percentage of chick* with feathers on legs, and also a few with yellow legs. The whites, spangled, and Jubilee varieties are nob nearly so popular as the buffs and blacks. The two latter would be very hard to beat as all-round breeds.—•" N Z Farmer;"