THE WHITE WYANDOTTE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 28

THE WHITE WYANDOTTE.

Our readers will peruse with interest fcb© following excellent article, written by \Er John S. Martin, in the National White Wyandotte Club (America) catalogue, and reproduced in the American Stoekkeeper : —

To many breeders of other varieties the popularity of the white Wyandotte has been a cause of wonder and envy. They seek to explain it by saying that it is simply the result of a boom, and that this popularity will wane just as quickly as it came. I chink every white Wyandotte breeder will join with me in a protest against any such, theory. An analysis of this popularity will, however, not be out of place. I shall explain it by simply statins' the reasons that led me some years ago to give up all other varieties for white Wyandottes. First of all I decided that in this practical age the utility or g-enei-al purpose fowl was the one to breed. I found this in the Plymouth Rock and Wyandotte. but after many years* experience I found that the Wyandotte excelled the Rock as a layer. So it was a case of Wyandotte, and my choice was naturally the white variety, as being in my eyes one of the most beautiful of domestic fowls. They attract everyone, from the amateur te the veteian poultryman. Even people who know absolutely nothing about fowls ara Struck -with admiration when they see a flock of them, with their snow-white pluinaße, bright yellow legs and rose-combs; who ooulrt help admiring- them! Therefore it seems to me their popularity lies in their beauty and their usefulness. Taken toscther. what stronger combination could be dciised. In all the large shows it. is the white Wyandotte that attracts the most attention. Even the breeders of other varieties never fail to size up this class and pick th c probable winners. Take the history of the barred Rock. At one time no breed wns more popular, and justly so, because this popularity was based on — I'tility Qualities. — I.ai'ly thpy have bpon losing ground, and it k quite certain -that this to a great extent is the result of the double-mating farce. I claim that no doublo-mati-.ia variciy cam rightly be called an ideal utility fowl. Afc least nine-tenths 1 of the- breeders of poultry are farmers, and they cannot nor have they the inclination to practise double-mating. In a short time they become disgusted with! their birds because they find they arc not up to the mark. I have ?ern doyen 1 * !<...<■© the barred Rock and commence breedng wihte Wyandoit-es for thi* very reason. ° Bufc let no one get ihe idea, that because; the white Wyamlotlo i^ a solid-coloured vaiicty it will be an ea-y matt-ei- to produce pi-ize-wi liners. This is i,oi tlio ca-e, because if it were* wo would not hoar of such high prices being paid for them. They

<ja.ii only- be produced ty careful, conscientious work with good stock. They must be bred right and cared for properly from the shell to the showroom. Right here I would say that every year dozens of good birds hare their chances at the fairs ruined by nofc'fceing prepared, or the work of preparation- done in a careless manner. Often the whitest birds -are -too dirty to win, while hardly a fair pass&s that a number -do not exhibit an overdose of bluing. The proper way to have birds in perfect condition is to time them for the fair at which they are to be exhibited — that is. hatch them at such a date trat when the fair " comes on the cockerels will have all their advdir' plumage, and tlie pullets just ready lo lay. After a pullet has laid a couple of weeks she usually is not in as good^ condition- as when she began. I allow a month, at least, more for cockerels than for; pullets, as they arc usually slower maturing. When I commenced breeding white iWyandottes I -had in mind a double object —namely, the production of a heavy -laying, — Prize-winning Strain. — -- Many advised me thatr this was impossible, and backed up their assertion by the highest Ruthoritie9Jhat< the ideal Wyandotte shape does' not conform to the ideal egg-laying fcvpe-' ofHbody. They claimed that the long- - bodied hen would be a better layer than -the, one with a- -short body. However, th&- has not been' my experience, becatise niosfc of my record layers have been typical- - shaped' birds, with that short body and feck- so admired by fanciers. To my great satisfaction.- therefore, I have found that ~ the prize-winner and the heavy iayer may combine in- the same bird. One of the heaviest layers I ever owned has produced ' Eeveral winners at the large shows. By " keeping, the utility qualities of the white Myandotte- well x to the front they need neyer lose the premier position they now cecupj*. . " Many~ fanciers do 1 themselves- and their customers a. great injury by using too much " shade in their yards. The result is that they- are completely afc a-- loss to know .which of- their birds will stay white and .Which T"U tan'- from the" sun. If a bird is not; stay-^white the owner ought to know it; —BO' that he may avoid breeding from the' bird in future; Shade is all right in its place, and- it is perfectly necessary that -/the birds should have shade to go to as a protection from the burning rays of the "sun. But if a bird is stay-white he will resist the effects, of the sun. on his colour . even if he is out in it most of the time. This colour is a beatitiful silvery white, /'and the- effect of the- sun is only to make ~tne- plumage , ji - — Glisten all the More. — • !

Even when such, a bird- is moulting his feathers- will be- white, and if you- examine- _ the- new" quills you will find th&m pink, not rellow ux. colour. The? leg colour- of the kfiite= Wyandotte- is also a question that ~ leaves much room for study. "With: brassy- " »r.' creamy-coloured birds the -rich yellow leg Is* a matter of course, and it would be - *~ difficult thing to get anything else. But witti. these very white birds if is more of ■.-■task. to gpt- a richly-coloured leg. From stay- white birds you. are almost sure to get -some weak in, leg.' colour. Therefore, ihe only thing to dofis, by a process of selection, to strengthen this leg- colour while retaining- the whiteness of plumage. The breeding birds shquld; if possible, have-orange-coloured legs; because this colour eeems- to be more lasting than the lighter -yellow or, lemon colour. The colour of .any leg; can. be helped by a thorough washing, occasionally. It is also a good -plan to rub on a little sweet oil, as it keeps away 'parasites and help.s the colour.