Hi,
We talk about which breed is right for our soil and microclimates. I am reading
again Oscar Smart's brilliant book and he addresses the subject so thought to share.
A book by the British poultryman Oscar Smart. He died young and was never a well man, but he was a brilliant poultryman. The leading poultry biologist of his time in England. He was respected there the same way we respected Morley Jull here in the States. Mr. Smart was very keen on the inheritance of the laying ability in fowl. He developed a cataloging system called the "winter test" whereby one could analyze the laying performance of one's hens with a view to future mating for better egg laying results. It can be read in his 61 page book , "The Inheritance Of Fecundity in Fowl" , which is available online at:
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003164450;view=1up;seq=3 Read the Index first. It is very explanatory.
definition:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Fecundity
Page 44 :
The Inheritance of Fecundity in Fowls
when we are considering the soil and climate in respect to the birds we intend for stock, the breed is of far greater importance than is the strain, but when once we have found the best breed for the environment, then it immediately becomes a question of strain. Fowls are divided into breeds, varieties, and strains.
BREEDS are differentiated by structural characters.
VARIETIES are differentiated by colour and in domestic varieties of fowls, I fear, very often by lineage.
STRAINS are differentiated by lineage.
The breed and variety should be selected to suit the conditions under which the birds are to be kept, and it is impossible to exercise too much care in this matter. The following list may be taken as a safe guide :-
Conditions—HEAVY SOIL, DAMP DISTRICT, AND EXPOSED SITUATIONS. Best Breeds to Keep—Rhode Island Reds, Black Leghorns, Plymouth Rocks, Croad Langshans, Buff Orpingtons, White Orpingtons, Faverolles, Partridge Wyandottes, and Black Wyandottes.
Conditions—LIGHT SOIL, AND MILD, DRY DISTRICTS. Best Breeds to Keep—White Leghorns, White Wyandottes, Light Sussex, Silver Campines, Buff Rocks, Anconas, White La Bresse, Black La Bresse, Redcaps, Blue Leghorns, and Blue Andalusians.
Conditions—INTENSIVE HOUSES AND SMALL BACK- YARD RUNS. Best Breeds to Keep—White Leghorns, Black Leghorns, Silver Campines, Anconas, Blue Leghorns, and Blue Andalusians.
In this list we have confined ourselves only to such breeds as are capable of producing highly fecund stock. Now, the importance of breed, so far as egg production is concerned, can best be studied when viewed in relation to its environment. There are some breeds which lay much better in one environment than they do in another. There is a reason for this which may best be explained by two illustrations :—
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My Light Sussex are currently on dirt in a shaded part of the yard. Looks like I should sand the run so it fits them better.
Best Regards,
Karen
