First lessons in poultry keeping: Second year course... - Page 119
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John Henry Robinson - 1906 - 160 pages - Free Google eBook - Read
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EXPRESSION IN HEAD CHARACTERS.
Head Characters.
Fowls differ as much in size, shape, and expression of the bead as in size and shape of body and color of plumage. Marked differences in head types may be found in the same variety, and even in birds of the same strain or stock. We are so accustomed to consider the head as a mere base for its appurtenances, beak, comb, earlobes, wattles, crest, beard, that it is only in a very few breeds that size and shape of the head proper are given particular consideration. The head least adorned with superfluities in flesh and feathers is the most expressive of quality, for in it the correlation with the other parts of the fowl is discernible, while a head profusely ornamented does not show for what it is. Undoubtedly the character is there, but the appendages are so much more prominent that it is not readily observed.
This lack of discernment of the character of the head proper is not, however, a serious matter. For as the head expresses with reasonable accuracy the diameter of some points of structure of body and of constitution, its appendages generally partake of the character of head and body, and by their greater conspicuousness show them even more unmistakably to those versed in their meanings. The comb, the wattles, the earlobes, the face, the beak, the eyes, all tell the shrewd observer something worth while for him to know. I would not be too positive in making a statement of this kind, but I think that though they may not always realize it, most critical judges of a fowl by external appearances are more influenced by the character of the head of the fowl than by the shape of the body, that the expression and impression on their eye of the head of the bird has an influence on their judgment of it as a whole which is not often changed as they pass the other sections in detail. To the average poultryman of tolerably keen perceptions, crests and beards have less meaning as expressing the general character of the fowl, but to the breeder of crested and bearded fowls who has studied them closely they mean much. Indeed it is in perception and appreciation of the correlation of the parts and qualities of fowls with details which ordinarily escape notice that the skillful bleeder has his greatest advantage over others.
I do not think it can be shown that the size of combs, wattles, earlobes, crests, and beards has any special relation to any practical quality. Large combs are sometimes said to indicate laying capacity, but I have not found it so in individuals, nor will a comparison of breeds differing in size of comb substantiate this idea.
The shape of the comb we must consider in two ways: First, as to the kind— single, rose, pea, leaf. It is often said that rose and pea combed fowls stand cold better than those with single combs. This is but a half truth, it depends as much on the size as on the shape of the comb, and we have to consider also the development of the wattles, with relation to susceptibility to cold and frost. A very large fleshy rose comb that has no spike, is lumpy and only a "rose comb" because it is not anything else, is often associated with very long, pendulous wattles which freeze as quickly as the wattles of a large single combed fowl. A rose comb of the type generally preferred in Wyandottes is usually associated with a medium sized wattle not readily affected by cold. A single combed fowl having wattles of the same size generally has a comb low enough not to be affected by frost at any temperature that would not affect the wattles. We must count size of comb then us a point indicating in a general way the capacity of a breed of fowls to resist cold.
When it comes to the matter of individual resistance to cold, the comb, unless quite inconspicuous, becomes a very accurate indicator. Observe your fowls on any raw cold day, and see how some combs are bright as usual, others slightly discolored, and others quite blue or purple. The discoloration of some combs may indicate only constitutional susceptibility to cold, or it may mean that the fowl is at the time out of condition and therefore unusually susceptible to climatic influences.
The texture of the comb is also a point of importance. The fancier prizes fine texture in the comb for itself; the poultry grower because he considers it an indication of fineness of fiber in the meat of the fowl. The carriage of the comb in single combed fowls conveys Impressions which probably are misleading, though I would not care to dogmatize on this point. A comb that is erect and smooth looks strong and gives the fowl an appearance of strength. A comb that bulges, bends, lops or wrinkles suggests weakness, just as any lack of symmetry does, but 1 doubt whether any ratio dependent upon such variations could be established.
Considering the shape of the comb and wattles as compared with others of the same kind: It is found that there is a type of unsymmetrlcal comb quite common in all fowls, and especially conspicuous in single combed fowls, which gives an expression in the fowl corresponding to that made by a human profile with retreating forehead and chin. With such a comb is usually associated a rather long narrow head and a bill that without being abnormally long, and giving the fowl a "peaked " look, yet conveys an impression of lack of force and stamina. It is commonly held that such fowls are lacking in sexual vigor. I think this opinion requires modification. My observation of such fowls suggests that the reproductive faculties are as active in them as in others, but that their operation tends to exhaust the vitality of the fowl more rapidly, that it is a lack of general stamina rather than of sexual capacity. The precise understanding of it, however, is not a matter worth quarreling over. It is a quite well assumed fact that such birds are not desirable breeders, and the hens not likely to be as persistent layers as those more symmetrical in these points.
To the shape of the bill fanciers attach considerable importance, in nearly all breeds a strong, sometimes stout, well curved or moderately curved bill is required. Such a bill looks better than one that falls short of the specifications. Market poultrymen find the strong, stout, well curved bill the mark of a good feeder. Experimenters in special fattening methods say birds with such bills are much better subjects for fattening.
The color of the bill is a point of importance to the fancier. He requires a bill of a certain color in each breed. To the market poultryman the color of the bill is of importance only as it indicates the color of the skin. The bill is almost invariably of the color of the legs, and generally the skin of the fowl corresponds both as to kind and quality of color. Thus in bill and legs one may judge the color of the skin of a fowl without examining under the feathers.
To the color and expression of the eye breeders attach great importance—far more than a careful comparison of results has ever showed me. It is held that a red eye indicates vigor and vitality, especially sexual vitality. It certainly gives an impression of boldness and strength to a bird, but I question whether this impression has any better basis than general opinion. We in this country also think white or flesh colored bills and legs make a fowl iook weak as compared with one in which bill and legs are a good yellow, but the facts about the breeds do not substantiate this view.
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Best Regards,
Karen
