John Willard Bolte

The Back Yard Farmer John Willard Bolte

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1917. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... Buff Chickens The Buff breeds of fowls are equally popular with the Blacks, but much less so than the Whites. The earliest Buff chickens of which we have any record are the Buff Cochins. These heavily upholstered members of the well known Hen Family were introduced into this country from China ports by some sea captain who was in the China trade in the old days of the Yankee clipper ships. Tradition says that they were well and favorably known in China and Manchuria for centuries before and the pair which were brought to this country were saved from the pot only by chance. The breed achieved considerable popularity along the New England coast and would undoubtedly hold a very commanding position in the poultry world today were it not for their friends. Early in the American history of the breed, certain misguided Cochin fanciers conceived the idea that "if clothes make the man, feathers make the chicken," and that was the beginning of the end for the unfortunate Buff Cochin. These enthusiasts so BUFF CHICKENS arranged the standard description of these fowls that it was necessary to produce a tremendous growth of feathers upon show specimens in order to win prizes, and the result was that the breed was changed in its character, the young ones took almost a year to mature to the laying age, laying ability was very seriously interfered with, and theutilitarian value of the breed for the farmer was entirely destroyed. From this original buff breed came a great many of the valuable Buffs that we now have, however, so they have been of some service to the poultrykeeping public. It is an undoubted fact that Cochin blood was used in the development of some strains of Buff Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks, Orpingtons, Games, Leghorns, and even the Rhode Island Red contains its...