The Influence of Health on Shape and Color in Barred Rocks

Good shaped specimens are always healthy. It is useless to expect puny birds to ever have well shaped bodies.  Deep bodies, full, round breasts, broad backs and stout shanks are not developed by anything but the most rugged constitutions.  These are characteristics of all great Plymouth Rocks. One factor in the production of color has occurred to but few, but it, nevertheless, is a most important one because, though a bird may have perfect inheritance along color lines, it won't matter if it is in bad health. By health it is meant continuous good health from birth. A sickness of but a week, a day or an hour has its effect. Loss of natural gloss and intensity of color are sure to follow. Whether ill health utterly destroys the chances of winning depends upon its nature and duration. The best birds, both in shape and in color, are the ones that besides inheriting good quality, grow normally or rapidly from the start, and are always in excellent health. Health affects shape as well as color. In order to grow healthy birds, breed from such and give both old and young the best of care. To produce good shape especially, parents that are ruggedly
healthy are absolutely necessary to succeed.