This variety is probably as well known and generally bred as any variety
of fancy poultry we have, and its continued popularity is conclusive
proof of the high estimation in which it is held by fanciers throughout
the land. To the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire the
Silver-Spangled Hamburgs owe their present state of perfection, although
American breeders have done more in twenty years to perfect their combs,
ear-lobes and face than English fanciers have been able to accomplish in
twice that time. The plumage is essentially English, and to English
fanciers is due the credit for perfecting their beautiful markings. In
fact, they were brought to a high standard of excellence in Lancashire
long before the first poultry show; and this standard was clearly
defined and adhered to by fanciers, who were chary about admitting
innovations as to their ideas.
They were originally called Silver Pheasants in Yorkshire, and Silver
Mooneys in Lancashire. These latter, while the most numerous and best
bred, admitted only hen-feathered cocks, and were brought to a high
state of perfection. Mr. Beldon says: “Some of the old Mooneys were
absolute perfection in point of feather; the spangling, so large, round
and rich in color, was really something to be wondered at, and shows a
skill and enthusiasm in breeding which, in the absence of public shows
in those days, has about it something of the marvelous.”
When poultry shows first came into fashion these Mooneys received the
lion’s share of the awards at all the exhibitions, until it came to be
considered utter foolishness to pit any kind of fowl against them, and
they enjoyed their exalted position for several years unmolested. At the
expiration of this time, however, breeders of the Mooneys were thrown
into confusion by the sudden and unanimous decree of the judges that
these “hen-feathered Mooneys” were all humbug, and not “the correct
thing,” inasmuch as so many of these “hen-feathered” cocks proved
unprolific or imperfect that long-tailed birds were secretly used to
keep up the breed. There was so much evident truth in this that the
struggle, though sharp, was of short duration; the judges triumphed, and
the reign of the Silver Mooneys as show birds was over, while the star
of the Silver Pheasants steadily rose, until nothing was recognized but
the full-plumaged cocks, though the hens still lacked the nice spangling
which had rendered the Lancashire birds so much admired, the spangles
being small and indistinct. It may be well to state here that the
Yorkshire birds were the original variety, the excellence in spangling
attained by the Lancashire fanciers being the result of judicious
breeding. The Yorkshire birds had better symmetry, whiter ear-lobes,
smaller combs and clearer tails, and it is from them that our modern
Silver-Spangled Hamburgs are descended. They are fully up to the other
varieties in productiveness, and possess all the good traits of the
breed, while their exceeding beauty renders them remarkably attractive.
_Plumage._—Of course the spangling in the Silver-Spangled Hamburg is of
primary importance, and should be regarded with the utmost care. As the
spangling differs in the sexes, we shall be obliged to describe them
separately.
_Cock._—The neck-hackle should be abundant, descending well over the
shoulders, and in color, silvery-white (any approach to a yellowish
tinge to be carefully avoided), the longer feathers ending in a small
diamond-shaped spangle, and presenting a beautiful rayed appearance
about the shoulders.
The back and saddle should have the same general style of feathers, pure
white in color, except the small spangle near the end as in the
neck-hackle, avoiding any appearance of the yellowish tinge.
The breast feathers should be pure silvery-white, each feather ending
with a well-defined, round, large-sized greenish-black spangle or moon,
showing as little white on the tip as possible, the spangles increasing
in size in proportion as the feather increases in size. The body and
wing-feathers must have a similar moon-shaped spangle. There is a
tendency to indistinct or smutty markings in the tail, which should be
avoided. The moons on the breast-feathers should be just large enough to
give the breast a spangled appearance, by allowing a little of the white
beyond each moon to show. The moons, if too large, give the breast a
mossed or black appearance, which is a defect. The spangles on greater
and lesser wing-coverts form two distinct bars across the wing, which is
very requisite in a well-marked bird. Care should be taken to avoid
clear white feathers in back and saddle, as they are very liable to
appear in light-colored birds.
_Hen._—The neck-hackle should be composed of clear, silvery-white
feathers, each plainly striped near the end with greenish-black. The
back, breast and body should be clear white, each feather distinctly
spangled with a large, round and greenish-black moon, as large as
possible without the spangles running together and giving a mossy or
black appearance in places.
The half-moon spangle should be avoided with much care in all feathers
except the wing-secondaries, where it is allowable in both sexes. The
wing-coverts, greater or lesser, should be clear, silvery-white,
terminating in a large, greenish-black, round spangle, and forming two
parallel bars, distinctly marked, across the wing. It is difficult to
find a perfectly spangled tail without some black or smutty color in the
main body of the feathers; this is not so persistent a defect in the hen
as in the cock, and can be bred out of both, if proper care is taken.
The feathers on the thighs should be as distinct as possible, care being
taken to prevent a mossy or laced appearance.
Nothing can be more beautiful than a finely-spangled Silver Hamburg, and
when a perfect spangling is once attained, it is easily continued in the
progeny. Laced or half-moon feathers are a great eye-sore to the
fancier, and are often very troublesome, although perhaps not more so
than the indistinct markings on the tail, once so common, but which is
now being replaced by clear, well-spangled tails—another evidence of
skillful breeding.
_Other Points._—The comb in Silver-Spangled Hamburgs should resemble
exactly that described in our section on Black Hamburgs. The ear-lobe
should also be the same, but is more easily bred to perfection in the
Spangled than in the Black variety, being naturally rather smaller and
smoother; but, on the other hand, more liable to red edges. There is the
same tendency to white in the face in Silver-Spangled as in Black
Hamburgs, although in a lesser degree, and there surely is no excuse for
its cropping out here, if ordinary care is taken to prevent it.
The carriage of Silver-Spangled Hamburgs is graceful in the extreme and
constitutes one of their chief attractions; indeed, we think they are
among the most stylish birds we have. The legs should be slender, neat
and clean, of medium length, and in color, blue or slaty-blue. We have
already described what constitutes good symmetry in a Hamburg; let it
suffice to say that the Silver-Spangled are essentially _Hamburg_ in
this respect.
The disqualifications to which this variety is liable are absence of the
wing-bars, markings wholly crescent-shaped or of the half-moon
character, solid black breasts, laced feathers, squirrel tails, red
ear-lobes, and the absence of spike in comb, cocks hen-feathered.
The beak should be horn-color, and the eyes a dark hazel. Care should be
taken to avoid a black fluff in either sex, as it is an especial
abomination to the intelligent fancier.
_Points in Breeding Silver-Spangled Hamburgs._—We are obliged to
acknowledge that unless you have a thorough knowledge of the strain you
are breeding from, there is considerable guess-work necessary in
choosing a Silver-Spangled Hamburg cock for breeding; for the reason
that, unlike most fowls, there are frequent cases where a finely-marked
cock will fail to throw a good percentage of well-marked chicks in his
progeny. So, if you fail to procure a good breeder at first, you must
try again. In the first place, select a cock with good comb and
ear-lobes, as much spangling in back and saddle as possible, good
wing-bars, and clear tail; in fact, a good, deep-colored show cock, and
put him to the very best hens you can get.
Care must be taken to avoid any grave faults on either side, such as
smudgy markings, poor ear-lobes, or overhanging, coarse combs. Now see
what you can do with this mating. If you get a fair proportion of
well-marked chicks, stick to this pen as long as they will breed, or the
eggs are fertile, for it is not every lot that breeds well together. If
you find that you are not getting a good proportion of fairly-marked
birds, you must change the cock, procuring one from another strain, and
try your luck with him, persevering until you get what you desire. In
all varieties of fowls there are some strains that will produce better
cockerels than pullets, and _vice versa_, and Hamburgs are no exception
to the general rule. You may, therefore, find it to your advantage to
breed from two different yards, provided you have sufficient room and
the means of procuring the proper birds. If a pen breeds excellent
cockerels but poor pullets, keep that pen for cockerel breeding, as it
is far better to breed good birds of one sex than middling birds of both
sexes, even if you have but one pen. When you have a good pen of
cockerel getters, begin to look about for a yard which will breed fine
pullets. A little patience and perseverance will be amply repaid when at
last you find yourself successful; and when you _do_ get what you want,
stick to it!
Our instructions for mating Silver-Spangled Hamburgs are _in toto_ as
minute as ever have or can be given, for the simple reason, as we have
said, that your first matings (unless you know the strain well) must be
greatly influenced by chance.
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[Illustration: GOLDEN-SPANGLED HAMBURGS.]
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We might add that whenever you select a cock for breeding, choose one of
as much health and vigor as you can find possessing the other requisite
points, for we believe that nothing contributes more to distinct
markings in chickens than parents that can give them vigorous
constitutions and hardy characteristics.