October 28, 1985

Good Morning Bill:

                 Can you have the enclosed relayed to your leading poultry fanciers newspaper? However, have a feeling in your researching...that you have come on to some interesting pictures....drawings.

IN JUST A WEEK

we will be on our way, with a group of 18 to attend the World's Largest POULTRY SHOW in Hannover, West Germany. 20,000 entries is typical, NO SHOW....in the USA, will compare with it.

THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL MAGAZINE

published twice a month, with excellent color pictures. It features chickens, PIGEONS, game birds, cage birds....and pets. It is terrific. Again, nothing like it here in the USA.

HOPE YOUR EYE SIGHT IS BACK TO NORMAL!

                                    Such scares me! Without my health, without health of wife.....which also includes eye sight....and HEARING, would be impossible to accomplish the books I plan in the future.

HAVE A SUPER SPECIAL DAY!

 

What did the early chickens look like?

Some question Darwin theory, origination from Jungle Fowl.

By: Loyl Stromberg

Many years ago Albert McGraw of Alabama sent me a "tattered" old chicken book, printed before photography. There was no binding, the book not complete, the pages were held together by strands of thread. The illustrations were very simple by our modern standards were artists renditions. At first I thought the book might have originated in England, but note the name of a Chicago publisher, no longer in existence. Also, a few ads in the back, featuring small egg shipping cartons, that many shippers now would welcome.

This book mentions chickens most of us never have heard of Bolton Grays, Chittagongs, Blue Duns, Cochin Chinas and Shanghais. The last two mentioned, naturally brings to mind our Cochins, but the pictures of them have no resemblance to the Cochins of today, none with feathered shanks. Their "type" would never make one even think "COCHINS"!! A few of us do not accept the Darwin theory that all our  chickens originated from the Jungle Fowl. It does not seem logical that this theory fits the Brahmas, Cochins and Langshans.

It has occurred to me that perhaps we can get some idea as to what the early chickens looked like from ancient paintings of rural and barnyard scenes. Many of our breeds were developed through the 1800's. Perhaps not all that important, still it would be interesting to have some idea of what chickens looked like, before the breeding of our many exhibition chickens. Am sure they would not be all the same. Likely, varying from one country to another. Varying as to artists.

I've taken some preliminary steps to check into it with a good "contact" at the Wilson Library in the University of Minnesota. He reports there are considerably over 100 books in their library on the subject of ART. Perhaps next winter when it gets down to 30 to 40 below here in Northern Minnesota I'll drive down to Minneapolis for a few days to check into this angle, at this extensive Library.

In the meantime, I'd be interested to hear from someone, curious as I am, who might do some checking at their public Library. Most libraries have copy machines, so it is important to get copies of the pictures found in those art books, of the chicken or chickens portrayed in the painting. Write me at Pine River.