New Hampshires The Making of An American Breed So many breeds have been developed and refined through the diligence of committed breeders towards the goal of developing a fine quality fowl, with goals of producing a dual-purpose holding exceptional traits but not too many have in the "making " had such powerful influence on an entire state. Yet that is the making of the New Hampshire. In the early 1900’s poultry men began working on a composite, from a foundation stock of Rhode Island Reds, brought into New Hampshire from Southern Massachusetts shows, around 1935. They called these early fowl "New Hampshire Reds" in part referring to the geographical location of the flocks but mainly it meant a "TYPE " of Rhode Island Red. What this really meant was the type of R.I. Red raised in New Hampshire. This project also appears to be undertaken strictly by the local farmers of the area. Small groups of farmers were dispersed throughout the sate yet with farsighted goals and a bit of organization they will achieve success in a respectable amount of time. What these farmers sought to develop in these ‘NEW REDS" was a profitable dual purpose and exceptional broiler fowl for the market, a fowl that would not only meet the needs of the market but supply a substantial profit for the keepers. As time went on, with diligent selective breeding, the differences between the Rhode Island Reds and New Hampshires Reds became evident. Soon the reference to these fowl as "New Hampshire Reds" became shortened to New Hampshires. They became the pride of the state and helped launch the poultry industry. One of the first characteristics, established in the breed from its early beginnings, was its rapid growth, its ability to assimilate a fare ration keeping husbandry costs down and a healthy productivity rate. This would make the New Hampshire an ideal dual-purpose bird economically for the farmer. Ideal weights could be reached in ten weeks for broilers. Continual selection of those early maturing traits, for the breeding flocks has established this quality in New Hampshires. They mature in approximately five months coming into production rapidly. New Hampshires also feather out rapidly, evenly and uniformly. New Hampshires, unlike many other breeds, have a very short small egg period as pullets. Eggs are typically sold by weight, a pullet that can produce a substantial egg of the same volume, as a hen would be considered quite profitable in the commercial market. This notable egg size would also allow an earlier breeding season. One of the first considerations in constructing a marketable breed is fowl are those not showing great vitality. Those fowl that were not showing this characteristic must be eliminated from the breeding pens regardless of any other qualities they may be exhibiting. The vitality and stamina the breeders created in these fowl shows strongly in the prodigy produced, passed to them from the parent stock from generation to generation. At one tine many used the New Hampshire in hybrid crosses such as in the early commercial industry. High hatchability rate established in a breed would mean not only success in establishing flocks but also a greater return for farmer’s efforts. New Hampshires chicks are known for a high hatchability rate anything below 70% is considered poor with 80% or higher for the hatch season considered the norm. It is recorded also of exceptional laying qualities in bantam New Hampshires. Bantams were created around the 1940s, by the use of Buff Brahma, Rhode Island Reds and Wyandottes. Like its standard counterpart it displays the same traits and characteristics of early feathering and vitality. Though they mainly were created for exhibition purposes like so many other bantams, they too are classified as a "Utility" bantam. Before 1917 the development of New Hampshires was slow, and the work to establish this breed was only being done by a few breeders. The head of the Poultry Department at the University of New Hampshire, Prof. A. W. Richardson, recognized the possibilities that this type of hearty stock could provide for the state and the commercial industry. His first approach to aid in the further development of the New Hampshire was to eradicate Pullorum Disease, which was known then as Bacillary White Diarrhea. With his aggressive approach to eliminating this disease in the local flocks of New Hampshires throughout the state, by the early twenties, the poultry farmers of New Hampshire had taken over the broiler market in New York and eventually egg production. New York market was hard and demanded excellence market qualities in broilers. One of the biggest influences was the Jewish communities trade. They required live fowl by tradition and poorly feathered and unpresentable birds were not marketable to them. This concern influenced early breeders thus they stressed and focused on early feathering characteristics in their fowl. Soon a demand from other poultry men, wanting not only the unique New Hampshire but the advantage of fowl from a Pullorum free flock arose which led to an increase in New Hampshire flocks. Richardson, was one of the biggest promoters of the ‘New" breed. He had been a constant participant in marketing and promoting the breed. He eventually helped in organizing the New Hampshire Red Club of America in 1932. Richardson was instrumental not only in selling the New Hampshire as a profitable utility fowl for the commercial industry, but also in developing a testing program which ultimately led to Pullorum free stock in the State of New Hampshire. It is said that he believed the breeders of the early New Hampshires did not really know what they had created, but he recognized it and became a driving force. Work may have been slow at establishing a breed known as the New Hampshire in the beginning but it was organized. In the early 1930’s a handful of dedicated New Hampshire Red breeders met at Durham, NH. Collecting and going over various birds from flocks, they selected the birds which best suited their idea of a proper representation of a New Hampshire Red. Final selection was of one female and one male that would be come to be know as the ‘Ideal" specimen of a New Hampshire. They commissioned the services of Arthur Schilling and Maurice Delano in writing a proposed standard for the breed. Accordingly they filed an application to the American Poultry Association for admittance into the Standard of perfection. It was their thought as breeders, that in creating a breed of great economic value, they had created an exceptional fowl of greater characteristics and it should be recognized as an American breed. They also felt that they should receive a great deal of respect in the regards as to what they had accomplished and deservingly so, should be recognized. On August 8, 1935, they were admitted to the Standard of Perfection, though they had to agree to drop "Reds" from the name and call them New Hampshires to give them clear distinction from Rhode Island Reds. This breed has only one variety, a single combed clean-legged fowl with plumage even in color of red chestnut to reddish bay. With black and brilliant red appearing on the neck, wings, and tail feathers. The main tail feathers are black, edged with chestnut red. The New Hampshire breeders also had a quarterly called "The Business Fowl of America," this quarterly featuring New Hampshires promoted the breed in such a fashion the New Hampshire was seen as a favorable breed. It became the official magazine of the club. Artist Arthur Schilling, in 1938, captured the "ideal" color, type, pattern, and the first natural color paintings were published and distributed nationally and internationally. Around 1940, New Hampshires arrived in the U. K. It appears that the U.K. breeders in replacing the traditional use of male Rhode Island Reds in their Hybrid crosses used the New Hampshires. Pretty much the same way that a shift will occur for the use of New Hampshires in hybrid crosses when the Plymouth Rock is preferred by the commercial industry in the United States. This brought focus an attention to the utility class and market value the New Hampshires for the English. Long since had the days of preference for" White skinned" fowl dominating the English market. The English marveled over the deep yellow appearance of the shanks and legs of the New Hampshire. The New Hampshire "Red "Club was formed in the U.K. 1997. A perfect "Specimen" of a Utility fowl, an economic value for the keeper, a docile and sturdy fowl for the handler, and just a pleasure to view what more could you want in a fowl.   References and Article Credits The New Hampshire Breeders Club of America 1941 "Poultry Tribune" The New Hampshire Breeder or Poultry Tribune. The New Hampshire Red Club of Great Britian "New Hampshire Poultry Growers' Association 1939"  Chicken Chronicles ©copyright 2003 Background by