Q: What is a setter and what is a non-setter in
chickens?
A: A setter is a hen who will hatch her eggs. A non-setter is a hen who will not hatch eggs.
The vast majority of
chicken breeds will occasionally go "broody," meaning they will set their eggs and try to hatch them.
However, a "setter" usually refers to a breed (or a specific hen) that frequently goes broody.
Orpingtons and cochins are setters, for instance.
From that above website this explanation was supplied
The Allen Setters were developed by George Allen of Salt Lake
City, UT (editor of The Gazette , a
magazine devoted to wildfowl and other exotics). The Allen Setters were developed specifically for the purpose of hatching pheasant eggs.
Here is a link to his publishing company
Allen Publishing
There is not much about, but may be if you can track the magazine down it will help.
It was called "Pheasant Fanciers, Game Bird Breeders, and Aviculture's Gazette." and copies can be found for sale. Google have an E-book for some years publication.