The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-03-28
FARM AND GARDEN,
Mating Up the Flock.

The regular poultry fancier begins
his selection of breeding stock early in
the fall, when he selects out the culls.
Where such wise method has not been
followed the best that can be accom-
plished later on must suffice. This does
not signify, however, that Judgment will
not be required, for it will, and among
the flock some of the pullets that had
been marked in the minds eye of the
owners may have so changed in their
melting as to be unrecognizable. This
Is very apt to be the case when the flock
is common one, and even if thor
oughbred one would at times puzzle
some. If the flock to be selected from
are all common barnyard fowls, there
will be considerable difficulty in select
ing specimens of uniform color or mark
lngs. Size and apparent vigor should
in degree govern the selection.
The selection of the male is very i'm
portant. There are number of points
that should be considered in selecting n
male for the head of the flock OF
bourse size should be leading feature
The male should be active, vigorous. A
quarrelsome male is not recommended.
for one of that nature is too apt to be-
come so pugnacious that he may actu-
ally torment and cruelty peck the half
grown chickens. The male that heads
the flock should be the most perfect
specimen attainable. The fact that
whatever imperfections the male may
possess is more than likely to be perpet-
uated IN the progeny shows the necessi-
ty of making proper selections. There
are poultry breeders who are governed
In the selection of the male bird almost
as much by his growing as other quail
ties. Each breed has distinctive crow,
A male bird is generally in his prime in
his second year. Among poultrymen a
male bird over year is called cock,
and one under l year cockerel-a
female over | year hen, and one under
year is pullet.
In mating the flock for breeding many
consider, if a cock bird heads it, pullets
should be his mates-if a cockerel he
should be mated with hens. 1t is claim
ed these m&tings results in securing the
strongest and most thrifty growing
chickens. If, however, says the Balti-
more sun, authority for the foregoing,
f",.'s have been properly cared for and
Il icious selection made of the breed
irg Ho';, tdnciers noted for their fine
liri- do not hesitate to disregard these
rules and mate up their focks with
IL .r hest even if a cockerel is allotted
to rnn with flock of pulIets. There is
this advantage however, in using a
cock bird to head the hock-the breed
er has knowledge of the result of the
bird S breeding as cockerel. If his
progeny has proved as good as expected
there will be no uncertainty of the re-
suits of his breeding the second year.
With cockerel, even though he may
possess all advantageous points that
naturally would cause good results to
be expected by his use, if he is a COM
mon mongrel, disappointment may re-
suit. More dependence CAP be relied
upon when breeding pure bred fowls.
The flock that is selected for breeding
purposes should of course be kept apart
from the others. After they have been
mated for couple of weeks the eggs
are quite sure to be fertile.
The number of hens allowed to each
male depends upon the vigor of the
birds. With a flock of common fowls |
not more than 10 should be allowed. |
This number may be too many, and the |
right proportion can only be ascertain
ed by testing the average fertility of |
the eggs. With the pure breeds the
number of females proper to be allowed
to each male is more thoroughly under
stood. With the active breeds, such as
Leghorns, Spanish and Hamburgs, from
10 to 20 can safely be allowed, and near
ly every egg will prove fertile; Pym-
outh Rocks, IL hens or pullets with a
cock bird, and 10 with good cockerel
will answer. Wyandotte males may be
allowed about the same number as the
plymouth Rocks. Breeding stock should
be 80 fed that they have ample exercise.