The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-05-17
THE IMPROVEMENTS POULTRY.

The natural tendency OF fowls is to de-
generate in their useful qualities, and
this they will do if they are not judic-
iously mated and do not receive proper
attention from their keeper. The differ
ent varieties of fowls we now have do
not all receive the attention they should
have, and as consequence it is not easy
to secure good healthy pure bred stock
OF the different breeds. Many breeders,
says foreign journal, spend good deal
time trying to form a new breed, and
really pay but very little attention to
their useful qualities, simply trying to
form new breed, and really pay but
very little attention to their useful quail
tiles, simply trying to obtain something
different in colour or form from the
varieties we now have. They are very
anxious to have the honor of successfully
establishing a new breed, but it is a
much harder task than they think, and
at last they reluctantly give up the idea.
Their ingenuity could be used to much
better advantage by improving the
breeds We already have. An extra large
crest or comb, or any peculiar shade or
colour for the ear lobes is not what is
meant by real improvement of the
breed. 1t is the qualities OF utility,
such as egg production, or large size
that needs particular attention. Many
times larte comb or crest is bred
into a flock 'of fowls at the expense
of other and more useful quail
ties. 1t would be an excellent thing if
the breeders would get up strife be-
tween each other, as to who could raise
the largest specimen of any particular
breed, or whose fowls could produce
the largest number of eggs in any given
length of time. Breeding with such an
object in view is just what is needed.
All fowls are just what their breeders
make them. The secret of success lies
in the skill of the breeder.
Hens in wild state, as they are found
in different parts of Asia, only lay one
nest of eggs and then hatch them out,
this same as turkeys or pea-fowls do in a
domested state. These wild hens some
times raise two broods of chicks during
the season, but they seldom ever lay
more than twenty-five or thirty eggs per
year. Now, with our domesticated fowls
it is no uncommon thing to hear of hens
laying as many as two hundred eggs a
year. This is all brought about in the
manner in which they are bred, and
shows very plainly what breeding and
domestication will do for them. But
there is no need of stopping where we
are if we can secure still better results,
and we should surely be able to keep
from going backwards in this matter OF
egg production; but if our fowls are not
bred judiciously they surely will degen-
crate, and not only will their useful
qualities be impaired, but if they are
not properly mated their offspring will
be of a weaker constitution, and much
more liable to disease than the parent
stock. Retain only the best specimens
for bre eding each year, and only such
as are known to com pare at least favor
ably with other specimens of the same
breed in the matter of egg production
J The rooster has a very important in.
J tluenc; it shonld be remem bered that
the cock is half OF the flock and in
selecting the cock be very particular
and only use such as are known to have
strong constitutional vigor, in order tc
improve the health OF the offspring
Such plan of careful breeding will in.
sure much better results than are now
obtained by most of our breeders, and
the real value of the different breeds
will steadily increase instead OF degen.
Grating.