The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1913-11-07
SELECTING FOWLS

One Oh the lnOSt lulpOT Idut plouicho
that confronts the poultry keeper to-
day is how to secure and maintain
the vigor of the fowls. This applies
to all breeds of poultry and to every
age, from the baby chicks to the ma
ture fowl.
One individual is born strong and
vigorous, another may be weak, one is
profitable because of it's vigor, the
other is Improbable because it is
lacking in this respect. A chick may
be strong and because of improper
feeding or housing may have lost the
good health it originally had.
Since it is true that fowls differ in
their constitutional vigor, it is nee
essary that the successful poultry
keepers study these differences in
order that they may be able to select
the strong from the weak, thus avoid
ing the danger OF using breeding
stock of low vitality. 1t is important
that a study be made of characters
tics of high and low vitality birds in
order to be able to quickly know
strong from weak fowl. Selections
for the breeding flock may be made
before the fowls are fully matured.
1t is not difficult to distinguish the
difference between two extreme types
but it requires careful study to recog-
nize the differences between individ
uals where there is not marked con-
trast
A strong constitution is of first con-
sideration, for without, heavy consist
ent laying is impossible and a good
laying strain cannot be developed I'M
less constitutional vigor be given first
consideration in selection. Birds
showing the least sign of weakness
should be discarded.
The actions of a fowl indicate to a
considerable extent it's physical con-
dition. A weak bird is usually inactive
and droopy. Bright red comb, wattles
and face are sure indications of health
and vigor, bird pale in the face is
always delicate.
In considering the proper shape of
a good laying hen the head is one of the
most important parts to study. Depth
and width of head and shortness from
front to back are essential. A bird
with a long, thin "snaky" head and a
long, straight beak is lacking in vigor
and will not make a good layer.
A clear, full, round bright eye is a
sure indication of health and vitality.
Dropping eyelids should be avoided as
they denote weakness. The beak
should be rather short and stout, thick
at the base and well rounded. The
face should be smooth and free from
hollows under the eyes.
Good width and breadth of breast is
necessary to insure space for full ex-
pansion of the lungs, allowing suffi-
cient oxygen to be taken into the sys-
TEN, thus promoting good health. Good
width and depth of breast usually car
ries with it greater abdominal devel-
opment which is necessary for the full
expansion of the ova without cramping
them and the abdominal organs. With
good width of breast and abdomen the
thighs are necessarily set well apart.
A fowl with strong constitution
usually has fully developed tail feath-
ers. The brilliancy of the plumage is
an indication of constitutional vigor.
The feathers on a fowl of low vitality
usually grow slowly and appear to be
dull and ruffled as compared with the
close fitting, smooth, fully developed
bright plumage of the vigorous fowl.
The loudness and frequency of the
crow of the male and the cackle of the
female are indications of strength.
The strong bird has a good appetite
and large crop. 1t usually has a
vigorous appearance and confident
| bearing.
There are many common causes OF
! ,oss of vigor in the flock. Inbreeding
is the cause of a considerable loss in
the poultry yard. The poultry keeper
sometimes has bird of exceptionally
fine pluRnage and for that reason mates
this bird in the breeding pens regard
les of it's vigor or it's relation to others
of the same pen. This is a serious
mistake that may require several years
of careful mating to correct.
Poultry keepers often make the mis-
take of crowding too large a number
of birds into small quarters. This
tends to lower the egg production and
weakens the germ in the egg.
If poultry houses are allowed to
become filled with filth, lice and mites
satisfactory results cannot be OBJ
tanned.
No poultry keeper can afford to
artempt to raise chickens from fowls
that are not true to type, from weak
sickly poultry or from birds that have
ever been sick with any disease.
GROWING ALFALFA IN SEMI-ARID
WASuVNGTAN