Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-08-20

The modern hen has been developed in
the production of eggs from few eggs
laid in the spring of the year by the
ancient jungle fowl, to the much-talkcd-
IF 250-egg hen a year. This has required
,areful breeding up, or mating and Sc
Getting, for the purpose of producing the
most eggs. While it is true that often
IN the past the number of eggs the hen
would lay has not been the immediate re-
suit sought yet poultry breeders have,
with other points in view, developed the
hen along the lines of shape and vitality,
and thus led to a greater egg yield
Each hen has thousands of immature
egg cells in the ovaries. far more cells
than she will lay eggs In an average life
time even though she gets into the 900-egg
hen class for several years in succession
With these cells as undeveloped eggs in
the hens body. the problem is to so
breed, select and care for the hen that
she will develop and mature these coils
into completed eggs
While It is n true saving that in mating
poultry, as in everything else. like be-
gets like" if this was absolutely true,
there would be no progress. II is only
through the variations, the development
of hidden characteristics. or the revcrt!ng
to earlier types and conditions that
change or development can be made. or
course, the ideal theory is to breed from
the hen that is herself a heavy producer
Of eggs. Yet experience has demonstrate
I'd that the hens that are the heaviest
layers often give the poorest fertility to
their eggs and their chicks are frequent
~ of the lowest vitality. Often these
chicks. too fail to show the characteris-
lie Of heavy egg production like their
mother
MALE BIRD POTENT FACTOR.
In recent years, theory has been de-
veloped that it is not the hen that car
reS the prepotency to produce other hens
hat will be layers of many eggs. but
that it IS the male side that carries the
ability to propagate hens of heavy egg
production. In other words, find the male
whose daughters are known layers and
breed from that male bird. The sons of
1eavy-laYinE hens are also supposed to
produce hetter-laYing pullets than can be
bred from daughters of this heavY-laying
hen. As above stated this hypothesis is
comparatively recent one, and has not
vet been thoroughly demonstrated In the
practical poultry world but only shown
In an experimental way. However, it Is
very likely that the majority Of those
breeding for heavy egg production will
continue to work along the lines that
nave been long established and rccog-
7i1cd, namely, to secure hens and males
o'' from hens that had heavy egg pro-
ON characteristics.
citing FOR mating the females
les that propagate pullets for
.'r egg yields, three things NAV he
gtcd out as of first Importance; vital
ny, the individual characteristics and the
oarentage behind each individual fowl
VITALITY OF FIRST IMPORTANCE.
Vitality stands of prime Importance
hen must have the energy to digest
arge amount Of food to stand the Sc
we're nervous strain Of producing above
normal amount of eggs. Originally
hens only laid n few eggs and this is
therefore, the normal performances All
eggs produced over the normal amount
require extra energy, and are that much
more drain on the hens constitutional
vigor In selecting for vitality, the
alertness must never be overlooked. All
legs long, slim, narrow backs, narrow
chests, shallow ahdomens, and a sleepy
nshy eye. must be rejected. The hen that
is heavy layer must have the reverse
Of these conditions She must have a
hrm, well-curved head and back. sturdy
legs well set apart, wcll-developed back
and chest deep abdomen and a bright
eye One noted authority cites the active
alert, deep-bodied White Leghorn hen ne
the ideal egg producer. st the Same time
her size and economy of food consumn-
ton, coupled with her quick maturity.
give her the first call as an egg pro-
Queer.
HENS MUST BE HEALTHY.
Just because hen has vitality and on
ergy, and the parentaGe behind her she
must not be selected as ideal for the
breeding pen. Her individual Character
istics must be right. The first and most
important is that she has never been slcl,
a day. 1t never pays to attempt to get
results from a hen that has her vitality
undermined by any kind of sickness. no
matter how slight the sickness may be
Next, she must have the proper shape or
type that Is regarded by the majority Of
poultry breeders as an indication of a
heavy egg yield, This means that she
must be Of the famous wedge-shapc in
type. wider behind than In front, with a
good, deep body, especially through the
abdomen, In age, she should not he less
than one year and fully developed yet
mot overly large. 1t is important if she