Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-12-19

men. giving plenty of room for vital
assimilate food and large development
of eggs. Good width between the
pelvic bones and good distance be-
tween rear joint of keel bone and
pelvic arch are desirable qualities. A
long keel tapering up to full, we'll
rounded breast will give room for
large lung capacity and for organs OF
digestion, making it possible for the
bird to convert largo quantities OF
raw foodstuffs into eggs. She should
stand on a pair of medium length
! legs, set wide apart and upon spread
feet.
! If possible she should be a descend
ant from hen with a large egg pro-
duction record and her sire should
have been son of heavy producing
hen.
Trap Nesting for Breeders
! When the pullets have been mated
they should be trap nested in order
! to determine the number of eggs and
the quality of chicks produced. Any
pullet which has proven itself an eX-
ceptional layer and when her eggs are
Matched the chicks are of the vigor-
|
following season. If by special
marking system 1t is found that these
pullets were not only mothers Of
vigorous chicks, but when her pullets
have also proven themselves except
| ional layers these hens should be kept
as breeders as long as they produce
vigorous chicks.
! When Matching from high producing
hens select eggs which are first laid
after the resting period, which follows
| the moult. The first eggs laid after.
this resting period are popularity sup
posed to be the strongest in genera
| tive power. The breeding hens should
not be forced for egg production, but
food of a higher nutritive value
should be fed to insure fertility.
AS TO Male Breeders
The breeding male is one-half of
the future flock and. IL he fulhlls his
destiny, should stamp his individu-
ality upon his progeny to a very
noticeable extent 1t is absolutely
necessary that he be a descendant
from birds which possessed except
| ional Vigor.
| AS a rule the male bird stamps his
color, shape and carriage on his pro-
geny and If the females in the breed
! ing pen be deficient in any particular
| IL is well to have this point accen-
tuated in the male.
According to experiments made at
the Maine Agricultural Station it was
found that hens with high egg pro-
ducing records were more likely to
I transmit the laying propensity through
their sons rather than through their
/ daughters From this experiment 1t
would show that the male to be used
| in the breeding flock should be son
of a hen with a large egg laying re-
cord.
! AS an individual the male bird
| selected to head the breeding flock
| should have a decided masculine ap-
pearance, of moderate size, stand upon
well spread feet, strong legs OF med
ium length, placed wide apart.
He should have a broad fiat head
surmounted with bright red comb
of good size, a bright eye slightly pro-
truding, which seems to be always
alert. A froad long back, deep
body and full breast are as essential
| to the male as to the female.
Any bird which does not measure
up to these standards should be re-
! iected as breeders BY close applica-
/ tion to these principles it is possible
to build up a strain which will con-
| form to the shape and plumage of the
standard and develop into prolific
layers, which will insure large pro-
fits and be a credit to the poultry in
dustry.