The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1915-12-18
SELECTING BREEDING !.
STOCK FOR CHICKS
By G.. E. CONKEY.

lure Illc average pOulIII oWllCI WdnIS
to hatch any chicks, but if you would
have your fluffy little fellows strong,
healthy and vigorous. you must begin
selecting your breeding stock now
Upon the wisdom of this selection
depends not only the general health
and stamina of your chicks, but to a
and laying qualities. This may not
have occurred to you, as many people
have never stopped to analyze the i'm
portance of Matching the eggs of only
such hens as have been carefully Sc
lected for breeding purposes. How
ever, | am sure that as you read the
rest of this article, you will realize
that fully one-half of the average
flock is wholly unfit for breeding pur-
poses and that the proper selection of
breeding birds is very important
matter.
1t is the very Importance of this
particular phase of poultry raising
that, to me, makes it so wonderfully
interesting. 1t is hard to imagine
anything more fascinating than to
pick out certain parent birds with the
idea of reproducing certain qualities
in the offspring and then eagerly wait
INK " see "lltllltI lllp results Will
show tho soundness or inexperience of
ones iudgment.
You, too will enjoy this part of
poultry raising | am sure, and you do
not have to wait to demonstrate YOUR
ahilitv to select good breeding birds,
for the selection of breeding stock
should begin immediately. 1t is best
to have the breeding birds in their
own house shortly after January 1st
and when they are once mated, they
must be kent entirely separate from
the rest of the flock. That means, too,
that you must have clean, dry quar-
tiers ready to receive them.
In selecting breeding birds, your
aim should be to take only those that
will he most likely to give you all
round good chicks-chicks that will
possess rugged health and stamina,
that viii mature in reasonable time,
that vii! make good LAYERS and that
will possess good qualities in general.
This makes It necessary for you to
watch your flock very closely each day
and pick out only those hers that are
strongest most healthy and vigor-
Gus. 1t is also desirable to choose
hens that you know are good layers o.
that show indications of being good
layers. as they will be most likely to
produce chicks that will mature into
good LAYERS. Heavy laying hens are
very active, are off the roosts early in
the morning and on late in the even
ing and are big eaters. However, do
not forget that hens that have been
laying REGULARLY are likely to be run
down and should not be used fof
breeding purposes until they have
been nut ir good condition bv getting
good tonic along with their feed. No
hen should he selected as Il breeder
that Is known to be poor layer.
The best breeding hens seem to be
those that are about two years old.
Tmec-ycar old hens are also good If
it is necessary to use pullets, only
those that are fully matured should
be chosen. Several undesirable results
are likely to follow the use of pulletS
as breeders. Often, many of the eggs
are imfertile. because the birds have
really not reached maturity; many of
the chicks are small and weak; and
the chicks do not mature into full size
birds.
Even worse than the use of pullet3
is the use of birds possessing defects
or crooked bones. 1t should always
be remembered that like be%ets ike"
and that at least part of the offspring
of such birds are almost sure to be
.dtformed or show the defect in even a
more marked decree than the parent.
when hens two or three years Old
are selected for breeding purposes,
they should be mated to a we'll mat.
ured cockere.. Experiments have
proven that such mating, as a rule,
produces the most desirable chick.
However. if pul!ets must be used, it is
better to mate them to an old male.
In either case, you should give just
as much attention to the health and
aOnarance Of the male bird as to that
of the hens, and if possible, select 3
male that you know comes from
good LAYING strain The male is real
ly half the flock and has an even
greater influence over the LAYING uual-
tiles Of the offsprinr than the female
A male bird should not be mated to
more than ten or twelve hens. Some
ralsers of the li~hter breeds of poultry
often place larger number of hens
with each male. but for all-round best
results. it i not advisable.
Careful selection and mating, such
aS outlined. is sure to produce chicks
that will be a credit to any owner.
PeSidnS. ] feel sure that if you try it.
You will feel repaid by the single in
t,"reSti"~ process Of picking out the
choicest breeders from among the poor
layers dro0os, undor-s sized and IN
healthy birds.