Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-08-14
Vigorous Stock Necessary;
Only the Best Layers
Should Be Retained as
Breeding Stock
Use Of Trap Nest Will Help
Owners to Build Up Most
Profitable Utility Flock
BY Michael X. Boyer
Poultry Editor of the Farm journal
COPYRIGHT, 1915.

COE i WV
Selection of the right breeding stock
is an important element in the success
with poultry. In this article Mr.. Boyer
tells the qualities that breeding stock
should possess and points out how the
owner may increase the productive
ness of his flock each year by making
the proper selection.
ONLY by careful selection and
proper breeding can We hope to
~ build up the utility qualities Of
our flocks. We must aim each year
to show an Improvement.
It must not be forgotten that while
1t is important that we have good,
strong hens, the influence of the male
is the greatest factor.
Success cannot be obtained without
good, strong, healthy breeding stock TO
begin with, and they must be kept in
good health.
A frail delicate hen should not be
permitted in the breeding pen, no mat
ter how good a layer she may be. Such
an individual will produce inferior on
spring on account of her own physical
weakness.
If we are working for egg produc-
ton, we must first pick out our good,
strong pullets, and then secure males
from a known strain of heavy layers
The trap nest must be employed so
that we may know which OF our pull
let's are the best layers, anS, breed only
from them. This work OF selection
must not be limited to one or two
years. It must be the rule every year.
Male Line Should Not Be Changed
Having established a record male
line, 1t should never be changed. New
blood must be infused on the female
side. To change males annually would
be going backward.
It is we'll known that a pen of rec
ord layers are, as rule. an uneven
lot in appearance. 1 have a pen or
White Wyandotte hens that as year.
lings are doing better work than any
other pen of pullets l ever owned, and
1 don't believe one hen in that pen
would have a chance of recognition
from a poultry judge. Yet l would
not trade them for the best exhibition
pen in the country-not for my pur-
pose: raising eggs for market.
There may be something in the Sc
lection of layers according to type.
When Tom Barron delivered his lee
ture at Storrs College, he said that a
good layer usually stands high in
front and her back is not on level
nor the rear higher than the front.
The best producers usually have large
combs, high tail and a prominent,
large. bright eye. Mr.. Barron also
said that upon handling the birds he
found that most of the best layers
have thin. straight pelvic bones. He
likes the wedge shape, rather narrow
in front, but wide behind and wide
between the legs.
I fully believe that, for an average,
that type is valuable, but have hens
among my very best layers that are
just the reverse. Nevertheless the be-
ginner will make no mistake in follow
ing out that class.
Trap Nest Is Necessary
So. rather than rely on type I Will
continue to resort to the trap nest
know then that the information I get
is bound to be accurate. There is no
other method by which 1t is possible
to know which are the sons of the
best layers. To maintain a great lay
ing strain, no cockerel should be used
which was not bred from hens which
laid 200 eggs or more. This is point
that must be considered seriously.
Yearling hens are best for breeding.
BY "yearling" is meant a year from
the time of its first starting to lay. In
other words. the real age OF yearling
is about eighteen months. Quite a
number of the breeders trap nest only
the pullets, and from this record make
their selection. Some trap nest from
October 1 to June, especially those
who are mating for strong winter egg
| production.
No fowl should be used In the
breeding pen that has ever been sick
day in its life. The trouble with
poultry once sick is that no one can
be quite sure that they have been
cured perfectly. and the weakness or
| tendency to disease may be transmit
ted to chickens hatched from their
eggs.
Too much stress cannot be placed
upon the importance of strong consti-
tutions, vigor. activity and plenty OF
| life in the foundation stock.
Inbreeding must be avoided If we
{ wish to build up a healthy laying
strain No record hens were ever Sc
cured by inbreeding. At the same
! time no progress can be made BY con-