The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-15
PICKING OUT BREEDING FOWLS

the same tune or by alternating iie males on successive days.
 Age of Breeding Stock-Pulets or hens. coclxerels or cocks can be used in the breeding stock. Hens. however are to be preferred to outlets be- cause they lay larger eggs and seem to give better fertility and strong CT chicks Ycarling and 2year-old hens are to be preferred to older hens. Any birds, either male or female. that have proved to be especially vaiuabl breeders should be retained as long as they will breed.
 Free Range for Breeding Stock-If possible, the breeding stock should have free range. It is better if this be provided during the entire fall and winter before the breeding saSon; but if this be not possible, free range just preceding and during the breeding sea- son will be of great value. Birds on free range will give a higher fertn- ity. better hatches and stronger chicks.
 Maintaining the Fertility-The breeding flock should be watched to see that the fowls keep in condition. Examine the birds and houses to see that they are not infested with lice or mites. If the birds are overrun with either of these pests the fertility will be affected seriously or totally de- stroyed. Care must be used also to see that the male does not get his comb or wattles frosted. If these are frozen to any extent. his ability to ferti1ize eggs will be impaired and will not be recovered for several weeks. When the weather is very cold the mates intended for breeding should be placed in a box or crate partly covered with a bag or cloth to prevent freezing of the comb or wattles. It is also well to examine the male occasionally to see that his crop is full and that he is not growing thin Sometimes the male is so gallant that he allows the hens to eat all the food with the re suit that he soon gets out of condi ton. If this happens the male must be caught up at least once a day and fed separately from the hens.
 Feeding the Breeding Stocz-The breeders must be fed to keep them in good condition and at the same time. to produce eggs. Any good ration fed to layers is suitable for this purpose, but it should not be extremely fore ing, or. in other words. it shoJffi not have an extremely large proportion of beef scrap. The birds should be in good flesh but not be allowed to become excessively fat. All whole or cracked grain should be fed in the litter so as to make the fowls exercise by scratch ing for it. Unless the flock has ac- cess to some natural supply of green feed. which is not likely during and preceding the breeding season. if must be fed some of this material in tho form of sprouted oats, cabbage, man. gels. or cut clover or alfalfa.
 Publications of the United States de- partment of agriculture relating to poultry can be obtained free from de- partment of agriculture, Washington, D. C.. as follows:
 Standard Varieties of Chickens,"s farmers bulletin 51
 Poultry Management" farmers bull letin 287.
 "capons and Caponizing." farmers bulletin 452.
 Hints to Poultry Raisers," farm CTS bulletin 530.
 Important Poultry Diseases" farm CTS bulletin 530.
 Boys and Girls Poultry clubs" farmers bulletin 562
 Poultry House Construction" farm CTS bulletin 574.
 Natural and Artificial Incubation of Hens Eggs" farmers bulletin 5S5
 Natural and Artificial Brooding of Chickens" farmers bulletin 624.
 Simple Trap Nest for Poultry" farmers bulletin 6S2.
 "squab Raising farmers bulletin 6S4
 Duck Raising" farmers bulletin 697
 Goose Raising farmers bulletin 767
 Turkey Raising" farmers bulletin 791
 Mites and Lice on Poultry" farm CTS bulletin sol.