The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1918-11-27
PROFITABLE
UTILITY CHICKENS
Whether You Are Interested in Pro-
ductiOn of Eggs and Meat OF in the
Sale of Breeding Stock a Pleasing
Uniformity in Your Flock Will
BE to Your Advantabe

A good-looking flockc, one in which
the birds are all the same breed and
are uniform in size and color, is a
standard advertisement. The owner,
if he is in the market to sell breeding,
stock, will find that such flock ma
tcrially aids in making sales. If the
poultry raiser is interested only in the
production of eggs and meat he will,
as a general rule, have greater sue
cess with such a flock. Good results
with stock that does not look good is
not impossible, but it is q matter OF
common observation taht poultry
keepers who are Indifferent about the
looks of their stock rarely make nota-
bic successes. Their success is rreg-
ular and spasmodic In practically
every case the man who starts in the
poultry business with mongrel flock
and who does well with it begins sys-
tcmatically to improve its appearance.
Poultry having distinctive appearance
seems to be essential to any marked
increase in poultry products.
Sufficient attention to secure a
pleasing uniformity in flock is in
the highest degree practical. Expert
cree has shown over and over that
where this is lacking interest is apt
to lag if production is not maintained.
Beauty and utility of individuals
should be combined. These two points
should be constantly in mind in the
selection and breeding Of every flock.
In the work Of developing a uni
form utility flock the first step is to
discard absolutely all specimens that
do not approach the standard weight
of their breed. The standard weights
Tor adult male and female birds in any
Lreed are the most desirable for
breeding specimens. The weight re-
0uirement should also apply to young
blrdS, Tor immature fowls are not fit
lor breeding and young birds at ma
turlty that are much under weight
arc undesirable. While It is impracti-
cal to adhere to exact standard weight
1t IS advisable to AVOID variations Of
more than or & per cent either above
or below the standard
Selecting type
second consideration in the do.
\clopmcnt Of the flock is the selection
of type. There is a difference of opin-
ION among breeders as to the essen
tials Of type. Unlike standard
weights there is no eXactinp rule TO
guide the poultry raiser in selecting
type. Experience and trained eve
VIII make good Judge A safe rule
iG follow, particularly Tor beginners,
is to reject all specimens that are un-
Spcakably off-typc, and to use only
'hc best birds in the breeding flock.
Closely related to the selection of
type IS the question of vigor and vi
talIty of the birds. The standard typc
OF breed presents, with certain
S'|c and form, carriage and symmc-
try which are the result and express
SION OF vigor, vitality and a perfectly
balanced structure and are, therefore,,
as much part Of type as length,
trcadth and depth Of body or any 9th
cr c characteristic which is taken into
consideration by an experienced
Judge: Vigor and vitality are first
considerations in the utility flock.
Strong, healthy birds are the best Law
,crS, make the best gains, and should
be the only kind allowed in the breed
ing flock
The ability of the birds to bear I'M
pleasant weather conditions and sud.
dcn changes Of temperature, cspccial-
~ changes from warm or comfortable