Milford chronicle., 1918-01-11
Mating Up The Breeding Pens.
By J. n. MeFAUL. Jr.
TN Rights Rs5eyTed1

q At this season Of the year, when god
n resolutions are in order, why not apply
j them to the conduct Of the poultry plant,
as well as 70 the government Of your own
! conduct during the year.
Of course, many a good resolution is
made only 70 be brokeu-but Be this as
It may, one is far better of 70 make such
3 resolution and break It. rather than not
70 attempt to improve al all.
In making resolutions concerning the
/ government Of your hOcks, that Of proper
breeding is one which should be YOUR first
thought. This Is one Of the most imDor-
tant Of the essentials TO successfully raise
fowls and while you may be somewhat
discouraged IN the beginning, YOU will
greatly profit in the end IL you are dill
gent and persisiant. Il is through proper
breeding that you will be enabled to build
up the good laying and good paving
strain Of birds 50 necessary to a profitable I
business.
! The time IS now ripe for the selection I
Of the stock which will 20 to make M I
I your breeding pens for the production Of I
those specimens that will be classified as I
next years layers. That your future
success depends largely upon what kind I
Of birds are placed in the breeding pens
goes without saying. No birds should be
allowed place in the pen as breeders. 4
save those possessed with a strong. Wig
orous constitution, as the characi eristic
has more to do with your ultimate sue
cess or failure than any other one single :
factor.
The foundation Of every building is the I
all-important beginning Of its success 7
and this applies 10 the poultry business s
as well as to other lines The foundation [
OF your future stock in the poultry game d
depends absolutely upon what kind Of 4
fowls are used IN the making Of the stock. b
or IN the breeding pen. If the proper b
kind Of parent fowls are used IN The
breeding pen the progeny will be Of a p
nature to bring you success in the busi- .
ness, but on the contrary, If these are ',
improperly selected, your future stock n
viii be anything except what is desired, q
ana as result, your business will suffer. =
More persons fail each year in the poui- II,
~ business as a result Of dying too II,
teeply" than from any other cause and in
or that reason. ! would advise that Won II
20 slow. Il IS far better to begin on th
mall or limited scale and work gradually 81
o the top Of the ladder, than to climb
apidly and fall from the perch when the 90
op is within sight. as is often the case. Be
In the selection Of specimens for the en-
reeding pens, all Of the various points so,
hould receive your consideration and at ca
-ntion. As far as possible, select birds wf
nat are as near to the standard require ar,
tents as Il IS possible to get no matter
neither you are breeding for fancy or Of
ulity purposes. At least this should be pel
one as far as the shape and color of the Vol
dividual specimens are concerned. an,
These points, however, may be cut a du,
fa ar4na u
onderful vitality, for after all this is the
ost important Shape, color and vital
2 are all important points to be pos
ssed by The breeders, but the last IS of one
r more Importance than either OF the yea
her two. Vitality, then, is the first i'm tha
rtant point to be considered in select ing
& the birds for the pens that will fur are
sh you vita your next year focks will
Shape, ! would say, is the second point in {
consider in the selection OF the breed not
8, The females should be only those
it sre the most active in the flock. 1
leY should possess a rather short. broad gesl
ad, neat in appearance, with bright tue;
IT eyes. with a well developed bright TOW
comb as near perfect in points as De
5sible to get The neck should be of
.dium length and neatly curved. "
The back of the females should be oSSa
X. broad and concaved, with a well
feloped and carried tail while the legs IN IN :
'uld be medium in length and well set % sllaI
lrt. plac
While II is irnortart % s.i... a. pota
,neT kind ~ fe,,1aiss To- ~ Lsss.,;il. ' time
; i must be remembered that the
od OF the male is one-half that Of the NJ
geny. and for this reason great care Hat
uid be exercised in selecting the head try