Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-07
THE SELECTION AND CARE
OF GOOD BREEDING STOCK

The follow ing article. prepared by
tho Animal ilt.Sba ndrN. United states
pepa runcn; Of Agriculture IS worthy
OF careful study:
ono Of the prime essentials in poui-
nv breeding is 20 use only stronS.
vigorous. healthy stock. Ii is only
hy continuing to do this that a lock
can b" bull; up which viii have
strength and vi-or. and which Will
produce strong. fertile eggs, strong
chicks. CAPABLE OF making quick
growth. and pullctS with Sufficient
sta nina TO stand the strain ot heavy
egg production. The appearance or
bird Is not always sure indca
ton at its Nisor. but appearance and
action taken together are a fairly
reliable basis for picking oil; viso--
Gus birds The comb face. and wat
ties should have good. bright color:
the eyes should nc bright and fairly
prominent; and The head should be
arativoly broad and short. not
bird should be alert and have n viGor-
oGs carrias &C. The less should he set
well apart and strongly support the
BODY. with no tendency 10 wcaKncs>
or a knock knecd condition. The bono
IS seen III tho shanks should he
strong. and not too line for tho brcc:
The p'un,aSc should hc clean and
smooth. Lack o! condition often ac-
companies *oilcd, souShcncd plumaEe.
Fowls that have been sick. but an
Darcnt1% have recovered. should no; bc
used for breeding il ii can nc avoided
Purpose of the Breeding.
In selecting stock for tho matinss.
the purpose Of the breeding should
he kent clearly III mind. If tho de-
birds should he selected that arc
nearest the standard i'll type and
markings. OF that Viii combine thci:
qualities TO produce offspring most
nearly approaching tn" standard II
the desire is 20 Drodacc table fowls.
birds tina; have body shape SHIT
able for carrying an Abundance OF
meat should he selected as breeders.
They should be broad and deep of
body. have good length both OF back
and i;ell and especially broad breast
we'll covered with meat: II the nc
sire ,r 30 produce stock for cSGS.
birds should nc chosen as far as pos
arc the sons or daughters Of good c. *
prodccrs
Time Mate.
Mating should h. madc d, leas;
two weeks before beginning To save
eggs for Matching. II less time is
allowed. tho maximum fertility is no:
likely 10 be assured. 1t is often dc
Sirable TO mate even IA rther ahead
than two weeks. 80 that a ccw eggs
can he iucubatcd Cor i've or six days
TO see whether they arc fertile Ii.
these eggs arc no; fertile. there is
%till time to change the ma lc bird
and thus insure fertile eggs tor m,
earlier matches. MatinES should he
made not later than February /.
Size of MntinEs.
The breed Influences tic size Of
4,
tons. ii is usual and desirable to ran
from twelve to fifteen females OF the
lighter typc. such as tho IcShorns
from ten TO twelve females OF the
seneral-purpose type, such as the
plymouth Rocks. and from eight 10
ten females OF the hea West typo. such
aS thc ErahMas. with one male. Where
the breeding fowls have fire" range
and tho male Is strong and Vigorous.
II is possible 10 obtain fcr;il. eggs
from considerably larger nocll of
females. \ vigorous Plymouth Rock
""ckcrcl on free ranSc should give
good fertility when mated to twenty
o. twenty-five females. while Leg.
horn male under the same conditions
can be mated successfully 10 thilty
20 forty females. II eggs for hatch
ing arc desired from = nock TOO lars,
for single male 10 tcr,ili@c. two OF
moro males can he run with it. either
t
tho males on successive DAYS
Age Of breeding stock.
Pallets Q: hens. cocke:cls o. cocks
ran Re Usod in the breeding nock
Hens. however. arc TO bc preferred
20 0.ilct". because thcy lay largo
esq and seem to give better fcr,ili,r
and stronger chicks. IcarlinG ard
I" older hens. Amy birds. either ,ral>
or fon!alo. that have proved TO hc
"snccially valtia ale breeders should be-
retained IS long as they will breed
Free Range for breeding stock
II possible, the breeding stoc,.
*n"ula nave free range. 7, is better
u this he provided during the hrc-oiu,.
season but il this bc not possiblo
Ire" range Just proceeding and during
ID" breeding season will he OF -rc,,
Va luc. Birds on free range Will give
higher fertility. better matches. and
stronger chicks.
:. Maintaining the Fertility.
~" breeding nocl -hould be
watched 10 sec tla, the fowls keen
IN condition. l:%aminc The birds aud
houses 20 sec that they arc no, in
tested With lice or mites. II tho birds
ar" orcrr"n win either Of these nests
the fertility wl!l be Affected scrionslv
OF totally destroyed. care mus, bc
used ans" I" sec that the male does
- 49, ''&9 'ltIp o. NatiiCs frosted
IL thsse arc frozen 20 any extent, his
ability 70 Ic!til!&c c2sg viii h., in,
pared aud VIII not be recovered ia,
several weeks. Whom The wcath,r i
very cold tn" Mules intended fnr
breeding should he placed in i bo.
OF crate partly covered with = ia.
or cloth 10 proven; freezing Of the
comb o" wattles. j, is also we'll /.
examine ihc male oc,asionlv 10 So,
that his crop is fun. and that nc Is
not growing thin Sometimes ,bc
male Is 50 sallan, that he allows The
mems /" cat all the food with the 70
"ali tia, lie soon Sc.a out OF conn,-
'.o!' II this happens. the male .lus,
he caught m III least once a dsy ana
'ea separately from the hons.
Feeding tho Breeding s,ocL
The breeders mus; lie ted 10 keen
'0fn IN good condition and u; the
aams tifnc 10 produce Gigs ANY GOOD
i"it"m fed 20 LAYERS is suitable for
ans T1!rposc. bat 1T should no, i,c cy
hcnhIE forcing, 81 in other words. i,
SHoHld not nave an extremtiy large
/ froHoIo" Of beer scrap. The birds
S4oHld be u. good nesh. bu, no, he
"H "hole o. cracked grain should is
.c" 10 the litter 40 as 10 make ,bn
/ 10" Us "%"rcise ~ scratching for i;
a!"SS tie dock has access ia ,o,,n
H.