Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-02-28
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)


prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
One of the prime essentials in poul-
try breeding is to use only strong, Wig
orous, healthy stock. 1t is only by
continuing to do this that flock can
be built up which Will have strength
and vigor and which will produce
strong, fertile eggs. strong chicks cap
able of making quick growth, and pull
let's with sufficient stamina to stand
the strain of heavy egg production.
The appearance Of bird is not al
ways sure indication OF its vigor,
but appearance and action taken to-
gether are fairly reliable basis for
picking out vigorous birds. The comb,
face, and wattles should have good,
bright color; the eyes should be bright
and fairly prominent; and the head
| should be comparatively broad and
| short, not long and snaky or crow
headed. The bird should be alert and
| have vigorous carriage The legs
should be set well apart and strongly
support the body, with no tendency to
weakness or a knock-kneed condition.
| The bone as seen In the shanks should
be strong, and not too fine for the
| breed. The plumage should be clean
| and smooth. Lack Of condition often
accompanies soiIed, roughened plum
age. Fowls that have been sick but
apparently have recovered should not
be used for breeding If it can be
| avoided
| Purpose Of Breeding.
In selecting stock for the matings,
the purpose of the breeding should be
| kept clearly in mind. IL the desire is
| to produce exhibition stock, birds
should. be selected that are nearest
the standard In type and markings or
that will combine their qualities to
produce offspring most nearly APP
preaching the standard. If the desire
is to produce table fowls, birds that
have body shape suitable for carry
| ing an abundance of meat should be
selected as breeders. They should be
broad and deep of body, have good
length both of back and keel and
especially broad breast well covered
with meat. If the desire is to pro-
duce stock for eggs, birds should be
chosen as far as possible that are good
egg producers or are the sons or
daughters Of good egg producers.
Time to Mate.
Matings should be made at least two
weeks before beginning to save eggs
for Matching. II less time Is allowed,
the maximum fertility is not likely to
be assured. 1t Is often desirable to
mate even farther ahead than two
weeks so that few eggs can be In
cubated for five or six days to see
whether they are fertile. If these eggs
are not fertile, there is still time to
change the male bird and thus insure
! fertile eggs for the earlier matches.
Matings should be made not later than
February /.
Size of Matings.
The breed influences the size of the
matings. Under yarded conditions it
/ Is usual and desirable to run from IL
to 15 females of the lighter type, such
as the Leghorns, from 10 to IL females
of the general purpose type, such as
the Plymouth Rocks, and from eight
| to ten females of the heaviest type,
such as the Brahm,ss, with one male.
Where the breeding fowls have free
range and the male is strong and Wig
orous, 1t is possible to obtain fertile
eggs from a considerably larger flock
of females. A vigorous Plymouth
! Rock cockerel on free range should
give good fertility when mated to 20
to 25 females, while a Leghorn male
under the same conditions can be mat
ed successfully to 30 to 40 females.
If eggs for Matching are desired from
a flock too large for a single male to
fertilize, two or more males can be
/ run with 1t either at the same time or
by alternating the males on success
| sive days.
Age of Breeding Stock.
Pullets or hens, cockerels or cocks
\ can be used in the breeding stock.
Hens, however, are to be preferred to
pullets because they lay larger eggs
and seem to give better fertility and
stronger chicks. Yearling and two
year-old hens are to be preferred to
/ older hens. Any birds, either male or
+ female, that have proved to be espe-
cially valuable breeders should be re-
tanned as long as they willSbreed
Free Range for Breeding Stock.
If possible, the breeding stock
should have free range. 1t is better
If this be provided during the entire