The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-01-24

AFFepared BY the United States Depart
reut OF Agricul,ureD
One Of the prime essentials in poul-
try breeding is to use only strong. Wig
orous, healthy stock. II Is only by
continuing TO do this that a 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
lets 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 a 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 a vigorous carriage. The legs
should be set well apart and strongly
support tie body, with no tendency 20
weakness or a knock-kneed condition.
The bone as seen in the shanks should
be strong. and not too fine for the
breed. The plumnge should be clean
and smooth. Lack of condition often
accompanies soiled. roughened plum
age. Fowls that have been sick but
apparently have recovered should not
be used for breeding II 1t can be
avoided.
Purpose OF Breeding.
In selecting stock for the matings.
the purpose OF the breeding should be
kept clearly In mind. If the desire Is
10 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 ap-
preaching the standard. II the desire
IS 70 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. II the desire Is 10 pro-
duce stock for eggs. birds should be
chosen as far as possible that are good
egg producers or are tln sons or
daughters OF good egg producers.
Time 10 Mate.
Mntincs should be'made az least two
weeks before beginning 10 save eggs
for Matching. II less time Is allowed. |
the maximum fertility Is not likely to /
be assured. Ii is often desirable 10 1
mate even farther ahead than two 1
weeks so that few eggs can be In |
cubated for FIVE or six days TO see
whether they are fertile. II these eggs
are not fertile. there Is still time to
change the male bird and thus insure
fertile eggs for the earlier matches. |
Matlngs should be made not later than |
February /.
Size OF matlnas.
The breed influences the size Of the |
matings. Under yarded conditions II
is usual and desirable 10 run from IL 1
to 10 females OF the lighter type. such /
as the Leghorns. from 10 to 12 females
of the general purpose type. such as
the Plymouth Rocks. and from eight /
to ten females OF the heaviest type.
such rs the Brahmas, with one male.
Where the breeding fowls have free
range and the male is strong aud Wig
orous, IL is possible 10 obtain fertile
eggs from a considerably larger flock
OF females. A vigorous Plymouth
Rock cockerel on free range should
give good fertility when tnnted 10 %
to - females. while a Leghorn male
under the same conditions can be mat
ed successfully TO 80 to 40 females.
II eggs for Matching are desired from
n flock too large for a single male To
fertilize. two or more males can be
run with Il either at the same time or
by alternating the males on success
sive days.
Age Of Breeding Stock.
Pullets or hens, cOckerels or cocks
,an be used In the breeding stock.
Hens, however, are 10 be preferred to
Dullets because they lay larger eggs
md seem 10 give better fertility ina ,
stronger chicks. Yearling and two
Tear-old hens are 10 be preferred 10
'lder hens. Any birds, either male or
iemale, that have proved 10 be espe-
Tally valuable breeders should be re- 1
aimed as long as they viii breed. II
. Free Range for Breeding Stock. In
IL possible, the breeding stock I
hould have free range. 1t Is better !
this be provided during the entire {