The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-12-05
AUTUMN Is BEST
TIME TO SELECT
BREEDING STOCK

The improvident mar who sold his
heating stove in July because the cir
Gus was near and the winter far off
differs only In the degree Of his short
eightedness from the poultry raiser
who waits until spring to select the
breeding stock that is TO be used TO
Feplenish his flock. This important
work Of picking out the superior birds
must be done in the fall to get the
best results, says the United States De-
partment Of Agriculture, for It is then
that the greatest contrast between the
profitable birds and the poor ones
shows up. OF course the culling out
Of the roor layers should go on all
through the summer and fall, but OF
last the top-notchers should be selected
as foundation for the coming flock,
which ought 10 be better each year..
Never Breed From Immature Pullets
One good rule to follow Is 10 keep
The pullets out Of the breeding flock
until they are fully matured. An i'm.
mature bird may be a good layer and
may be from the best stock, but still It
is undesirable. Eggs from pullets not
yet fully developed viii not produce
as large or as strong chicks as those
from older hens or fully grown pull
lots. There is nc difficulty IN know
ing when q bird IS mature enough TO
be used rs o breeder, as at that time
tho eggs laid win have reached the
size OF the average produced by The
general run Of hens IN the flock.
Young pullets always lay q rather
small egg, sometimes very small at the
start. Those that mature carly may
be picked out by keeping track OF The
birds that start laying first IN The
fall. These birds may be marked
with leg bands, so that they win Lo'
become mixed during tho winter viii
those that started their work later.
The late molters are the birds tina.
stick TO tho job longer. and conse
luently they make up another rroul
that should be used IA forming IN
breeding flock ext spring. leg band
may be used TO distinguish these prot
table birds, or, better, tho carly mott
ers may be marketed so that the
will no longer have an ]opportunit
to keep down the average egg PR
5uction Of the flock.
Tho general.purposo breeds, vhic
Include the Plymouth Rocks, Ehod
island Reds, and Wyandottcs, a.
rule are not profitable after the secon
year. II therefore Advisable to Gu
cut al Of the older birds Of this clas
Of these. the late molters are the on,
% select for breeders, Just NJ in Il
,nsc If fowls Of any other breed.
But tlc selection Of birds on u
fAsis cf arc end time 81 melting
DOT I'D .in r.- -ation that need
r7fe -or ne the foundation Il
tre new fo.- The health and hri
Of nc fowls must be- looked aft
carefully 'luring the winter. Aft
sclcct.ng the breeding birds the pot
try house needs close attention. Kec
ing & in sanitary condition e. one
the important points; also the comic
Of the house. which is closely o.
nccted with the health OF the bird
Fowls are very sensitive to moistl
conditions, and these should be CO
trolled carefully by ventilation. WI.
moisture from the fowls gathers
the ceiling and walls there is apt 10
frouble soon. In cold weather u
moisture may collect in the form
frost. but the heat from the nj
fre middle Of the day viii melt {
frost. and the water. dripping dow
yin mako The litter wet Hens are