The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-12-25
,FARn
TO
STRONG CHICKS

II COlIultlOh IN CQlIn VI tHC Rdi-
ent stock largely determine the con-
dition and health of the offspring. No
question Is more important than that
of constitutional vigor.
The actions of the fowl indicate to
a considerable extent it's physical con-
dition. A weak bird is usually mac
tive and droopy. 1t does not scratch
or forage actively. The loudness and
frequency of the crow Of the male and
the cackle of the female are indica-
tons of strength. The large, bright
red comb and wattles indicate health.
The eye is the mirror of the body and
Is a good indication of either health
u disease, the healthy fowl having a
good, bright, clear eye, while the dis
eased birds eyelids droop and present
a sleepy appearance.
The brightness and brilliancy of the
plumage are indications of constitur
tional vigor. Feathers on a fowl of
low vigor usually grow slowly and
appear to be dull and ruffled, as. COM
pared with the close-fitting, smooth,
fully developed, bright plumage of the
vigorous fowl. The strong bird also
has a good appetite and a large crop.
The causes Of loss of vigor may be
summed up as follows:
First-Inbreeding without knowledge
of the principles of breeding. Poultry
raisers sometimes have a bird with ex-
~ceptionally fine plumage, and for that
reason mate the bird in their breeding
pens regardless Of its vigor or it's rela-
ton to other birds In the same pen.
There Is a distinction between line
breeding and ~inbreeding.
Second-Use Of pullets and lmma.
ture male birds. AS a rule, pullets
lay more eggs than hens, yet it has
been proven by experiments that the
chicks from hens are larger when
Matched and that they mature more
quickly and produce stronger and more
vigorous specimens than those Matched
from pullets. A half-grown cockerel
should never be used for breeding pur-
poses.
Third-Increased egg production.
Forcing fowls to lay by continuously
feeding heavy, rich foods tells upon
the health of the females and often in
jures their breeding qualities.
Notwithstanding. Poultry raisers
make a mistake too often Of 'crowding
a great number of birds into small
quarters and then expecting the best
results from the flock.
Fifth-Lack of exercise. II strong,
healthy chicks are desired, the fowls
in the breeding flock must be required
to exercise by being forced to scratch
for part Of their food in a litter, or
by being given plenty of range.
Sixth-Care of eggs for Matching,
Eggs for Matching are often kept in
places that are too not or too cold,
Clean nests should he provided, eggs
gathered daily and kept in a tempera-
ture of from so to 60 degrees and not
held more than ten days before being
set.
Seventh-Improper incubation. An
incubator which cannot be regulated
with any degree of satisfaction, which
lacks the proper provision for both
ventilation and moisture, which is first
too hot and then too cold, should not
be used. The germ of the egg is weak.
ened so that it cannot free itself from
the shell, and the chicks which hatch
are poor and sickly, either dying in
less than two weeks after Matching OF
having very low vigor.
Eighth-Insanitary quarters. Where
the poultry house is allowed to be.
come filled with filth, lice and mites
which suck the life blood from the
fowls, chickens cannot be strong and
healthy.
Ninth-Inferior breeding stock. No
one should attempt to raise chickens
from drones, from birds that r not
true to type, from birds that have been
seriously sick with some disease, if he
expects to be successful in the poultry
business. All these things can and
should be avoided.
Tenth-Breeding from a flock indis.
criminately. Many 1ocks contain q
great many birds which lay only dur
ing the spring season. Breeding should
be done with birds which are known
to be good winter layers.-T. w. No
land, Director, Missouri State Poultry
Experiment Station, Mountain Grove.