Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1912 — POULTRY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POULTRY

BREED CHICKENS FOR PROFIT In Making Selection One Must Be Governed to Great Extent by Man-ket-—Cockerel Is Important. In making the selection of breed, one must be governed somewhat by the market. Birds that sell best on the block should be medium In size, plump, condition, with yellow skin and legs. Most all our American breeds have these requirements, and by careful selection at breeding time one can build up a profitable laying strain from this class of birds, such as the Plymouth Rocks or Wyandottes. The common «practice of breeding from the flock as a whole has done more harm than anything else in making, the flock unprofitable as egg producers. Breeding from birds tßat produce but one or two clutches of eggs during the year will produce birds of like nature, and breeding a sire that has not the laying quality and characteristics bred in him cannot but help 'to make the situation worse. The success with' egg production must begin with breeding. When you have a hen that will lay a large number of eggs each month during the winter, breed from her. The trait of superior egg production is a habit that may be acquired and transmitted. A hen whose ancestors were poor layers aannot be expected to be a good layers. No amount of coaxing or coddling with mash or feed will induce her to produce an unusual number of eggs, because the trait of superior egg production was not acquired by Her ancestry and could not therefore be transmitted to her. The selection of the male to head the flock should not be neglected, fte should have been bred from productive ancestry. The male is half

the flock, and If his dam and granddam were good producers, he should be worth much more as a sire than those whose dam produced only a limited number of eggs. He should have a good constitution, showing short beak, broad head and bright eye, neck short and stout, breast of good width carried well for ward and of fair depth. The mating of such a sire to a flock of hens bred from laying ancestors cannot but help to give good results with proper feeding and housing. The breeding pen should be yarded separate from the whole flock, selecting for this pen only the very best egg producers, and this should be done each year. One male with 10 or 12 females will give best results and eggs will be of stronger vitality for incubating purposes. The breeding pen should be well cared for. Quarters should be roomy, well lighted and ventilated. The quarters should at all times be kept clean and disinfected. A variety of grain feed, green cut bone and green feed is absolutely necessary to Insure fertile eggs, and grit and water should be kept before them at all times.

Plymouth Rock.