838 



Rural School Leaflet 



POULTRY LESSONS 



i. improving the quality of poultry 



James E. Rice 



We should aim to retain purity of breed and vigor of our stock, and to 

 have high-grade market quaUty in our poultry and eggs. By so doing, 



the profits may be 

 greatly increased 

 and the losses re- 

 duced because the 

 selling value of the 

 product will be in- 

 creased. We shall 

 also get more pleas- 

 ure and satisfaction 

 out of our occu- 

 pation because we 

 shall take pride in the 

 improvement made. 



A flock of miscellaneous colors and types such as is of ten found 

 on the average farm. Cockerels of this sort are of no value 

 as breeders and are poor ornaments. 



The difference in price between poultry and eggs that are attractive 

 and those that are unattractive is enough to warrant great care in breeding 

 for improved quality. 



Some of the reasons why pure-bred poultry is more desirable than 

 common stock are: i. Pure-bred fowls lay eggs that are more uniform 

 in size, shape, color, and texture of shell. Uniform eggs sell for a higher 

 price. 2. They are more likely to breed true, that is, the chickens will 

 grow up to be like their parents. 3. They are more uniform in shape and 

 size of body and in color of skin and shanks, therefore more attractive 

 and more profitable when placed on sale. 4. They are more attractive as 

 a flock, because they are similar in appearance. It is worth while to 

 keep poultry that 

 looks well. 5. They 

 furnish a larger in- 

 come because eggs 

 for hatching and 

 stock for breeding 

 can be sold at prices 

 considerably higher 

 than for market pur- 

 poses. 6. They are 

 m.ore satisfactory, be- 



A flock of pure-bred Barred Plymouth Rocks. Note the beauty 

 of a flock like this as compared with a flock of mixed breeds 



cause, other things being equal, they may be expected to give better 

 results in feeding, hatching, and rearing, due to the fact that 



