II4S 



Rural Sciiooi. Leaflet 



A flock of pure-bred barred Plymouth rocks. Note the beauty 

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



2. They arc more likely to breed true, that is, the chickens will be 

 more likely to (,^row up to be like their parents. 



3. They are more nearly unifomi in shape and size of body and in 



color of skin and 

 shanks ; therefore they 

 are more attractive 

 and more profitable 

 when placed on sale. 

 4. They are more 

 attractive as a flock, 

 because they are sim- 

 ilar in appearance. It 

 is worth while to keep 

 poultry that looks well . 



5. They furnish a larger income because eggs for hatching and stock 

 for breeding can be sold at prices considerably higher than for market 

 purposes. 



6. They may be expected to give better results in feeding, hatching, 

 and rearing, due to the fact that they are more nearly alike as to rate of 

 growth, size, temperament, and activity. 



Any boy or girl who is old enough to take proper care of chickens can 

 improve the quality of poultry in two ways: first, by keeping only pure- 

 bred stock, and then by selecting, mating, and taking proper care of the 

 fowls ; second, by selecting and using only the right kind of eggs for hatch- 

 ing (page 1 1 54). Both these things should be done, but either one 

 alone will be likely to result in sufficient improvement to warrant the 

 effort of doing it. It 

 is within the reach 

 of all to keep a 

 pure breed instead 

 of a mongrel strain. 

 It is neither difficult 

 nor expensive to ob- 

 tain in any neighbor- 

 hood a few pure-bred 

 fowls or their eggs. 

 With these a small 

 start can be made. 

 Each year more and 

 more pure-bred chickens can be reared to take the place of the common 

 fowls until all the flock is pure bred. 



The boys and girls can find out for themselves whether it will pay 



A flock of miscellaneous colors and types, such as is often 

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

 value as breeders and are poor ornaments 



