208 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



terium Polorum) are known to be directly inherited, others are 

 known to give to the offspring an inherited weakness which makes 

 them especially snsceptible to that particular disease. This is 

 true of tuberculosis, diarrhoea, enteritis, etc. Still others such as 

 roup, catarrah and other general disorders weaken the birds con- 

 stitutionally, and make them unfit for breeding. Any bird once af- 

 fected with disease should be conspicuously marked so that it may 

 never enter the breeding pens. 



When selecting the females for this special mating, special care 

 should be used to have only birds which are heavy producers. They 

 should be mature birds, pullets should never be used for breeding. 

 They should have rather long deep bodies and a vigorous constitu- 

 tion. Without strong, well-bred birds, a good egg yield is not cer- 

 tain, even with the most efficient management. Hence much time and 

 thought, and if need be, money, should be expended in the improve- 

 ment of the flock by mating and breeding. 



The birds set aside for breeding should be so cared for as to pro- 

 vide for the production of fertile eggs in the breeding season, which 

 will hatch into vigorous chicks. They should not be crowded into 

 small unsanitary houses, nor should they be forced for a heavy egg 

 yield during the winter. The three factors which especially favor 

 the production of fertile eggs are exercise, which can be made com- 

 pulsory by supplying most of the feed in deep litter on the floor of 

 the pen; green food, which for want of beets or cabbage can be sup- 

 plied in the form of sprouted oats; and meat scrap, supplied liberally 

 (15 per cent.) during the breeding season, but not excessively prior 

 to the breeding season. 



The saving of eggs for hatching purposes should begin about the 

 first of February. They should be collected at least twice a day, and 

 should be kept at a temperature of about 45 to 50 degrees. They 

 should not be subjected to great variations in temperature and 

 should be placed so that they may be turned daily, and protected 

 from the direct rays of the sun. The factor of temperature is espe- 

 cially important, for the germ (embryo) begins to develop at 70 

 degrees Fahrenheit. High temperatures start the development of 

 the germ, but if heat is not supplied uniformly it ultimately dies. 

 As a result of this, many eggs are later tested out as infertile. Eggs 

 for hatching should be selected with a view toward uniformity in 

 shape, size and color, the idea being to select toward the ideal type 

 of egg for the breed kept. 



TIME TO HATCH 



The time of year for hatching the chicks that are to be matured 

 for prolific layers should receive careful attention. The retarded 

 hatching of the chicks is very often the direct cause of partial fail- 

 ure, even among experienced poultrymen, for time enough is not given 

 the growing pullets to come to complete normal maturity before the 

 extremely cold weather commences in the fall, which is usually about 

 the last of November. The exact time for hatching will depend, un- 

 der average conditions, upon two factors: 



First, the breeds kept. 



Second, the method of growing and the condition of the range. 



