Constitutional Vigor in Poultry Breeding. 



613 



and grass crops, its use by the hens being only incidental. This avoids 

 soil contamination and gives the fowls the natural free-range con- 

 ditions necessary; that is, opportunity and incentive to forage. In 



Fig. 5. — Baby chicks just removed from the incubator. Note the differences in size, 

 shape, and attitude of the body. Chicks in group A are of the large, upright, 

 sturdy, vigorous type having parallelogram-shaped bodies with fully developed 

 abdomen and breast. Chicks in group B have delicate, round, contracted bodies, 

 and act stupid. 



any event, rigid grading as to size and vigor should be practiced in order 

 to avoid the unequal contest between the physically unlike. 



(6) Lack of exercise for the breeding stock. This is a necessary conse- 

 quence of congestion, and a common accompaniment of over-feeding. 

 Too much to eat and too little to do appears to be one of the most 



Fig. 6. — Chicks 10 days old. Observe that in group A the chicks are of larger size 

 with better developed wings and tail, and with feathers close to the body, as compared 

 with the smaller bodies, and more ruffled, less developed plumage of group B. 



potent sources of difficulty in securing fertile eggs with strong hatch- 

 ing power and capable of producing vigorous chickens. The dangers 

 of over-feeding may be greatly reduced and health promoted by furnish- 



