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Reading-Course for Farmers. 



Let only the strong survive 



The first principle to be adopted in the successful handling of poultry 

 should be the elimination of weak stock as soon as discovered. This 

 applies at all stages of development, from the baby chick to the mature 

 fowl. The chick which shows physical weakness at any time should be 

 killed or be distinctly and permanently marked and kept apart from 

 the strong stock, later to be marketed if worthy. A chicken may over- 

 come weakness, so far as external appearances show, and still retain the 

 inherited tendency to weakness. It is Avell known that certain physical 

 weaknesses are transmissible from parent to offspring. The best safe- 

 guard against transmitting weakness in a breeding flock is the elimina- 

 tion of all stock that shows or has shown weakness. Sometimes this 

 may mean the disposal of the entire flock and the starting with strong, 

 new blood. 



Fig. 9. — Method of staining chickens with a brilliantly colored aniline dye. 



One of the most certain and satisfactory ways to mark a weak fowl 

 is with a fast-color aniline dye (Diamond dye) , thus distinguishing it 

 quickly from others until the feathers have been molted. (Fig. 9). 



How to recognize strong and weak fowls 



The more important characteristics which distinguish a weak from a 

 strong fowl, whatever the variety or age, may be stated as follows: 



The actions of a fowl probably best indicate its physical condition. 

 The physically weak is inactive and " dopey," and is more likely to 

 squat than to stand. It does not scratch or forage actively. It is the 



