THE INCUBATOR-BROODER METHOD OF RAISING GROUSE 



471 



could be made to respond in a similar manner if desired. 



The normal mating period of the hen seems to be about four days. It ordinarily occurs 

 from three days to a week before the first egg is laid. During this time there is a character- 

 istic action among many of the unmated females which it is well to learn to recognize. They 

 squat, half open their wings at their sides and at the same time stretch their heads forward. 

 Often this squatting may be prompted by extending the arm and hand over the bird. On such 

 occasions she will show no indication of fear. Quite frequently if such a female is held in the 

 mating position, the male in the same pen will approach and promptly effect a mating. If 

 this does not occur, it is usually necessary to hold the female for a male in the mating cycle 

 introduced from another pen. 



Care must be exercised to prevent promiscuous malings since a male selected at random 

 may not possess the characteristics required for improving the strain. For instance, it would 

 be inadvisable to mate an exceptionally good female with an inferior male lest the selective 

 breeding program be seriously retarded. It is far better to take a chance that a male having 

 the proper characteristics will be found before the female passes through the mating period. 

 It is well to remember that, after the bird begins to lay, it is often rather difficult to secure 

 a mating which will produce fertile eggs. 



One mating is usually sufficient to insure fertility in a substantial number of eggs, often 

 12 to 16. 



Females are watched carefully for actions indicating a desire to mate again two or three 

 weeks after a mating or when eight to 12 eggs have been laid. If, for example, a female were 

 to lay but eight eggs for her first clutch, another mating is sometimes necessary to secure 

 even fair fertility in any additional eggs that she may lay. 



In the Appendix (table 181 ) the effecl of various sex ratios and arrangements of breeding 

 pens on grouse egg production have been tabulated. 



Egg Production and Collection . While individual grouse at the Center have laid as early 

 as April 4 and as late as June 2^. ihe bulk of the eggs are collected between April 24 and 

 May 20. The jicak usually comes early in the latter month. \^'hile most birds will average 

 one egg every other day. the belter producers usually may be identified by a higher rate of 

 production. A clear picture of this may be secured by glancing at the table in the Appendix 



