CARE OF BREEDING STOCK. 343 



flock along those lines that will tend to make them more 

 productive of eggs and flesh. 



Our breeding birds should be carefully selected according 

 to the standard already described. 



In early spring fifteen to twenty strong, vigorous females 

 should be enclosed in a clean, dry, light, airy, roomy pen 

 with a cock possessing similar characters to those of the 

 females all good representatives of their breed. They should 

 be kindly treated at all times never frightened by dogs or 

 strangers. Their diet should consist largely of green foods 

 and meats with a light grain ration. Give them whole grain 

 in their litter for their early morning feed. This may be scat- 

 tered the evening before. They will scratch about in search 

 for this and will gain the exercise so necessary to the pro- 

 duction of strong, vigorous germs in the eggs to be hatched. 

 Give them a mash at 9 o'clock and then some ground bone 

 or n:eat and some roots, carrots, turnips or mangels at noon, 

 and a mash of mixed grains, bran and shorts and sour milk 

 at 4 o'clock, and then some whole grain, oats or cracked 

 corn the last thing before going to roost. Feed plenty this 

 time so that there may be some left for them to search after 

 in the morning. Supply them with grit and shell-producing 

 elements, such as gravel, ashes, lime or dried egg shells. Keep 

 plenty of clean, fresh water before them at all times. It must 

 be borne in mind that good results will not follow if hens are 

 fed only grain foods, vegetables and meat are necessary. Too 

 much grain causes the hens to get fat and lazy; the eggs, if 

 they lay any, will be weak in the germ or perhaps thin-shelled 

 and easily broken. Breeding stock must have exercise and 

 you must see that they are induced to take it. 



No eggs should be saved for hatching until the cock has 

 been with the hens at least ten days. Where we are trying 

 to improve our flock as egg producers we should use trap 

 nests so that a record can be kept of our breeding hens 

 through all their laying period, and by setting eggs from those 

 that are heavy layers we shall perpetuate the egg laying habit 

 in their offspring. We can, too, in this way perpetuate any 

 of the desirable qualities which characterize the parent stock. 

 When a hen wishes to set, make a nest for her in a quiet 

 place where she is not likely to be disturbed. The nest 

 should be about fifteen inches square. Place a sod in the bot- 

 tom and cover it with chaff or straw. Dust some sulphur in 

 the nest or place in it some dried tanzy. Do not set a hen 



