88 THE BIRDS 



birds which represent the very best of those characteristics 

 which we desire to produce, for the reason that, by mating 

 them, the progeny are likely to inherit these characteristics. 

 Moreover, in accordance with the law of variation, some 

 individuals will show even finer characteristics than their 

 parents. To secure continuous improvement year after 

 year, these better variations should be selected and repro- 

 duced each year. 



Importance of Special Matings. An elementary prin- 

 ciple of breeding is the importance of making special matings 

 for special purposes. Such matings should be made early 

 each spring, the best females from the whole flock being 

 chosen and mated with male birds possessing the character- 

 istics desired. This custom eliminates inferior birds from 

 the breeding pen, and enables the poultryman to exercise 

 his most powerful weapon, namely, the power of selection. 

 Mating by selection is the breeding from a few of the best 

 birds. Mass breeding, which permits the saving of eggs for 

 hatching from all birds in the flock, leads to no definite 

 improvement. 



Special matings for breeding purposes should be small, 

 usually from eight to twelve females being mated to one male 

 bird. With the light, active breeds, twelve are none too 

 many; with the heavy breeds, eight are usually sufficient. 

 This mating should be made in January or early February. 

 The birds should be put in" small breeding houses, that are 

 well-ventilated, dry and clean. They should be given free 

 range, and fed an abundance of hard, dry grain scattered in 

 deep litter. This method of feeding with plenty of range 

 will induce exercise which is one of the essentials for health 

 and vitality. The object in special matings is to get fertile 

 eggs, which contain strong, vigorous germs. When set in 

 the incubator such eggs will hatch large, healthy chicks. 



Breeding for Egg Production. When breeding for egg 

 production in breeding pens, a few points should be especially 



