EGGS FOR BREEDING 



Having chosen the breed which suits us best, let ws talk on how 

 to get the most out of that breed, for I think we are all agreed that 

 if we keep poultry for profit, we want to make as much as we can 

 out of it. Therefore, having got our fowls, we must treat them 

 right. The natural instinct of a fowl is to make a nest for itself and 

 raise a family of its own in the spring time. It never considers its 

 owner's profit or loss ; therefore to make it answer our purpose, to 

 develop it into a money-maker for us, we must either change its 

 nature or deceive it. We must let it imagine that it is the time of 

 year for nest making and family raising. We must supply it with 

 the conditions of springtime. Our own lives are artificial and the 

 conditions surrounding our domestic hens are also artificial, but 

 we must, if we want success, copy as far as possible Nature's ways 

 with fowls and follow Nature's plans. 



In the spring not only do we want egg production, but we want 



Eggs for Breeding, Packed Correctly for Shipment 



good, strong fertility in our eggs. We want fertile eggs now, for 

 are we not pre-arranging to have plenty of vigorous pullets to lay 

 those high-priced market eggs next fall? Are we not anticipating 

 sturdy cockerels to win prizes at next winter's shows, or to make 

 toothsome frys or delicious roasts? 



Fertile eggs are now in order. How shall we get them ? First, 

 we must have vigorous and healthy parent birds ; we usually have 

 healthy birds in the spring of the year, for the moult is well over 

 and the ailments which prevail in the fall colds, catarrh and sore 

 throats, all classed as roup have yielded to treatment, or the vic- 

 tims are no more. The chicken pox, which also is a fall disease, 

 has about disappeared, and the birds are in good condition. 



Vigor is Necessary 



Vigor is the first requisite for fertile eggs. To have vigor, the 

 hens must have exercise ; every grain they eat should be scratched 



