53 

 FERTILE EGGS 



In the early spring we receive many letters of inquiry from 

 beginners as to how they shall get fertile eggs or why the eggs 

 are not fertile. It is a vital consequence to understand this matter 

 somewhat. 



To secure fertile eggs and strong chicks that will grow and 

 make good breeders, that will be sturdy and vigorous and bring a 

 profit, both the parents shoujd be vigorous and healthy. 



To grow vigorous chickens they must be well born and to 



White Plymouth Rocks 



accomplish this it is absolutely necessary to have the breeding 

 stock in the very best of health. The females as well as the males 

 should have entirely completed the moult. 



The birds should be mature both physically and sexually. This 

 is a very important matter, for an egg may be fertile and yet not 

 exclude the chick from it ; the germ may not be vigorous enough 

 to develop into a chicken capable of breaking its way out of the 

 shell. More than mere size is needed in the male bird; maturity 

 and vigor are necessary. The male should be of large and vigorous 

 frame, well filled out, gallant to the females and ready to fight any 

 intruder. He should have a full, deep voice and have lost the air 

 of immaturity which the young birds always have. He should be 

 ten months old or over, with hackles and sickles well developed 

 and spurs of a fair size. Such a male will fertilize the eggs strongly 

 and produce vigorous and sturdy chicks; the eggs will not only be 

 fertile, but will be hatchable. 



