282 MANAGEMENT OF BREEDING STOCK 



3. It is impossible to study individuality when large flocks are 

 used for breeding. The possibility of future improvement lies in 

 a study of the individual and efforts to raise the average of pro- 

 duction; this can best be done by individual matings for breeding 

 purposes. Such matings should be based not only upon external 

 characteristics, but upon production as well, pedigree record blanks 

 being placed in each pen and trap-nest records kept during the 

 winter and spring months. With a small number of birds this 

 necessitates very little labor, while the benefits accruing and the 

 interest created will offset the slight expense. 



4. In matings of this kind a high percentage of fertility will 

 be realized, from the fact that greater care can be exercised in 

 picking both the females and the breeding male, also because the 

 results will be better if one or two males are confined in a small 

 pen of this kind than when many males are allowed to run with 

 large flocks. It is also much easier to keep track of the condition 

 of the breeders and to eliminate anything which might tend to 

 infertility. 



5. The handling and selection of eggs from pens of this type 

 will be more careful. The percentage of eggs hatched and the 

 resulting progeny depend to a great extent upon the care and hand- 

 ling of the eggs after they are laid. Where a poultryman has a 

 small number of eggs of high value, as is the case with these small 

 matings, he will naturally give them closer attention than where 

 he has to handle an enormous quantity, which, under normal con- 

 ditions, are good only for market. 



Poultrymen, when breeding their prospective layers, should 

 seriously consider the advisability of making special breeding pens, 

 during the breeding season at least. It is still better to make them 

 in the fall and keep accurate records throughout the winter, for 

 by so doing the breeder is enabled gradually to improve the quality 

 of his birds at very little expense. He can also eliminate the 

 very poor layers from the flock; it is by discarding such birds and 

 breeding from the best that superiority is ultimately brought 

 about. 



Points in Selection of Breeders. — In the selection of desirable 

 birds, both male and female, for the breeding pen, the first con- 

 sideration should be whether the resulting progeny is to be used 

 for meat, eggs, or both, and only ideal birds in these respects 

 should be chosen. The breeder must first decide upon an ideal 

 type and bear this in mind when he mates the birds. He should 



