Grade. 

 Date. . 



EXERCISE 6 

 SELECTING THE FOUNDATION STOCK 



Object. — To determine the difference between healthy, vigorous breeding 

 males and females and those which are naturally unfit for breeding purposes. 



Equipment. — At least twenty-five yearling hens, and five or more older 

 hens of some common standard breed, representing good and bad breeding 

 specimens; a number of satisfactory coops to confine these birds individually 

 and in groups; at least ten adult cockerels of some common standard breed 

 representing good and bad breeding specimens. 



Procedure. — Study carefully these two groups of birds, eliminating all 

 specimens not fit to use for breeding in the following mamier: 



Step 1. — All birds which show any signs of disease should be discarded 

 and placed in a special cage. 



Step 2. — All birds which show extreme age, so as to be unfit for breeders, 

 should be discarded and placed in a separate cage. 



Step 3. — All birds which show well defined traits of lack of inherent 

 vigor and stamina should next be discarded and placed in a separate cage. 



Step 4. — All specimens which are exceptionally large or too small should 

 next be discarded and placed by themselves in a separate cage; the idea 

 being to leave those which come nearest to standard weight. 



Step 5. — From the remaining specimens select approximately ten females 

 and five males w^hich show the best shape and color pattern for the breed 

 being studied. Those selected can well be placed in order of excellence for 

 close study. 



Note. — If possible this method of elimination and final selection should 

 be practiced with a much larger number of specimens than is suggested above. 



Leading Questions. — 1. Considering the total number of specimens 

 studied, what percentages were eliminated on account of: (1) disease, (2) age, 

 (3) lack of vigor, (4) size, (5) weight, and (6) failing to meet breed and variety 

 requirements of shape and color. 



2. What are some of the more prominent diseases which would make 

 yearling hens unfit for breeding? 



3. What features would you use in eliminating birds too old for breeding? 



