POULTRY DISEASES AND TIIKIK TREATMENT. / 



"77;r Health Tyf^r. — For all practical purposes, the type of 

 health and strcn^4h aiul the type of weakness, of lacking bodily 

 vigor, are easil}- dilTiTcntiated. Do not mistake the purely ner- 

 vous enerqv of closeh' bred thonMighhrcds for an indication of 

 vigor. Tills uiay be simply the mettlesome spirit of the thor- 

 oughljied and alone is of no great value as a guide to health; 

 combined wilh satisfactory physical qualities it is a desirable 

 asset." 



"ClioosiiKj tin- Male Bird. — Always l)ear in mind that the 

 male bird is for all i)raetical ])m-p(ises half of the flock. The 

 male should ])e fully matured, well developed specimen, neither 

 too young nor too old. Male birds from twelve months to two 

 and one-half years old usually make the best Ijrecdcrs. He 

 should be the son of sound healthy parents and should, so far 

 as ])ossi])le, iiilierit from them the qualities which are desired 

 for chicks of his get. He should be particularly strong in all 

 points or physical vigor, and Standard requirements, where 

 his mates show any traces of weakness. Have him as nearly 

 perfect in Standard shape as ])ossible, and of medium size and 

 weight for the \ariety. Too heavy males often seriously injure 

 their mates and are not desirable in the breeding pen." 



■'Tlu' head should ])e rather large, broad and of good shape, 

 well carried. The eye should be bright, round and full with no 

 irregularities in shape of ])upil. Tlie comb, face and wattles 

 should be a good healthy color, neither too ])ale nor too dark. 

 Idle l)(.'ak shotild be rather short, stout and set well at the base. 

 The long, tlattened beak of 'crow headed' birds or the misshapen 

 'hawk l)iir are almost certain signs of physical weakness. The 

 neck should be of medium length for the A'ariety and rather fidl ; 

 the long, thin, 'sera\\n\' neck goes with the 'crow head." " 



"Tlie body should lie well fille(l out and carried in the well- 

 set-up manner indicative of a well ordered system of nutrition, — 

 a good digestion. The i)lumage --lii ndd be bright, lustrous an(l 

 carried rather closely for the variety."" 



"Mopey. dojiey. loosely feathered birds with dull plumage and 

 a listless 'ilon"t care for life' manner are too short on good 

 health to be of \-alue as breeding stock." 



"The legs should be medium -hort for the \aricty. strong antl 

 rather large boucMJ and set well apart. Tlu' keel bone slinuld be 

 tlrm and straight. TIuTe -biiuM be un deloi-uiities." 



