Selecting for Vigor 147 



selves in order that their eggg alone may be used 

 for hatching. If it is impossible to select fowls 

 for breeding purposes from the records of egg. pro- 

 duction, which is the true test of the laying hen, 

 the owner must resort to other methods. One of 

 the best substitutes for actual performance undoubt- 

 edly is to select for strength and vigor of constitu- 

 tion. It is well understood that if the animal machine 

 is not strong it will be unable to perform the greatest 

 service. The best layers are strong, large-bodied, 

 vigorous fowls. They are known to have strong 

 constitutions. 



If breeders are to select for vigor, they can do 

 no better, perhaps, than to make the choice at the 

 molting period. Strong, vigorous fowls pass through 

 the molting period very much more rapidly than 

 do those having a weak constitution. The robust 

 hen that lays a large number of eggs during the year 

 will pass through the molting period quickly, and 

 will hardly stop laying, while the one having a weak 

 constitution will be a long time in producing a new 

 coat of feathers, and will not lay for many weeks. 

 The experienced poultryman, therefore, finds this 

 period in the life of the fowl a most excellent one 

 in which to make his selection. The fact that the 

 bird with a strong constitution is the most profitable 

 for egg production may explain why the fowls of 

 poultrymen who make a specialty of egg production 

 average larger than the fowls of those who breed 



