1890.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 257 



Question. How long after introducing the males would 

 you expect results ? 



Dr. TwiTCiiELL. The fourth or fifth eofg. If the hens 

 have been running alone, I should expect that the eggs 

 would be fertilized after the second or third ; but for a cer- 

 tainty I would wait until the fourth or fifth. 



Question. After removing the first male and mating up 

 with a new one, then how long? 



Dr. Tw^iTCHELL. From the sixth or seventh egg. The 

 energy of the first male will have much to do in determining 

 that matter. 



Question. Does the first mating aflect the progeny of 

 the second mating in the least? 



Dr. TwiTCHELL. That is a difiicult question to answer, 

 there are so many things entering into its determination. 

 The virile energy of the birds, the prepotency of the blood, 

 would have much to do in determining the -question. It is 

 a question that cannot be determined absolutely, because 

 there are so many things entering into the prol)lem. 



Question. Supposing a hen of one breed got by accident 

 with a male of another breed, wdiat course would you 

 pursue ? 



Dr. TwiTCHELL. I should be careful for two or three 

 weeks. I would not send out any of the eggs until after I 

 had made a test of them. I think for two or three weeks, 

 surely, you might expect trouble. If the male whom you 

 introduce is one strong in his own energies, you would be 

 safe after the second or third week from the danger of con- 

 tamination. 



Question. Would you recommend allowing the males 

 and females of difierent breeds to run toajether until about 

 the time you wish to mate them ? 



Dr. TwiTCHELL. No, sir ; for the very reason that when 

 we come to breeding we want strono; and vio;orous chickens : 

 we don't want eggs that are poorly fertilized. We want eggs 

 that are fertilized so that the chickens will come out of the 

 shells strong and healthy. Therefore, I would keep the males 

 from the hens until perhaps ten days or a fortnight before I 

 wanted them to breed . I would keep the males by themselves , 

 storing up energy. I think in that way we get better results. 



