SELECTING A BREED 



(1) Non-sitting varieties make it necessary to 

 depend upon other hens for hatching, or upon 

 artificial methods; and this is often inconvenient 

 or costly with a small flock. 



(2) The ornamental and other strictly "fancy" 

 breeds which are not prominently mentioned or 

 illustrated herein, are not extensively bred and 

 trouble will be experienced in securing stock of 

 them, as well as of those varieties described as 

 " rarely bred." 



(3) The newer varieties breed less true to 

 feather than the old, well-established varieties. 

 On the one hand, this requires greater skill in 

 breeding and makes the percentage of culls 

 greater, while on the other hand it causes good 

 specimens to bring higher prices. 



The advice that the beginner should not attempt 

 Advantages of to handle more than one breed is old 

 Specializing b u t nevertheless true. It is absurd to 

 start out with several breeds with the idea of test- 

 ing their relative merits; nine times out of ten the 

 man who tries this plan never learns any one va- 

 riety well enough to get the best out of it. After 

 the beginner has made a success with one breed, 

 he may try to repeat the operation with another 

 breed, if he desires ; but it is not likely that he would 

 care to sacrifice his reputation as a specialty breeder 

 after once getting it and realizing its advantages. 



Having selected the breed you like best and 

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