GENERAL INFORMATION 



greater number of hens than this, but not usually. 

 A great deal depends upon the individual disposi- 

 tion of the male, and whether or not his attentions 

 are well distributed. If he is a spry, vigorous fel- 

 low, the male is apt to worry the hens if there are 

 only a few of them, and in that case it is well to 

 introduce as many more females as are necessary 

 in order to keep the male peaceable. 



Sometimes it becomes necessary to keep more 

 hens together in one flock than one male bird can 

 properly look after. Then various expedients are 

 resorted to in order to prevent the males from 

 exhausting their powers and interfering with each 

 other. Where two males are necessary for one 

 pen, the common practice is to put them with the 

 hens on alternate days. This doubtless is the best 

 plan, but the most satisfactory way is to have the 

 houses and yards so arranged that no flock con- 

 tains more females than can be well looked after 

 by one male. If two or more males are allowed to 

 run together, they are sure to interfere with each 

 other, and often the one is kept in total subjection 

 and is as good as useless, for fear of the other. 



How Long to Retain Male Breeders. More 

 depends upon the vigor and activity of the male 

 bird than upon his age in deciding how long he 

 may satisfactorily be used as a breeder. Several 

 times I have used exceptionally good cock birds 

 for breeding purposes until they were in their 



199 



