AMERICAN POULTRY CULTURE 



fifth season, and I could not see that the fer- 

 tility was any poorer or the chicks any the less 

 vigorous, although the cocks could not look after 

 quite so many females as they could when younger. 

 Replacing male birds every year or two gets ex- 

 pensive when they are of exhibition quality, and 

 that is the only reason that prompted me to retain 

 the fowls so long. When he can be replaced for a 

 few dollars, better not keep any male bird after he 

 has gone through his third season. After that time 

 most males become clumsy and awkward and their 

 sexual powers begin to wane. 



Inbreeding. So far as inbreeding is concerned, 

 there is little to fear if the instructions given at the 

 beginning of this chapter on selecting the breeding 

 stock are observed, and only sound, thoroughly 

 healthy stock are used. There is danger in breed- 

 ing from debilitated birds, whether they are related 

 or not. Of course, inbreeding can be carried too 

 far, especially by the inexperienced, and if prac- 

 ticed closely and continuously, year after year, 

 can result in nothing other than impaired stock; 

 but if you have an extra good male and a few 

 females you would like to mate together, go ahead 

 and do it, even though they are slightly related. 

 But be sure you know when to stop, and don't 

 keep it up closely year after year. 



At what age a hen ceases to be profitable is 

 another of the many poultry problems on which 



200 



