BREEDING PRIZE STOCK. 147 



often not take food enough in company with his hens ; and, 

 while any fattening must be avoided, if this is so, and he 

 gets the least " poor," he must be fed by himself to the 

 necessary amount if he is to be active in the cold weather. 

 An adult bird should not have more than three hens or 

 pullets in the cold weather, though more may have to be 

 added when the spring comes on. 



The above chiefly refers to very early breeding, for 

 October and November showing. The really best speci- 

 mens, however, are rarely those bred so early, but are 

 found amongst those hatched late in March and during 

 April. For these, the adult cocks and hens can be brought 

 on without difficulty. 



Long experience has ascertained that the male bird has 

 most influence upon the colour of the progeny, and also 

 upon the comb, and what may be called the " fancy points," 

 of any breed generally ; whilst the form, size, and useful 

 qualities are principally derived from the hen. The above 

 fact therefore becomes of great importance in selecting a 

 breeding-pen. For instance, a cock may have been hatched 

 late in the year, and therefore be decidedly under the 

 proper standard in point of size ; but if his colour, 

 plumage, comb and other points whatever they may be 

 are perfect, and he be active and lively, he may make a 

 first-class bird for breeding, when mated with good hens. 

 A hen, again, if of large size and good shape, is not to be 

 hastily condemned for a faulty feather or two, or even for a 

 defective comb, if not too glaringly apparent though the 

 last fault is a serious one in either sex. But a very bad 

 coloured or faulty-combed cock, however excellent in point 

 of size, or a very small or ill-shaped hen, however exquisite in 

 regard to colour, will invariably produce chickens of a very 

 indifferent order. 



The care and preservation in good condition of valuable 



