i&f. p O UL TR r- CRAFT. 



developed specimens and those showing defects likely to diminish their future 

 usefulness. In breeding thoroughbred stock, proper culling is of great 

 importance. It is not often that a poultryman has such superabundance of 

 room that it will pay him to keep inferior specimens until grown. The 

 economic aspects of the question will be considered in the next chapter. 

 Here comment will be limited to suggestions as to the selection of the poorer 

 specimens. 



There are five classes of defects to be considered in culling : 



(i). DEFORMITIES, which are constitutional and ineradicable. These are 

 not always noticeable in very young chicks, and those that are noticed then 

 may be of such character that they do not affect table qualities. Chicks so 

 deformed, should be allowed to live until large enough to be eaten, and no longer. 



(2). GENERAL WEAKNESS AND WORTHLESSNESS, which may be consti- 

 tutional, or may be due to mismanagement affecting particular chicks more 

 than others. These chicks are simply spoiled in the growing. It is useless 

 to try to make good stock of them. 



(3). BLEMISHES (according to the Standard) WHICH ARE IRREMEDIABLE. 

 Of this class are such faults as feathered legs on chicks of clean legged 

 breeds, scantily feathered legs in full feathered varieties, color faults that will 

 not be outgrown, radical departures from typical shape. Birds thus defective 

 are not worth keeping for stock birds ; but many of the pullets may be 

 reserved for layers if there is room for them, and if they can be used or sold 

 as such; otherwise, the quicker they go to market the more profitable they are. 



(4). BLEMISHES WHICH MAY BE OUTGROWN such color defects as 

 white in the flights of black chicks, red in white ear lobes, or the reverse, 

 poor muscular development on big framed chicks, scant plumage on chicks 

 with good bone and muscle, etc. 



(5). FAULTS WHICH (to the uneducated taste) APPEAR TO BE EXCEL- 

 LENCIES. The most conspicuous example of this kind, really the only one 

 of importance, is premature attainment of the symmetry of a mature fowl. 

 This fault is frequently met in all varieties. It is an accompaniment of 

 precocity. The symmetrical chicks are at first much more attractive than 

 their less precocious companions, and the novice is apt to think he has a 

 "world beater," when he has only a miserable runt, as he finds when all are 

 matured. 



The beginner cannot practice very close culling, for it requires a few years 

 of watching chicks as they grow, and noting the changes as they approach 

 maturity, to enable him to know the defects which will be outgrown, and 

 those which will increase. Each year, however, he should cull closer and 

 closer, both in selecting for the breeding yard, and in handling the growing 

 stock. 



