POULTRY FOR PROFIT 115 



the surplus cockerels. The pullets which lay ear- 

 liest will probably be the best layers. Band these 

 early layers and trapnest them if it is not convenient 

 to trapnest the whole flock. 



Marks of Vigor 



Selection of individuals for the breeding pen 

 should be based on one quality, constitutional vigor. 

 Heavy egg production, while it is extremely desirable 

 in a breeder, is not of first importance. In fact, 

 many high producers break down under the strain 

 and are unfit to transmit their fecundity to their off- 

 spring. The hen selected as a breeder should be a 

 good layer, but she should be something more. She 

 must be a good eater or she cannot manufacture eggs 

 and at the same time keep up her own vitality. She 

 must be absolutely healthy. She must, in short, have 

 that indefinable something known as vigor. 



In selecting for vigor, we look first at the shape of 

 the fowl. The body of the vigorous cockerel or pul- 

 let always has a tendency to fill a parallelogram. 

 Such a fowl will have good depth of body, full breast, 

 full, well-rounded abdomen and a good broad back. 

 It will have glossy, well-developed plumage, promi- 

 nent, bright eyes, thick beak, short neck and heavy 

 thighs, set wide apart. This last mark of vigor is 

 particularly important in the male. Never use a 

 male that is not wide between the legs, no matter how 

 good he is in other respects. 



The voice is another test of vigor. The rooster 

 that crows often and loudly, as well as the hen that is 

 always cackling and singing, is the vigorous bird. 

 It is said that in some foreign countries it is cus- 

 tomary to have crowing contests as a test of fighting 

 quality. A weak cockerel very seldom crows. 



The shape and appearance of the head are certain 



