POULTRY FOR PROFIT 127 



CARE AND FEEDING OF BREEDERS ' 



Hens used for breeding should be hens in their sec- 

 ond season or even older, which have passed 

 through the molt well. Sometimes the molt brings 

 out virtues or defects which have escaped detection 

 in the pullet year. As a rule, the best layers molt 

 late. Watch, then for the biddy that lays on into 

 September or October before she begins to drop her 

 feathers. She may be the best layer you have. 



From the time the hens selected as breeders begin 

 to molt, which will usually be by the first of August, 

 their treatment should be different from that of the 

 hens kept as layers. Molting fowls ought to have 

 range, with plenty of shade, but the breeders must 

 have these pleasant surroundings if they are to pro- 

 duce hatchable eggs and strong chicks. Put all males 

 by themselves at the beginning of the molt, in shady, 

 comfortable coops, and give the hens the widest 

 possible range. An orchard is a fine place for them, 

 and a corn field is nearly as good. 



If they are of the heavy breeds some of the hens 

 are sure to be overf at after the rich laying ration of 

 the winter. These should be put in a pen by them- 

 selves and their ration reduced till their surplus fat 

 is gone. A fat hen is in no condition for making 

 feathers. 



Feeding Breeders 



During the breeding season the breeders should 

 not have the forcing ration which is fed to layers. 

 What we want from them is not quantity, but .qual- 

 ity. They require more hard grain, especially wheat 

 and oats. Oats especially are considered conducive 

 to fertility. Some poultrymen add rolled oats to the 

 mash, others feed an extra amount of sprouted oats. 



An abundance of meat and greens is a necessity to 



