399 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 117 



QUESTION Will lice that are found on poultry live and thrive 

 on human beings ? 

 ANSWER No. 



QUESTION When purchasing hens for layers is it safe to al- 

 ways depend upon those with bright red combs as laying or about 

 to lay? 



ANSWER No. 



QUESTION Is there any way to mate the breeding birds so as 

 to produce more pullets than cockerels ? 



ANSWER There is no rule that can be absolutely depended 

 upon. There is a theory sometimes advanced that the mating of 

 young male birds to old hens will produce the desired result, but in 

 practice it will not always do it. 



QUESTION What is the best breed of dogs for the poultryman 

 for the purpose of keeping down rats ? 

 ANSWER The fox terror. 



QUESTION Is it advisable to combine pigeon raising with poul- 

 try? 



ANSWER No. 



QUESTION When is the best time to cull the flock? 



ANSWER The culling process is always timely. Culls should 

 be disposed of as fast as they develop. Begin culling when the chicks 

 are four weeks old. 



QUESTION Are guineas any protection to the chickens from 

 hawks ? 



ANSWER A little. If the hawk is seen approaching a guinea 

 will oftentimes frighten it away by its shrill noise. 



QUESTION Why is it that excessive fat in hens prevents them 

 from laying fertile eggs ? 



ANSWER The germ can seldom reach the egg at the proper 

 stage of development. 



QUESTION Who is supposed to be responsible for loss or dam- 

 age when stock or eggs are shipped, the buyer or the seller ? 



ANSWER The seller is supposed to properly crate and pack 

 stock and eggs and take all due precaution that the shipment reaches 

 the customer in perfect condition. The buyer is then supposed to 

 stand any loss or damage, but if any is sustained through careless- 

 ness of the express company the buyer has recourse on them. 



