52 MRS. BASLEY'S WESTERN POULTRY BOOK 



Rock markings, even the offspring of the Cochin hens had feathers 

 to their toes. The next year she bought again from the same 

 breeder another vigorous Plymouth Rock, and by the end of that 

 season she had, apparently, a flock of fine Plymouth Rocks. I say 

 apparently, because if she had mated them together, she would have 

 had mongrels the following season, but as it was she worked the 

 mongrel old stock off and had fine looking Plymouth Rocks that 

 proved excellent layers. A line-bred cockerel has greater prepo- 

 tency than one indefinitely bred. That is, he will reproduce him- 

 self or leave his marks strongly upon his progeny. This was the 

 case with my New York friend's birds. Hers were "cross-bred," 

 or what farmers would call "grade" Plymouth Rocks. 



The male bird, if he comes from a line-bred family, will be 

 more prepotent than the female. He will impress his qualities 

 or characteristics, good or bad, on his progeny more than a male 

 that is not line-bred, and the male is considered half the pen. 

 His part is the germ, the seed, from which will grow the chick. 

 For this reason, choose the good, strong, vigorous cockerel, active 

 and stirring, to head your pen and take a pure-bred instead of a 

 mongrel, because in this way you will build up a flock of fine birds. 



"Line-breeding" is keeping in the same family for years, each 

 year choosing the most vigorous of both males and females to con- 

 tinue the succession. Line-breeding is very careful and closely 

 selected in-breeding. 



"Out-breeding" is introducing new blood, but of the same breed. 



"Cross-breeding" or "out-crossing" is introducing distinctly new 

 blood of an entirely different breed. 



There is some diversion of opinion as to the best ages of parent 

 stock to produce the strongest chicks, but it is usually accepted 

 that fowls are generally at their best at twenty to twenty-four 

 months of age. If they are not then in good condition, the breeder 

 should look for something wrong in his method of handling stock. 

 A hen coming two years old will, if properly handled between sea- 

 sons, lay as well the second year as the first, and lay larger eggs 

 which will hatch stronger and better chicks. A cock of the same 

 age should be in his prime. The mating of males and females of 

 this age will, other things being equal, give better results than 

 any other age. However, well-grown young fowls would make 

 better breeders than two-year-olds not in good condition. Many 

 breeders advise mating a cock bird to pullets, and a cockerel to 

 hens. Generally, these matings give better results than the matings 

 of cockerels and pullets, but not as good as matings of two-year- 

 olds. 



The principal quality looked for in mating birds is vigor, 

 whether you are mating for market or for egg laying or for fancy 

 feathering. 



Breeding Chart 



A clear conception of the methods followed in line breeding 

 may be had by reference to the accompanying chart which has 

 been drawn from one published several years ago by I. K. Felch, 



