212 



valuable birds, the most economical treatment of serious disease oc- 

 curring in a yard is execution. Concerning this matter each must 

 judge for himself.'* 



BREEDING FOR HEALTH. 



We know of no sounder advice on this subject than that con- 

 tained in an article of Dr. Prince T. Woods in the January issue of 

 the. American Poultry Journal, 1910, as follows : 



"The Health Type. For all practical purposes, the type of 

 health and strength and the type of weakness, of lacking bodily 

 vigor, are .easily differentiated. Do not mistake the purely nervous 

 energy of closely bred thoroughbreds for an indication of vigor. This 

 may be simply the mettlesome spirit of the thoroughbred and alone 

 is of no great value as a guide to health; combined with satisfactory 

 physical qualities it is a desirable asset." 



"Choosing the Male Bird. Always bear in mind that the male 

 bird is for all practical purposes, half of the flock. The male should 

 be fully matured, well developed specimen, neither too young nor too 

 old. Male birds from twelve months to two and one-half years old 

 usually make the best breeders. He should be the son of sound healthy 

 parents and should, so far as possible, inherit from them the qualities 

 which are desired for chicks of his get. He should be particularly 

 strong in all points of physical vigor, and Standard requirements, 

 where his mates show any traces of weakness. Have him as nearly 

 perfect in standard shape as possible, and of medium size and weight 

 for the variety. Too heavy males often seriously injure their mates 

 and are not desirable in the breeding pen." 



"The head should be rather large, broad and of good shape, well 

 carried. The eye should be bright, round and full with no irregulari- 

 ties in shape of pupil. The comb, face, and wattles should be a good 

 healthy color, neither too pale nor too dark. The beak should be 

 rather short, stout and set well at the base. The long, flattened beak 

 of 'crow-headed' birds or the misshapen 'hawk bill' are almost cer- 

 tain signs of physical weakness. The neck should be of medium length 

 for the variety and rather full; the long, thin, 'scrawny' neck goes 

 with the 'crow-head.' : 



"The body should be well filled out and carried in the well-set- 

 up manner indicative of a well ordered system of nutrition a good 

 digestion. The plumage should be bright, lustrous and carried rather 

 closely for the variety." 



"Mopey, dopey, loosely feathered birds with dull plumage and 

 a listless 'don't care for life' manner are too short on good health to 

 be of value as breeding stock." 



"The legs should be medium short for the variety, strong and 

 rather large boned and set well apart. The keel bone should be firm 

 and straight. There should be no deformities." 



"Leggy birds, knock-kneed and with crooked breastbones are 

 always lacking in physical vigor even if it does not show on the sur- 

 face." 



"The male should be attentive and gallant to his mates, should 

 have a clear lusty crow, free from any rattle at the end. He should 

 be sound in wind and able to fight or run without shortness of breath 

 or livid appearance of face and comb." 



