162 



BREEDING 



From the preceding statements, it is evident that a 

 valuable strain can be produced only by the most careful 

 selection of the foundation stock, and the most skilful 

 breeding during the succeeding generations. Chance breed- 

 ing cannot be relied on to produce satisfactory results. 

 Cross-Breeding. Cross-breeding is of two kinds: 

 breeding together of fowls of different breeds; and 

 breeding together of fowls of the same variety but 

 which come from different localities or from different 

 strains. Most commonly, cross-breeding is understood 

 to be the mating together of fowls of different breeds, 

 such, for instance, as a Plymouth Rock to a Wyandotte, 

 or a Rhode Island Red to an 

 Indian Game. This form of 

 cross-breeding is often utilized 

 in the production of broilers 

 and roasters for market, the 

 offspring from such crosses be- 

 ing useless for breeding to- 

 gether. The other form of 

 cross-breeding, or of breeding 

 for an out-cross, is usually prac- 

 ticed in the breeding of poultry 

 for exhibition, and for the pur- 

 WHITE WYANDOTTE pose O f introducing new blood 

 into a strain to improve vitality. 



Methods of Mating. Mating is the act of pairing a 

 male and a female for the purpose of producing offspring. 

 The two general methods of mating are single mating 

 and double mating. Single mating consists in mating 

 together a male and a female. 



When fowls are mated for the production, from the 

 same pair, of both male and female offspring fit for 

 exhibition, the process is called single mating. This is 

 the method of mating commonly practiced in the mating 

 of fowls of most varieties. This method of mating 

 does not, however, produce the best results when the 

 production of the most delicately marked fowls of the 

 varieties most difficult to produce is desired. 





