POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. J 



"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 ner- 

 vous energy of closely bred thoroughbreds for an indication of 

 vigor. This may be simply the m,ettlesome spirit of the thor- 

 oughbred 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 or 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 

 irregularities 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 certain 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." 



