Pedigree Poultry Breeding. 



87 



The four figures reproduced above trace the banding process from 

 the time of the arrival of the bands here at the Station to the adult 

 hen. Figure 19 shows the 3-16" wire above and below the bands -ar- 

 ranged in numerical order on this wire. The bands are put on this 

 wire number out. In Figure 20 the just hatched chick has the band on 

 the right leg. It stays here until the chick is two to three weeks old 

 when it is transferred to the membrane of the wing as in Figure 21. 

 Here it remains for the life of the chick as shown in Figure 22. For 

 •convenience in recording and handling the laying hens, they are given 

 another number the adult number, shown on each of the two bands of 

 the hen in Figure 18. 



Advantages of the Mating Number System of Pedigree 



Records. 



The important advantages of this system of mating num- 

 ber over any other record not involving them are the same 

 today that they were in 1908 when the first edition of this bul- 

 letin was made. 



1. The parents and all offspring related to any given mat- 

 ing are all brought together in the record books. Brothers and 

 .sisters appear on the same sheet and with their parents. 



