4 POULTRY 
These factors are seven in number, and are 
as follows: (1) Vigor, (2) Egg-laying Ability, 
(3) Size, (4) Climatic Conditions, (5) Free- 
dom from Diseases, (6) Kind of Market, and 
(7) Type of Business. 
1. Vigor. Egg production, fertility and 
hatchability all depend upon the health and 
vigor of the parent stock. It is plainly evi- 
dent, therefore, that the birds should be 
strong and vigorous. They should come 
from stock that grows evenly, feathers well, 
grows rapidly, reaches maturity and begins 
to lay at five to five and one-half months. 
This is true whether the birds selected be 
Reds, Rocks, Wyandottes, or Leghorns. 
If possible, the buyer should visit the 
plant from which he intends to purchase 
eggs or birds. He should make his visit at 
the time that the chickens are being grown. 
He should see the conditions under which 
the birds are housed because this will have a 
great bearing upon the vitality and health of 
the stock. He should know the conditions 
under which the chickens are grown— 
whether they are grown in small runs or on 
unrestricted range. This is because there is 
