BREEDING STOCK 91 
months old when he is mated will serve more 
hens than a two-year-old male, and the eggs 
which are produced by the hens mated to the 
cockerel will be more hatchable. Such a 
cockerel, like the above-mentioned pullet, 
is in the prime of life. 
Characteristics. The best index of the 
vitality and vigor of male birds, especially at 
maturity, is comparable to that of pullets. 
The male bird should have a short, stubby 
beak, his legs should stand squarely under 
him; or, in other words, he should be neither 
knock-kneed nor bow-legged; the veins run- 
ning up and down the outside of the leg 
should be dark red and very plain. If he 
possesses the power to transmit egg produc- 
tion he will have a long, straight breast- 
bone, with a span of at least two fingers in 
width. His back will be broad and wedge- 
shaped from the wings to the hips. He will 
be a frequent crower and a fighter. 
When to Select Males. The male birds 
should be selected at the time that they 
weigh two to two and one-half pounds, or 
just previous to the time when the surplus 
males are sold as broilers. At this time it is 
