284 MANAGEMENT OF BREEDING STOCK 
external qualities, nor should a bird be discarded from the breed- 
ing pen because her color markings are not of the best. But so 
far as is possible, those birds should be selected which conform to 
the standard, both as to shape and color pattern of plumage. 
The health of the breeding birds is important. None should 
be put in the breeding pen which show signs of disease, and it 
should be the rule to mark with color bands any birds in the gen- 
eral flock, as well as in the breeding pen, which have ever been 
afflicted with disease; for such birds, even after recovery, do not 
make good breeders, and in the case of certain hereditary diseases 
there is always the danger of transmitting them to the progeny. 
Hence the health of both male and female in the past, as well as 
the present, should be noted, and only birds of good constitution 
and vitality and free from taint of disease should be used. 
Age of Breeding Stock.—The age at which hens make the best 
breeders is the second or third laying season. At this time they 
have reached maturity, have attained their maximum develop- 
ment, they produce large eggs, hence large chicks, and the breeder 
has the advantage of having studied their individual possibilities 
in the pullet year. All things considered, yearling hens during 
the second laying season undoubtedly make the best breeders. 
With males, however, it is a good plan to use well-developed cock- 
erels. This is often done, and the best results are secured by using 
a cockerel of a relatively early hatch but full maturity. When, 
for any reason, it is necessary to use pullets for breeding, they 
should be hatched early, fully matured, and mated with old cocks, 
not cockerels. 
Pullets as Breeders—The mistake is often made, especially by 
poultrymen who desire to hasten matters by hatching their own 
birds, of using immature pullets. This is always poor policy unless 
the pullets are fully matured; and approximately one year old. 
For instance, birds hatched early in January and February may 
perhaps make satisfactory breeders next year in March or April, 
but it is rarely the case. The following are some of the chief reasons 
why disaster accompanies this practice: 
Where pullets are used as breeders, a large percentage of the 
eggs set are infertile, undoubtedly as the result of immaturity. 
The chicks at hatching time and at maturity prove to be small, 
and the size of the chick will prove to be in direct proportion to 
the size of the egg. 
The resulting progeny show a pronounced lack of vitality, both 
