POULTRY FOR PROFIT 119 



15 to 20 hens, and one of the heavy breeds for 10 or 

 12. In the fall the number of hens must be consid- 

 erably reduced, say — one male to six hens of the 

 heavy breeds or eight or ten of the Mediterranean 

 breeds. No absolute rule can be given, for much 

 depends on the age and vigor of the birds and the 

 conditions under which they are kept. 



Eggs should not be used for hatching from a pen 

 till the male has been with the females about two 

 weeks. 



Prepotency 



Prepotency is the ability of a cock bird to trans- 

 mit his own characteristics to his offspring. The 

 prepotency of any given bird can only be learned by 

 trial. Some birds, apparently perfect as breeders, 

 beget only culls. Other birds, which make a far 

 poorer appearance, prove the best of breeders. 

 When a prepotent breeder is found, never let him go. 

 Some very successful breeders use two brothers in 

 the pen at the first until they learn which is more 

 prepotent. 



Breeding for Eggs 



In order to breed for eggs we must first find the 

 hen that lays the eggs. In every flock there are 

 drones and layers. Merely to cull out the drones 

 would be a saving of many dollars each year and a 

 corresponding increase in profits, for the drone eats 

 nearly as much as the hen that pays her board, but 

 we must do more than get rid of the drones. We 

 must pick out the hens that are doing our best laying 

 and use them for the mothers of next year's cockerels 

 and pullets. 



Trapnesting is the only absolutely certain way of 

 getting at the laying hen, but the trapnest is not for 



