BREEDING AND BREEDS 97 



"The shanks are a conspicuous indication of the 

 strength of a fowl. They should be of pronounced 

 color characteristic of the variety, large and plump 

 as compared with the faded out, thin shanks of a 

 fowl of low vitality. Cold shanks are a very common 

 accompaniment of low vitality. The quantity, bril- 

 liancy and nature of the plumage are very reliable 

 indications of constitutional vigor. The feathers of a 

 fowl of low vitality grow small. They are likely to be 

 dull and ruffled as compared with the close-fitting, 

 smooth, fully developed bright plumage of the vig- 

 orous fowl. The color pigment, so pronounced in 

 the feathers of the brilliantly colored, does not 

 develop to perfection with physically weak fowls. 

 Fowls that lack vigor do not, as a rule, have the 

 necessary surplus fat in their bodies to supply the 

 gland at the base of the tail. This gland furnishes 

 the material to oil the plumage. 



"The appetite is also a good indication of vigor. 

 A vigorous and strong fowl consumes large quan- 

 tities of food. It is usually found with a full crop 

 if suitable food is available. A fowl constitutionally , 

 weak seldom carries more than a small amount ot 

 food in the crop no matter how much may be 

 accessible or how attractive it may be. 



"In breeding fowls for high egg production, we 

 must develop a sexual character. It is the first stage 

 of reproduction. Hence if we would succeed in 

 increasing production we must be skillful in recog- 

 nizing and in selecting only individuals whch are 

 physically and sexually vigorous for a breeding 

 flock. When either physically or sexually weak 

 fowls are discovered, they should be removed from 

 the breeding flocks. Any single evidence of physical 

 weakness alone may not necessarily be conclusive. 



