156 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



assimilate his qualities readily with those of the hens to 

 which he may be mated, if they are chosen with equal care. 



It will be remembered, we stated that the hen affects the 

 internal structure and vital organs of her chickens, in which 

 are included the laying qualities, as well as the temperament 

 and the constitution. A good, quiet mother, generally pro- 

 duces pullets that exhibit the same qualities in their turn; 

 if she is properly mated, and, on the other hand, a restless, 

 uncertain mother, will impress these characteristics upon her 

 chickens. A poor layer, must not be expected to produce 

 hens much better than herself, no matter with what bird she 

 is paired, and though there is wisdom in the belief of old 

 henwives, that it is always well to breed from hens that are 

 known to be good layers, it is necessary to see that the cock 

 does not counteract this influence. By judicious selection 

 of the male bird, it may be possible to gradually improve 

 the laying powers, as it is possible to alter the characteristics 

 of any birds ; but, of course, this can only be a slow process, 

 and it is better to commence breeding with suitable birds, 

 and to depend upon the hens for such an improvement, 

 instead of on the cocks. As shown when speaking of the 

 male birds, the purer the parents are, the more certainty 

 there is in breeding, and this is the case equally with both 

 sexes, though, as the cocks influence the externals, the result 

 is more seen on their part, than on that of the hens. 



When breeding with the object of producing good laying 

 fowls, the hens selected should be shapely, have no grave 

 defects, and, above all, be known as good layers, or from a 

 good laying strain. To be sure of this latter point may 

 involve some trouble ; but it need not be very great, as any 

 one who attends to the fowls, and really takes an interest in 

 them, knows which are the best layers. By this means, it 

 is quite possible to very largely increase the laying powers of 

 any strain of birds ; and, the care thus taken, will be rewarded 



