168 POULTRY PRODUCTION 



somewhat comparable to the records of the ad\'anced registry 

 for dairy cattle. The enormous numbers involved, the com- 

 paratively small economic value of the individual fowl, 

 combined with the difficulty of accurately checking a system 

 of reports, seem to inhibit any comprehensive plan for secur- 

 ing official production records. It is not unreasonable to 

 hope, however, that a scheme for testing breeding males 

 by making an actual trial of their breeding powers under 

 certain specified conditions and later furnishing an official 

 record of the winter production of their daughters may be 

 worked out. Thus a March hatched male could be tested 

 the following INIarch and the winter production of his 

 daughters known early in the following breeding season. 



It would seem that at i)resent the experiment stations of 

 the several states furnish the logical place for sucli tests 

 to be made. 



MANAGEMENT OF BREEDERS. 



The aim in the management of breeding stock is to secure 

 a maximum of thrifty chicks. It involves the feeding, housing, 

 incubating, and rearing of the stock intended for breeding 

 purposes as well as the (juestions of exercise, the number of 

 hens to be mated with one male, care of the breeding male, 

 and the forcing of breeding hens for egg production. The 

 more general (luestions of feeding, housing, incubating, and 

 brooding are ap])licable to laying stock as well, and arc treated 

 in chapters bearing these headings res]3cctively. These further 

 questions concerning breeders specifically are important and 

 should be given due consideration. 



Exercise. — The relation between the activity of a bird and 

 his or her breeding ])ower is very marked. This is witnessed 

 by the fact that in the breeds that are naturally very active, 

 more females may be mateil with a single male with good 

 results than in the less active l)reeds. Those breeds that 

 are not naturally rustlers must be encouraged to exercise 

 freely. The free range ollVrs the ideal op])ortunity, of which 

 vigorous birds of any but the heav-iest and most iihlegniatic 

 breeds will not be slow to take advantage. If free range 

 is not available, the birds mu.st lie compelled to exercise 



