POULTRY SECRETS REVEALED. 77 



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 By breeding to the female line you will get good pullets both for utility 

 and exhibition. You may use your very best hens for breeding— the 

 skin required being in the selection of the male. He should be lighter 

 than the hens but be careful that he is not a 'washed-out" open-barred 

 bird. The barring should be sharp, regular, with as strong barring 

 on the flights as is possible to get in a pullet-bred male. He should 

 be a rangy bird, standing well up on well spread legs, with a four— 

 or at most a five point comb. Don't use a "logy" bird, and for that 

 reason be very careful in selecting one that is over weight, for such 

 birds are liable to be sluggards. See that he has a good red or bay 

 eye and be sure that he comes from a good laying strain. 



Leghorns. In no breed is vitality so quickly depleted as in the 

 Single Comb White Leghorns. Bred primarily for eggs, pushed tO' 

 the limit, then cast aside after the first year, it is only natural that some 

 played out stock should get into the breeding pen. When this happens 

 the result is disastrous. The chicks are weak, "leggy," with thin, 

 "crow" heads, long, drooping wings and pinched breasts. Utterly 

 lacking in stamina, their growth is slow and they fall easy victims to 

 the dreaded white diarrhoea. 



In breeding White Leghorns observe one cast-iron rule: Breed only 

 from two year old hens, from strong, alert birds that were not forced 

 to unusual laying in their pullet year. 



The foolish craze for extra low tails has caused some breeders to 

 throw White Minorca blood into their Leghorns, with the resulting 

 pale legs and flat backs. It is bad practice. Remember, the Standard 

 calls for a tall only five degrees lower In the Minorca than in the 

 Leghorn. And a judge who knows his business will penalize a Leghorn 

 with too low a tail as surely as if it be too high. 



Breed from erect, bold, upstanding birds. And get your breeders 

 as tame as possible. 



