POULTRY SECRETS REVEALED 81 



An infertile egg wiil not rot during tlie period of incubation. 



Therefore, 



If sn egg rots while incubating you may be sure that it was fertile. 



. I have told this fact again and again. I repeat it now that it may 

 not be forgotten while considering this subject. 



Fertile eggs! 



Don't expect thep by following any of the alleged "'syteins." 

 Merely alternating males will not do. Yet this has been sold as a great 

 "secret." Breedihg old males to pullets or cockerels to hens will not, 

 of itself, produce the results. No "system" of feeding will do it. 



We may as Well, admit at the outset that the hundred per cent, 

 fertility seen in jvild fowl is very uncommon among domestic birds. 

 But to get the highest fertility possible we should follow nature so far 

 as we can. To that end we should separate the sexes until the breed- 

 irig season is on. We should use only mature birds for breeding. The 

 age of maturity varies with the breed and care. The Mediterraneans, 

 of course, mature earlier than the Asiatics; and well fed birds that 

 have been kept growing every minute with high grade food, like the 

 Pirk and Pollard Chick Grain and Growing Food, will mature quicker 

 and produce far more fertile eggs than those that have been left to 

 hustle for themselves — fed poor or improper food and in limited 

 quantities. 



Generally no mal^ should be used for breeding before he is a year 

 old. Arid hens are always, better than pullets. 



Watch the male. 



If he gives attelition solely to one or two of his mates you should 

 edther alternate him with another or remove his favorites. The 

 former plan is best. 



