CHAPTER IV 

 Breeds and Speeding 



PRINCIPLES OF CORRECT MATING 



The most important point in breeding good poul- 

 try is mating. This should be considered of so much 

 importance tha.t the utmost care should be given to the 

 selection of our breeders. Careless or haphazard mat- 

 ing cannot be too strongly condemned. First, and 

 above all, the most important point is perfect health in 

 both sexes. The males and females should be in 

 absolutely perfect health. A strong vigorous male bird 

 is half the pen. No other kind must be thought of for 

 a moment. Perfect health in the male is indicated by 

 a brilliant red comb, smooth glossy plumage, and a 

 general strong vigorous carriage. He should be 

 selected with great care at least a month before he is 

 needed, and fed well and put in fine breeding condi- 

 tion ; but remembering always that he must not be fat. 

 Usually a bird in show condition is not in breeding 

 condition ; but the prize winner can easily be put in 

 breeding condition by judicious feeding and plenty of 

 exercise. He must be a bird of few defects, the fewer 

 the better. 



I am a firm believer in size for a male. I do not 

 mean extra large, but a well-grown and well-developed 

 bird. Small, weak, immature birds make poor breed- 

 ers, and beget weak and diminutive chickens. Good 

 legs, large, firm, and which support the body well, are 

 worth considering. In the females we might look for 

 specimens which are, above all things, not overfat. 

 After being cooped during the cold, stormy winter, 



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