20 FIRST LESSONS IN POULTRY KEEPINa. 



1. Constitutional Vigor and Physical Perfection.— Only healthy, vigorous specimens 

 should be used for breeding purposes. No deformed or seriously malformed specimen should 

 be used for breeding. There are some minor malformations not in any way allecting the health, 

 vigoror practical usefulness of the fowl which should be treated as defects to be offset in the 

 mate; but such things as crooked backs, crooked breasts, crooked legs, twisted wings, wry tails 

 (that is, tails carried to one side) and squirrel tails (that is, tails carried too high and inclining 

 toward the head) should be rigidly excluded from the breeding pen.* 



There are some less serious malformations, perhaps more accurately described as lack of 

 development, but as they are somewhat common in all varieties we will mention them here: 

 Narrow and shallow bodies, pinched tails, and conspicuous lack of lireast development, make 

 a fowl unsymmetrlcal, detract something from its economic value as well as from its appear- 

 ance, and often indicate lack of development of some of the internal organs. The breeder who 

 carefully avoids using specimens having such faults rarely has cause to regret the loss of the 

 use of birds attractive In other particulars which this severe selection rules out. 



Breeding from Fowls thai Have Been iS'tcfc. — This is a question which properly 

 comes under the head of constitutional vigor. A fowl that has been very sick, though appar- 

 ently completely recovered before the breeding season, should not be used to breed. from, or if 

 such a fowl is of such excellence that It is desirable to get stock from it If possible. It may be 

 used, but the breeder should not rely on It for the stock he needs. The chicks from such 

 parents are apt to lack constitutional stamina, and frequently are weak in the parts affected by 

 the disease the parent had. 



2. Breed Shape.— This is where the breeder's appreciation of the differences in shapes 

 of fowls should l)egln. A fowl may be a well proportioned fowl, and not essentially lacking 

 in physical development in any section, and yet not be at all of the shape considered typical 

 for its breed. The breeder of thoroughbred stock should learn what is the Ideal shape in his 

 breed, and follow it as closely as possible in selecting for his matings. 



3. Color of Plumage.— While it is almost universally conceded as theoretically right to 

 place shape before color, in practice more fanciers give color the precedence, because color 

 counts for more In the show room. Tliis actual precedence given color, however, is detri- 

 mental to the practical qualities of some of the varieties, and, in general, destructive of dis- 

 tinctions in breed shape. Fanciers who compete with others in exhibitions where color is 

 more important in awards, and prizes, depend on extreme development of certain color 

 characteristics, may Bnd their success a justiffcation of the use of breeding fowls of fine color 

 but not at all of breed shape; but those who breed for practical qualities (irst, or for ordinary 

 excellence in fancy points, will always find results, on the whole, more satisfactory if they give 

 due precedence to breed shape in selecting their breeding stock. 



4. Comb and Head Appurtenances. — The matter of selection with reference to these 

 is, of course, selection for quality, as a bird not having these features of the kind characteristic 

 of its breed or variety, would never be considered at all. These features are practically of 

 little, If any, importance, liut, in lireeding exhibition stock, some of them are of very great 

 importance. They will be specially considered in connection with statements about mating in 

 tlie next lesson. 



5. Color of Beak and L/egs. — This Is a point to which novices in general give undue 

 Importance, often selecting or rejecting on this more than all other points. Except as it may 

 indicate healthy condition, color in Ihese points has no absolute value ; but considered as giving 

 .1 fliilshing touch to a fowl, or as conforming with a market demand, it assumes some 

 importance. 



*8nrae lufedors woul'l cnnsider tills I'ule too strict, especially with nffiinl (o defects wliicli are either not dis- 

 qualliiualioris incordlii;i to Ilie Slaridard, or llie riiI(!S regarding llieni not ri;;ldly enforced. M'ldle I adniU 

 fxceptlonui eases where for the sake of otlier special nierll a fowl willi one of these fanlts might be bred from 

 I thlnlc It very evident tliat the ^;eneral tendeney l.s to he too lenient witii such faults when seleellns breeding 

 Btoclt, and that to (ills cai-clossness niucli of the weakTii-sy and lacU of general attractiveness In s<*nic pure In'cd 

 stock Is due. The cases where the use of malformed specinicns Is Justified by results are so few, and the cases 

 where general results condemn their use so numerous, tiiat 11 .seems to nic the net result would be much belter 

 if no exceptions to the rule were allowed. 



