338 Animal Husbandry 
In selecting such fowls, probably the best time to make the choice 
is at the molting period, as thrifty fowls molt much more rapidly 
than those having weak constitutions. In making this selection, 
deep, long-bodied, wedge-shaped fowls are preferred for egg pro- 
duction. Two-year-old hens should be used, as they are more 
mature than yearlings and lay more perfectly developed eggs. 
With the breeding flock, thus selected, allow one male for each 
fifteen to twenty-five hens. For best results the malés should 
be changed two or three times a week (Fig. 135). 
In selecting eggs for hatching, choose only those that are typical 
of the variety, perfect in shape, normal in size, uniform in color, 
Fic. 135. — A breeding flock of White Leghorns. 
and firm of shell. Any departure from this condition indicates 
faulty nutrition or secretion in the development of the egg, which 
would naturally result in weakness of the chick. 
542. Incubation. — There are two methods of hatching eggs 
in common use, natural incubation and _ artificial incubation. 
The former method is used in small flocks and by farmers generally, 
while the latter is used in large flocks and on farms where poultry 
raising is a specialty. 
543. Natural incubation.—In most respects the hen is superior 
to the artificial incubator. There is much difference between the 
breeds as well as among individuals of the same breed in respect 
to their usefulness for incubation purposes. All things considered, 
the general purpose breeds provide the best sitting hens. The 
