CHAPTER III 



THE BREEDER— HIS PLACE AND HIS WORK 



The place of the breeder — The qualifications of a breeder — The poultry- 

 show — Appreciating the quality of a specimen — The work of the 

 breeder — Prepotency — Principles of breeding — Values that command 



good prices 



Having established the place that the American breeds occupy in 

 the general scheme of economic agriculture, we shall be able to point 

 out clearly just what position the purebred breeder of these breeds 

 occupies in relation to the poultry industry as a whole. The poultry- 

 man who is a breeder has a definite place to fill, a definite service to 

 render, and it is important that he should understand precisely his 

 status, that he may completely assume the responsibility which he 

 bears to the industry and fully enjoy the opportunities which that 

 position affords. 



The place of the breeder. The true function of the poultry breeder 

 is to maintain a breeding establishment from which may be supplied 

 seed stock in the form of breeding birds, eggs for hatching, or chicks. 



Roughly, poultrykeeping may be grouped under four heads: the 

 Ijreeder, the farmer, the commercial poultryman, the back-lotter. The 

 business of the breeder is the maintenance of a supply to which all 

 the members of the other three classes may go for foundation stock 

 or blood to reinforce their flocks. From such a source flow the 

 rivulets of good size, type, breed character and stamina that are to 

 be absorbed by the poultry of the country. 



While nearly everyone who keeps poultry is somewhat interested 

 in the problems of breeding, the relative few become constructive 

 breeders. The majority remain mere multipliers, and their poultry is 

 continuously running out, not because it is inbred, as they may avow, 

 but because too many poor individuals are allowed to reproduce 

 themselves. The great majority, therefore, are dependent upon the 

 constructive efforts of the breeders. 



It is not generally understood that the breeder has made a real 

 contribution. Some folks seemingly take for granted that the breeds, 

 as we have them, always existed. It is therefore easy for them to 

 misunderstand the motives of the fancier and, assuming him to be 

 engrossed in an idler's hobby, condemn him for the hours he spends 

 with his birds. The fact is, however, that very often they are hours 

 of quiet observation and thoughtful study. 



It should be remembered that the men who have been devoted to 

 their fowls, who, while the surrounding countryside has been asleep, 



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