48 



RHODE ISLAND REDS 



second, shape and size next and color last. I have many 

 beautifully colored birds, but they are fully as numerous in 

 my lowest priced yards as elsewhere. In fact, until re- 

 cently I had not believed it possible to produce the heavi- 

 est layers without some smut in their under-color. As to 

 size, the best layers are below Standard weight and especi- 

 ally is this true of the early layers. In shape I want a 

 rather long, broad back with a feminine head and neck in 

 the mother. In the sire I want the long back, but a higher, 

 more spreading tail than most breeders of Reds are working 

 for and a broad breast, in short, a vigorous, gallant, crow- 

 ing, masterful bird is what I look for in the sire. 



In one sense vigor in the parent stock is the first requisite, 

 for without vigor you have nothing to build on. In build- 

 ing up an egg strain one must start with the ancestral egg 

 records, going back as far as possible, but let no one think 

 that laying freaks will count for much here except as an im- 

 pulse in the right direction. 



It is a well known fact that sons more generally inherit 

 the peculiarities of their mothers, while daughters take after 

 their fathers, consequently in the selection of males for my 

 breeding pens all the masculine traits, such as crowing, 

 fighting, gallantry, etc., must be prominent. Still the most 

 important thing of all is a good egg record running back in 

 his family as far as possible. He must also be reasonably 

 early to mature. Now as to the final test — is he vigorous? 

 If not, discard him as a breeder, remembering that the male 

 is half the flock. You would better buy a bird than run any, 

 chances of not having vigorous chicks. 



One more word which relates to good breeding and 

 knowing what you have bred. I have found that it adds 

 greatly to the fertility of eggs for breeding to use double 

 pens with a rooster cage over the perches. Each time you 

 feed or twice a day take one of the males out and cage the 

 others. Fowls, as well as people, have their favorites. I 

 also use one male to nine females, not because Red males 



are less vigorous than those of other breeds, but because it 



pleases my patrons to get strong-germed eggs and it may 

 save them double expressage, as I will not have to replace 



infertile eggs. Of course alternating the males cannot be 



practiced in pedigree pens where the precise parentage of 



«ach individual bird must be 



known, but it is well adapted 



to the lower priced eggs and the 



general breeder. 



A simple means of identify-- 



ing a larger number of pedigree 



matings than the usual fifteen 



toe marks is by clipping the 



tip of the right, left or both 



hind toes. This gives sixty 



different marks and even a ped- 

 igree specialist seldom needs 



more than that number in one 



season. Banding each season 



with different metals, alumi- 

 num, copper or brass, helps to 



distinguish the age at a glance. 



Chas. C. Coulter, Indiana 



I never depend on a poul- 

 try judge or the score card to 

 mate up my pens. I cull closely 

 and those that I retain for my 

 •own use or for sale are the best 

 •of the flock. The amateur is apt 

 to depend on the score card to 

 'his detriment. For instance. 



R. C RHODE ISLAND RED COCK 



suppose he should show [-two Aow^'S^e*! Sl^'cfa^^. fhX's^o^^'&'o.ri-Ut?! c^ 



males', one that scores 93 points and wins a first prize, 

 but has white in the under-color of hackle, white at the 

 base of the tail or on the shoulders. The second bird scores 

 91 points but does not have these defects. Now the 

 amateur would readily think the 93-point bird should 

 head his pen, but in my judgment such a bird is worthless 

 and I would much prefer to use the 91-point bird. 



Let me give an example of faulty judgment. A few 

 years ago while showing my birds for the first time I had a 

 cockerel whose hackle feathers were lighter in color than his 

 saddle feathers. If I had taken the advice of the judge, I 

 would have repented it. He told me not to use this bird. 

 This male had wonderful under-color and was f per cent of 

 the blood of his sire, who I knew was a great breeder. The 

 females I showed produced the worst kind of culls. I had 

 one female at home, which to look at, you would have pro- 

 nounced fit for market only, except that she was of wonderful 

 type and had very smooth feathers. This female produced 

 some wonderfully colored, rich red females of fine type, one 

 of which could have won first at Cincinnati but was disquali- 

 fied on account of a stub. Judge Brown pronounced her the 

 finest pullet he had ever seen. The following season this 

 same judge came back to judge our home show and pro- 

 nounced the pullets from this mating the finest he had ever 

 seen. Even if the pullet referred to did have a stub, she 

 produced wonderful birds and no price would tempt me to 

 part with her descendants, either males or .females, or with 

 eggs from the latter. 



Each individual bird must be watched and every breeder 

 must learn from his own experience how to pick birds of good 

 type and color. In other words, he must train his eyes so 

 that he will be able to discern the correct shade at a glance. 

 The poultry judge does not know the strong points or the 

 defects of your particular strain which must be taken into 

 consideration when you are mating your pens, therefore you 

 cannot depend upon his judgment. A weak point in the 

 males must be overcome by a strong point in the females 

 and vice versa. Use the trap nest freely and experiment 

 with matings. I believe in matings of only one or two 

 females with a male. Every year I make a number of mat- 

 ings for my own benefit in order to learn what they will pro- 

 duce. I believe it is possible to 

 mate rank culls and produce 

 stock that is valuable for next 

 season's breeding, and for my' 

 own benefit and^ pleasure I al- 

 ways make a few matings of 

 this kind. 



I like to line breed, as it 

 enables one to produce a better 

 per cent of good stock, but 

 care must be taken that the 

 largest and most vigorous 

 specimens are selected. The • 

 trouble with most breeders is 

 that they are too impatient. 

 They want to accomplish in 

 one season what it has taken 

 other breeders several years to 

 accomplish. ' 



I like to plan my matings 

 ahead as a good breeder must 

 know the blood lines back of 

 each individual bird in his pens 

 if he intends to make true 

 progress. When mating a pen 

 select a male strong in head 

 points, also strong and vigor- 



