Breeding. 49 



feed liberally. 



When the birds are first paired up they should be 

 fed liberally upon the best corn. Good, sound maple 

 lieas and tares are the best feed at this time of the 

 >'ear, waith the addition of a few handfuls of small 

 maize two or three times a week. 



Just a word of caution ere I leave speaking of 

 pairing up. Never pair up any birds that are not 

 thoroughly fit and ready. All birds should be 

 thoroughly fit, full of life and vivacity, clear in the 

 eye, hard and ti.ght in plumage, bold and vigorous 

 in their movements, clear and bright in their calls one 

 to the other. Never pair birds which are dull in eye, 

 heavy and listless in their movements, and soft and 

 slack in plumage. When birds are fit the results of 

 the breeding season are generally good, but when they 

 are not, one can expect a series of shell-less eggs, 

 unfertile eggs, egg-bound hens, and hens " down 

 behind." The latter is a term used when hens have 

 had such trouble in laying that they have ruptured 

 the ovaries, and have become unfit for breeding. 

 Condition plays a great part in the success or failure 

 of a loft. Get it, keep it, clin.g to it, and success will 

 be attained and failure avoided. 



CONCERNING NE.ST PANS. 



It is not wise to put the nest bowl into the box 

 immediately the birds are turned down in the loft, as 

 it is apt to make some birds a little too ea.ger to go to 

 nest. It is wise to "bide a wee," watch the pro.gress 

 of events, and not to introduce the nest bowl until 

 you see the birds are intent upon .going to nest. This 

 you can easily tell by the manner in which the hen 

 is driven abottt all over the loft and flight by the 

 cock. You need not be alarmed at this driving about; 

 it is quite a natural process, and the cock will not 

 hurt the hen. On the contrary, this "driving to 

 nest," is a wise provision of Nature, and its object is to 

 fit the hen for the task of la^-ing. A hen that is well 

 driven by the cock is seldom subject to egg-binding, 

 the driving having the effect of reducin.g the flesh on 

 the hen, making the muscles of her body strong, yet 



