KK UTILITY 03 



Excessive service can be brought about by a lustful male being too 

 constantly in the company of a few females in a confined space, and by 

 artificially exciting the sexual desires by stimulating foods and drugs, 

 [mperfecf union can result from some abnormal defect in the male or 

 female, (oo profuse feathering of Ihe posterior parts of either male or 

 female, or bolli, or a lack of elective affinity (mutual attraction) between 

 the male and female. Forced service is very apt to be futile or imper- 

 fect. 



The absence of mutual attraction will account for those common cases 

 where there is no service at all. 



Tn and of itself alone considered, prolific egg production can have no 

 possible effect upon fertility. In many cases it can and does have a 

 contributory effect . 



As explained elsewhere in this book the natural mating time is at, 

 and near, the beginning of a laying period by the female. This favora- 

 ble time is apparently recognized by both the male and female, under 

 normal conditions. 



It has been frequently observed, not only by myself but by others, 

 that the female that has been laying freely for a long' time may persists 

 ently avoid the attentions of the male: also that the male may not offer 

 his services to such a female. Mutual attraction may, however, exist 

 between the male and a female that has been laying freely for a long 

 time, and may be absent between the male and a female that has just be- 

 gun to lay. Egg production does not. necessarily, control elective 

 affinity. 



\Vhat I have outlined is, [ believe, sufficient to account for absolute 

 infertility in by far the great majority of cases. 



Weakly fertilized eggs, so-called, containing germs that fail to de- 

 velop fully and normally during incubation, may be caused by imperfect 

 mating - or the germs may perish from lack of sustenance in the albumi- 

 nous portion, or white of the egg. 



Eggs that arc insufficiently nourished ina\ result from an insufficiency 

 of suitable elements in the food served, or obtained by the bird, or by a 

 failure on her part to properly convert those elements to the needs of 

 the eggs. This, as well as a lack of affection for the male, or imperfect 

 union with the male, may accompany an overfat condition of the female 

 and be caused by it. 



It will readilv be seen from the above that the writer does not enter- 

 tain for a moment some of the commonly accepted notions regarding a 

 necessary connection between prolific laying and infertility. That the 

 causes for infertility that I have outlined can be wholly avoided in 

 actual practice is another question and I have grave doubts of its possi- 

 bility. 



When we supply certain predetermined conditions for our fowls we 



