50 



PRACTICAL POULTRY PRODUCTION 



flock by breeding from an unrelated individual, which is, 

 however, of the same breed and variety. This is known 

 as outbreeding, or outcrossing, and is usually done to 

 revive or introduce some character or factor such as vigor, 

 in which the flock is deficient. 



Crossbreeding. This form of breeding refers to the 

 mating together of two distinct breeds or varieties. The 

 object of crossbreeding is usually the effort to produce a 



new breed by securing a 

 new combination or 

 blending of characters of 

 the two original breeds. 

 Sometimes the offspring 

 of the first cross is mated 

 to a third breed to further 

 the blending or to in- 

 troduce still other char- 

 acters that may be de- 

 sired in the new breed. 

 Many of the American 

 breeds and varieties 

 originated as the result 

 of crossbreeding. 

 GRADING UP 

 It sometimes happens 

 that the improvement of 

 the flock is desired wherein the birds are mongrels. In such a 

 case, where the owner cannot afford to purchase a pen of 

 standard-bred fowls, day-old chicks or hatching eggs from 

 which to make a beginning, a standard-bred male may be se- 

 cured. When such a bird is bred on a selected few of the 

 best of the mongrel or grade females and this process con- 

 tinued for several years, a decided improvement will result. 

 While such a practice is not generally recommended in 



Figure 52. — A standard-bred male at the head 

 of a mongrel flock will improve the quality 

 of the flocli materially. 



