BREEDING 63 



as an older male bird. The fowls, either male or female, 

 that have proven themselves to be especially valuable as 

 breeders should be retained as long as they will breed. 

 FREE RANGE FOR BREEDING STOCK 



Whenever possible, the breeding stock should have free 

 range, especially during the early fall and winter before the 

 breeding season. When this is not possible, free range just 

 preceding and during the breeding season will be of great 

 value in strengthening the fertility of the hatching eggs. 

 MANAGEMENT OF THE BREEDERS 



After the fowls have been selected and mated, care should 

 be taken to see that they are kept in good condition in order 

 to insure the best results. Examine the fowls and houses 

 at frequent intervals to see that they are not infested with 

 lice and mites. When infested with either of these pests 

 the fertility will be affected and sometimes totally destroyed. 

 In cold weather care must be used to see that the male does 

 not have his comb and wattles frosted or frozen. If injured 

 in this way, his ability to fertilize eggs in most cases will 

 be impaired, and he usually will not recover for several 

 weeks. In very cold weather, males intended for breed- 

 ing should be placed in a box or crate at night partly cov- 

 ered with a bag or cloth to prevent the freezing of the comb 

 and wattles. Another means of preventing frosted comb 

 and wattles is to grease these parts with vaseline. It fre- 

 quently happens that the male is so gallant that he allows 

 the hens to eat all the feed, with the result that he soon gets 

 out of condition. It is well, therefore, to examine the male 

 occasionally at night after he goes to roost to see that his 

 crop is full and that he is not growing thin. If his gal- 

 lantry is proving detrimental to himself, the male should be 

 fed at least once a day separately from the hens. Sick 

 fowls or those that show any signs of being out of condition 

 should be removed from the breeding pen immediately. 



