XV 



THE IDEAL BIRD 



The Good Pullet — Lusty Strength Based on Proper Food 

 — Exercise and Health — Three Methods — Rosy 

 Stories — Age of Maturity — The Fancier's Ideal — 

 Intrinsic Value — Judgment of Quality — The Average 

 Bird a Unit of Measure 



To the egg farmer, his precious maturing pullets are 

 the delight of life and the objects of keenest care. On 

 them will depend his winter income. On their earliness, 

 thrift, and general well-being, his hopes are founded. It 

 has been said elsewhere that the Beginner's first busi- 

 ness was to learn to raise good birds. The difference 

 in results between a good and a poor pullet is often the 

 difference between money in and money out during the 

 long winter. He whose pullets are a source of money 

 out, throughout the long winter, while bringing nothing 

 in, will soon become skeptical as to the profits in poultry 

 keeping. 



A good pullet is well grown, thrifty, full of vitality, 

 active and eager in temperament, and usually a hustler 

 after food. Breed characteristics make some difference, 

 but the pullet which is active for her feed is more likely 

 to make the satisfactory layer. This eager activity de- 

 pends far more largely on the perfection of health and 

 a keen appetite than most people imagine. The real 

 work of developing a crack pullet lies in so feeding her 

 that she will eat every ounce possible, while still not 

 overeating. Overfeeding and ill-balanced feeding tend 



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