NECESSITY FOR MALE BIRDS 



265 



The presence of the male is not essential to the production of 

 eggs. Hens will lay just as well without his society as with him. 

 Some breeders claim that their hens do better without males. 

 I do not think there is anything of importance to this idea, ex- 

 cept in rare cases where it might be found that a large number of 

 males were annoying the hens. If anything, I am inclined to 

 think that egg production is slightly improved by the presence 

 of a few males. They are very attentive in the matter of lo- 

 cating food, and in escorting the flock afield, which induces exer- 

 cise and encourages foraging. This value, however, is more 





fe^^'t^""!^"^ 



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,JW)Wg. 



(California Experitnent Station) 

 Fig. 167. — Plans for an electric egg candler or tester. 



than offset by the disadvantage in having fertile eggs at times 

 when they are not required for hatching purposes, because they 

 are so easily affected by heat. These days the slogan is — ' ' swat 

 the rooster," and in the long run it is a good rule. 



Now for the second fallacy: An egg, whether fertile or not, has 

 a small grayish spot the size of a pin-head on the surface of the 

 yolk, known as the life germ, because it is the vital principle of 

 the egg. If an egg is broken into a saucer, this germ is usually 

 plainly visible to the naked eye; sometimes it is quite con- 

 spicuous. Examine it closely ; if it has a clear outer rim or circle 



