BREEDING 153 



In a general way it may be said that in confinement the 

 number will run from 8 to 12 for the heavy breeds, from 10 

 to 15 for the breeds of medium weight, and 15 to 25 for the 

 light, nervous, active breeds, supposing all have good vitality. 

 Where the stock is ranging freely the numbers may be very 

 much larger. The author once had occasion to hatch several 

 hundred eggs from a flock of 250 Single Comb White Leghorn 

 hens and four cockerels that were running on range, and 

 secured above 90 per cent, fertility. 



In practice it is always better to err on the side of having 

 too few hens than too many. The results will be very much 

 more satisfactory from every stand-point. 



Care of the Breeding Male. — ^The male bird during the 

 breeding season should receive careful attention, as at this 

 time he is truly "half the flock." Care should be taken that 

 he receives sufficient food, as many males are so attentive in 

 looking to the welfare of the hens that they will not eat 

 enough food to maintain themselves in a vigorous and pre- 

 potent condition. It is well to feed the male apart from the 

 hens. By a little care the male may be taught to jump up 

 on the dropping board, where he may be fed, or come and 

 eat from a dish' held in the hand. 



Attention should be paid to the claws and spurs, to see that 

 they are blunt on sides and points in order to avoid torn 

 backs in the hens. This is specially important in males of 

 the heavy breeds. The feet should be examined to see that 

 he is not suffering from bumble foot or any other trouble 

 that would prevent satisfactory service. The male should 

 be kept free from lice by frequent applications (once each 

 week is sufficient) of a good louse powder, as lice may be 

 rapidly spread throughout an entire flock by an infested male. 



He should be watched to see that he renders service 

 completely and satisfactorily. He should be attentive but 

 not clumsy and rough. At the end of ten days after a male 

 has been placed with a flock which has not been running 

 with a male previously, and at the end of two weeks when 

 changing males, eggs should be incubated and tested for 

 fertility at the end of five days, in order to be sure that the 

 male is fertile. 



