CHAPTER III 



THE PROBLEMS IN MATING AND IN EGG 

 PRODUCTION 



In poultry breeding the foundation of success is the correct 

 mating of the breeding pens. 



The cock should possess the characteristics of his breed and 

 variety and an abundance of vitality. His crow should be 

 strong and clear, his movements active, his attention to the 

 hens marked, his comb and wattles ruddy, which indicates 

 health. He should not show any effeminancy, not look like a 

 hen with sickle feathers, but show masculine all over. 



The breeding hens should show the characteristics of their 

 sex, a refinement of head and body lacking in the cock. They 

 should not suggest hen-feathered cocks, but look feminine all 

 over. They should be active, industrious in scratching and 

 foraging, and sing considerable, showing health, vigor, and 

 happiness. 



As perfect breeders cannot be expected, some provision 

 must be made to correct excesses and deficiencies. This is 

 done by exposing an excess in one sex to deficiency in the oppo- 

 site sex. If a cock is too long legged, correct this excess of 

 length by mating to hens that are short legged. The re- 

 sulting progeny will consist of chickens, some of which, like 

 the cock, are too long legged, some hke the hen are too short 

 legged, and some with the uniting characteristics of the sexes 

 are correct in the length of leg. The last are the ones which 

 it was desired to produce, and while in subsequent breeding 

 these will show reversion to both the long-legged and short- 

 legged ancestors, according to Mendel's law, one-half of their 

 progeny will be hke the parents, with legs of medium length. 

 This rule will hold good of all excesses and deficiencies, except 

 as it may be modified by prepotency, reversion, and sudden 

 variations in either sex. By prepotenaj is meant the power 



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