88 POULTBY CULTUHE 



flocks of 10 to 25. The houses should be widely separated. 

 Too many birds in one lot will damage the crops. 



It is well to always reject, as breeders, undersize and stunted 

 birds. Likewise reject all immature birds. 



Cochins. — In the selection of the Cochin, Mr. Hanchett 

 saj's: "size comes more from the female side than the male 

 side. So does type. Color and head points depend more on 

 the male." 



The progeny of any parent up to standard size will deterio- 

 rate unless given proper food for the upbuilding of the body 

 bone and muscle, etc.). The parent at time of production 

 of eggs must likewise be in proper condition and receive proper 

 feed. 



The male Cochin should have short legs. The body should 

 be short and blocky, the breast must be full and round, the 

 back full and as short as possible. A big full-cushioned back 

 in males is desirable. Look to the hens to assist along this 

 line in production of the proper males. The tail should be 

 carried rather low and should be short. He should lean 

 slightly forward, that is, well down in front with cushion well 

 up. 



The male should be of good deep shade, and in the buff the 

 color must be even with rich undercolor. The tail and wings 

 must be of solid desirable color. 



The females should be blocky in type and full in feathering. 

 The breast should be deep and rounded, the tail should be 

 short and carried low, the back should be broad and full. 



In buffs select females whose feather color corresponds to 

 the color of the breast of the male, provided you have been 

 fortunate enough to secure a proper buff-colored male. The 

 females should be of even color and strong in undercolor. 

 They should be a solid buff in tail and wings. An injiu-y to 

 a new feather just coming in, or one which has been puUed 

 while developing, may cause a white feather to develop in 

 its place. This should not be considered sufficient cause to 

 reject the bird from breeding, as that would not be an inherited 

 factor, but an accident as a result of environment (postnatal). 



Buffs fade with age if allowed in the sunlight. White birds 

 tend to sunburn and show brassiness of the wing-bows. 



