Selection and Care of Poultry Breeding Stock. 
5 
standard in color, type, and markings, or which when mated will 
combine their qualities so as to produce offspring most nearly con- 
forming to the standard. 
If the desire is to produce table fowls, a breed that has a standard 
type, or a body shape suitable for carrying an abundance of meat 
should be selected. They should be broad and deep of body, have 
good length of back and keel, and especially a broad breast well 
covered with meat. If the desire is to breed for eggs, birds should 
be chosen, so far as possible, that are good egg producers or are the 
offspring of good egg producers and conform to the standard require- 
ments for the breed. If hens are trapnested, it is easy to make the 
Fig. 2.— A poor producer, having laid but 80 eggs in a year. 
selection on the basis of good egg production. If trap nests are 
not used, it will be necessary to make observations of the stock 
several times during the fall, from August to November, in order to 
note which are the best layers as indicated by the time of molt and 
lateness of laying. For information how to make such a selection, 
see Farmers’ Bulletin 1112. 
Whatever the purpose of the breeding, progress will be made most 
quickly by picking out the best individuals in the flock and using 
them as breeders rather than by breeding from the flock as a whole. 
The selection of a male for the mating will be influenced largely by 
the character of the females used. If there is a general weakness in 
the females in any respect, this should be offset so far as possible by 
strength in that particular in the male used. 
