Selection and Care of Poultry Breeding Stock. 
7 
ating the males on successive days. It is best, however, to use a 
mating small enough so that a single male can be used. 
Fig. 4.— Males with defective tail carriage. Such defects should be guarded against in selecting breeders. 
1, Tail carried too high; 2, tail carried to one side, called “ wry tail.” 
AGE OF BREEDING STOCK. 
Either pullets or hens and either cockerels or cocks can be used in 
the breeding flock. If cockerels or pullets are used, they must be well 
matured. Hens are better than pullets, as they lay larger eggs and 
Fig. 5. — Male heads showing defective combs. Defects of these kinds should be guarded against in selecting 
breeders. 1, Thumb mark; 2, blade of comb following neck too closely and points showing tendency 
to lop; 3, rose comb showing hollow center; 4, side sprig; 5, uneven serrations and double point; 6, 
twisted comb. 
give better fertility and stronger chicks. Yearling and 2-year-old 
hens are better than older hens. If pullets are used as breeders 
they should be mated with a cock rather than with a cockerel, while 
