Show t PLAN TO PRODUCE STRONG CHICKS I i The Tire condition and ond health of the parent parent parent par par- ent stock steel lar largely ely determine the condition condition con con- and ond health of at the offspring No question Is mote mitre Important than that of ot constitutional vigor The actions of ot the fowl Indicate to ton ton n considerable extent Its Us physical con cori con A weak bird Is usually Inactive Inactive Inac inao- tive the and droopy droop It does not scratch or forage actively The loudness and frequency of ot the crow of ot the male mole and ond th the cackle of or the female are arc Indications Indica dons of ot strength The large bright bright- red comb and ond wattles Indicate health The eye Is the mirror of ot the lire body boI and andIs andIs Is a good Indication of at eIther cither health or ai disease the healthy fowl having a good bright clear eye while the dis diseased eased birds bird's eyelids droop and present presenta r a sleepy appearance The brightness and brilliancy of ot ther the thc t r plumage are Indications of constitutional vigor I or Feathers on a 0 fowl of at low Jaw vigor usually grow slowly and appear to be dull and ruffled as compared com corn pared with the fitting close smooth fully developed bright plumage of at tho the vigorous fowl The strong bird also ti has hos a n good appetite and a large crop t t v The causes of ot loss of at vigor may be I l F summed Bummed up as follows f First 1 h Inbreeding without knowledge d g t of the principles of breeding Poultry F raisers sometimes have a n bird with ex- ex f ex- ex exceptionally tine One plumage and for that reason mate mato the In their breeding t pens regardless of Its vigor or 01 Its relation rela- rela L 7 tion to other birds In the same pen r There Is a distinction between liner line line- Sl breeding and Inbreeding T Second Use Second Use of or pullets and Imma Imma- immature f 2 ture male birds As a rule pullets lay more eggs than hens yet It has hasI I F been he en proven pro yen by experiments that the V chicks from hens are ure larger when hatched batched and that they mature more more j t. t I quickly and produce stronger and more vigorous specimens than those hatched from pullets A half-grown half cockerel t f should never be used usell for breeding pur- pur poses b. b Third Third Increased Increased egg productionS production I. I S l Forcing g fowls Cowls to lay by continuously feeding heavy rich foods tells upon V the health of the females and often orten Injures inJures In- In sC- sC jures their breeding qualities j i Fourth Fourth Crowding Crowding Poultry raisers f make mole n a mistake too often oCten of ot crowding t a n great number of birds into small L quarters and then expecting the best results from the flock fiock Fifth Lack Fifth Lack of ot exercise If strong jk heathy chicks are desired the fowls r- r 1 t In n the breeding flock must be he required to exercise by being forced to scratch for part of their theil food In a litter titter or orby by hy being given gen plenty of range v Sixth Sixth Care Care of eggs for hatching K Eggs for hatching are arc often kept in places that are too hot or too cold Clean Clenn nests should be provided eggs f gathered dally daily and kept In a tempera tempera- lure of ot from 50 to GO CO degrees and not held more than ten d days ys before being set net Seventh Seventh Improper Improper Incubation An v incubator which cannot be regulated r with any degree of satisfaction which r lacks the proper provision for both ventilation and moisture which Is first too hot and then too cold coM should not should not he be used The germ of the egg Is weakened weakened weakened weak weak- ened so that It cannot free itself from the shell and the chicks which hatch i are ure poor and sickly either dying In Inless less than two weeks after hatching or having ver very low vigor F s' Eighth quarters Where the poultry house Is allowed to become become become be- be come filled with filth lice and mites p which suck the life blood from the thet ther t r- r fowls chickens cannot be strong and healthy C r Ninth Ninth Inferior Inferior breeding stock No Noy y one should attempt to raise r chickens from tram drones from rom birds that are not M true to t type pe from birds that have hn-e been ti j seriously sick with some disease If f ho expects to be successful In the poultry V business All these things can and und jf should be avoided t- t Tenth Tenth Breeding from a n Hock flock r. r Many Inny flocks contain a u ak k great t man many birds which lay luy only dur- dur rug lug the Ule spring season Breeding g should be done with birds which are known I R r r to be good winter layers T. T. T W. W No- No vr State Poultry land Director Missouri t. Station Mountain Grove Uro r r J. J Experiment i |