Show MATED OR HOW ABOUT YOUR FLOCK I 1 once heard a lecturer remark that if as great care were used in the matins mating of human beings as aa most poultry raisers observe in mating their chickens there would be ba fewer divorces it if he had in mind only the professional poultry raisers who ic cognize the importance of 0 ever and eternally striving to better their flocks I 1 can agree with him it however he intended this statement to be as broad as it ii sounded I 1 most certainly cannot agree with him for too many people feel eel a rooster is only a rooster and a hen nothing but a hen they know in fit a general way that the two together are feces sary in order to produce eggs which will ultimately result in a new generation era tion they do not however have the slightest conception ot of the importance of proper mating between the two sexes if more poultry raisers could be made to realize that proper mating is one of the most essential elements of success there would be fewer scrub flocks in the country and more money made from the business to be sure many writers writer a on the subject have caused it to appear too complicated tor for the average person to understand it if one goes into all the reasons for things that must be done the whole affair does get rath er too involved tor for anyone but the professional the man with a farm flock Is not so much 1 interested in the why of the quest question I 1 on as in the how shall therefore try to give some simple non bechn technical ic al s sug u g gest ions on oil mating which if followed carefully are bound to result in the betterment of any flock there are many methods of mat ing far too many to be discussed in an article of this kind I 1 must therefore limit myself to those that are practical for the ordinary farm flock rather than the professional or the fancier I 1 must assume an understanding of the necessity for choosing only such specimens of 0 both sexes as are good size vigorous healthy tree free from deformities or defects and which conform to the standard requirements of their respective varieties the most common method of 0 mating Is known as floell flock or mass breeding this consists of mating the en lire lot of 0 hens with a number of males in flock mating there Is no way to study individual members member of your flock you do not know which ones produced good layers or good breed ers and which did not consequently have no way of influencing the nature or quality on to the offspring the result may bo be a steady decline in the quality of each succeeding generation A desirable alternative to the flock mating is the special mating system this system is thoroughly practical tor for even the smallest flock bight to fifteen hens are confined in a pen to themselves preferably with alth but one male bird naturally only such specimens are chosen as tire are known to possess the qualities desired in their descendents this Is a scientifically correct course because it follows the law of heredity that like begets like furthermore since you use only your best fowls in this type of breeding you will take a greater interest and will give the necessary care and attention to individuals and to the hatching eggs consequently the chicks will as a rule be as good or better than their parents such mating gives a chance tor for real im because it affords you some definite data to work with For tilita Is usually higher from such because the male suffers no interferences all of my are special matl my alf breeding pen consists of 8 to 10 hens and one male little would be gained by entering into the technical phases of such subjects as inbreeding and line breeding together with the details of the laws of heredity as they concern proper mating in passing however I 1 should like to explode the idea that inbreeding or the mating of closely related birds Is in itself a cause of decline in the quality of succeeding generations genera tlona on the contrary this method is regularly used by the best beat poultry raisers to maintain the purity ot of a strain once a certain desired standard Is definitely established this excludes the introduction ot of alien blood into a strain or flock which is often accompanied by results disastrous to un uniformity for mity generally where a decline in quality follows the matins mating of closely related fowls it Is due to the use of birds lacking in vitality or which did not conform to the desired standard whatever Wha teVor system of mating is used it is well to know the best time tor for mating mains some poultry men continue breeding and hatching the year round best results are secured however ln in the normal breeding season tasis will vary somewhat pome what with climate As a rule pullets hatch ed at the proper season february feb auary I 1 march or april when all th the c world Is beginning to show signs of 0 renewed life will be better stron gerand lay more quickly ruic kly than those hatched in may june or july the should so BO arrange his bis hatch hatches so the pullets will be ready tor for win ter ier laying those hatched so late that they pass through the winter without laying cause a distinct loss some poultry men allow males to run with the hens all through the year we should swat the rooster as soon as the breeding season Is over the males should be separated from the females until about two weeks before the breeding season starts this keeps the males from worrying the hens and also permits them to produce infertile eggs which are preferable tor for market |