THE POULTRY YARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18455, 19 July 1923, Page 12

THE POULTRY YARD.

PRINCIPLES IN BREEDING. SELECTING. MALE BIRDS. ■ I

i BY S.H.S. j

, | Everyone who wishes to be . successful with fowls or ducks should be most care- J ful as to the class of male bird he or site uses to head the breeding pens each season. It is impossible for me to urge too much cave in the selection of the male birds. Years of breeding and selection may bo ruined in one season by neglect or carelessness in this direction. There are many who have been successful for a number of years and at last become careless, thinking it not possible to upset one's strains of either laying or show stock. One must not forget that the mala bird which heads a breeding pen is the j father of all the chicks that are bred from that pair, whereas each female is only J mother of the chicks that are hatched': from her eggs. Thus if a male heads a pen 1 oil six females he is the father of all the : chicks hatched from eggs collected from the whole pen. Any poultry breeder can see how quickly he will go astray in his breeding operations if a wrong and unsuitable male is used, if only for one season. It is quite fossible to set 30 or more eggs per week rom a pen of six females in the breeding season, and if the season lasts, say, for two months (and it can easily last nearly double that period), that means over 240 eggs. It is quite possible to hatch and rear 100 pullets from the season's operations from one pen of six birds, and if .by wrong mating of tho male bird those 100 pullets only average 100 eggs per bird, instead of nearly double that number the loss is pretty serious, and at one shilling per dozen it would mean a loss of over £30 at a low estimate. Now suppose one wished to hatch and rear a total of five hundred female stock of both ducks and chickens and the male birds used were of the same blood and that blood was of inferior laying blood as indicated above. It is quite easy to see what a big loss it would mean. This is no fancy talk; it is quit* possible if one is careless over the selection of his male birds. Inlerior Males Mean Inferior Stock. I have known of numbers of cases where poultry-keepers for the sake of paying a little extra for a really good male of reliable laying blood, have instead secured cheaper quality birds. They have saved a few shillings or maybe a pound or two in the cost of the males to be used for the whole season, but have lost ever so much more in the deterioration of the laying powers of the young stock reared from poor class males. By poor class, I am referring to the laying strain and stamina of the males. If both strain and stamina or constitution is poor ] class then the chance of breeding payable stock is impossible, .even if on the female side it is good. What is the use of having females from two hundred, two hundred and fifty, or shall we say three hundred egg-strain, if the males are bred direct from a female that could only lay a little over a hundred eggs in her first year's laying. It seems impossible for any poultry-breeder to do such a foolish thing, yet it is done over and over again. Breeders of Stud Birds. , 'A specialist breeder of stud' stock is not out to rook those who desire to buy his male birds. Rather he wishes all his customers to be satisfied with their purchase. A reliable breeder of stud birds takes the greatest interest in all his matings, and it is not for want of thought, time, and expense, that any birds that such a breeder, sends out at times may not be the success anticipated. Were it easy to breed high-class pedigree male birds, anyone could be a specialist breeder. It takes years to found a strain and to gain that' experience so necessary to enable one to select the right male birds, either to use in his own matings or to send out to buyers who wish to improve their flocks. It is useless buying a male bird that does not keep one's strain up to a good standard or improve it. Anyone can breed birds that are ordinary and of inferior quality, except the breeders who have reputations to keep up. It does not pay them to send out poor grade stock, especially in the male sex, although culls do turn up at times, but they are never sent out]

The Treatment of Good Birds. When one .purchases a really good male bird, such a bird needs . careful treatment to obtain the very best results. At times a male bird is very gallant, and so anxious is he to: look after his mates that he will starve himself. When this happens.it pays the owner to feed the male bird separately, even if it has to be done at night time. Many a time I have done this' so that the male might be in first-class breeding condition. If he eats freely, especially if of a general. purpose kind, the opposite results may be obtained and the male will get into too good a condition. . For these > reasons wo should watch our male birds, and the one that is inclined to starve himself is generally the best as a breeder. Don't give him too many mates at any time. Personally, I like from four to six females to, a male, unless one wishes to try single' matings or two females and a male. When a sitting at a time is required, the smaller number is enough, but when incubators are to 'be filled it will take auite a lot of small matings or a less number of four to six females to each male.

Number of Females to Male Bird. While having a fancy for the smaller number of birds to each male, it is usually when they are penned up that the smaller numbers are more successful, and will give better fertility. When birds are on free range more females may bo kept with the. males. For instance, in light breeds it is quite possible to run from a dozen to 15 females with a good vigorous male, and even more, and in the heavy breeds up to a dozen. At the same time, a breeder who watches his individual birds cannot take the risk of using large numbers of females in his pens for pedigree breeding. In fact, it) can hardly bo called pedigree breeding unless one knows all the eggs laid by each ■ separate bird. I am not a great believer in using old males unless from something exceptional.' Young, vigorous males from 10 months upwards are the birds that will give best results in fertility and stamina. Of course, there are male birds in their second and third years that are invaluable, and these should not be disposed of. Old and Young Hale Birds. Old males should be treated differently to young males. In the first place, the spurs of the old birds should be examined, and if long and sharp should be cut short. The best way is to got a pair of' cutters and clip the spurs right off, and then cauterise with a rod-hot iron pressed .against the butt of the spurs. This will stop all bleeding. Again, especially in the heavy breeds, the excess fluff around the vent should be lessened, as it interferes with fertility, and sometimes it is necessary in the females, A sluggish male should not be used. Sometimes sluggishness is caused through over-feeding while not mated up. If the male is in too good a condition, he' should be starved for a while, until he shows renewed vigour and is more fit for the breeding pen. If a young, vigorous, male bird is inclined to object to your presence in the breeding pen, and will at times put up a ficrht, don't make the mistake of getting rid of such a bird. It is a grand sign when a cockerel, and even a drake, will attack you when you try to catch one of his mates. Such vigour and gallantry should bo rewarded..