MATING MINORCAS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1726, 29 March 1905, Page 68 (Supplement)

MATING MINORCAS.

One of the most successful breeders in England, Mr Fred. Biggs, in referring to the question of mating, puts the subject in a concise form, and his ideas will be interesting, especially when the question of breeding this grand egg producer is so much in evidence. He savs:— Great judgment is required in making up a breeding pen, as herein to a great extent lies the secret of success. It must be borne in mind that certain points age influenced by the male, and others by the female, the male influence as a rule predominating —the head points, colour and carriage being derived from the father, while size and shape of body are inherited from the motnor. If these cardinal points are borne in mind the intelligence of the intending exhibitor ivill guide him in mating. What is lacking in one sex must be counterbalanced in the other. For instance, if the hen has a largo, well-shaped body and is ratlior weak in boicl points, and the cock mated with her has splendid head qualities, but not

so large a .frame, satisfactory results may reasonably be expected. At the same time, of course, it will .e apparent to all intelligent readers that it is desirable to breed from speciments as near perfection as possible in -all points. it is necessary that the cock should have good lobes, a shapely and well serrated comb, which should be quite erect. He should he fairly tall. His taiL must be carried well back, a high or squirrel tail being generally perpetuated by the male. It is desirable lie should be large, but this is not so important if he possess the other necessary points. A rather indifferent cock from good stock is preferable to a better on© bred by chance from a poor strain or stock.

The hens should be moderately long on the logs, they should have large frames, and good length and depth of body, with tails carried well back. This latter point, however, is not so important as in the cock, as hens with large .combs generally carry the tail rather high. Reject either cock or lien from tlie breeding pen if they have any side sprigs on the comb, as this is very hereditary in both sexes. Most fanciers advise that only liens of more than one year old should he mated with a cockerel, and pullets with a cock. I contend, however, that this rule does not apply with any force to a non-sitt-ing variety. The strain upon the system of the lien that lays continuously without the natural rest for incubation must scon be apparent. For this reason I would advise fanciers not to breed from a hen that is more than three years old. or weakly off-spring will be the result. According to my experience, as good progeny can he obtained f. on: matured pullets mated vi'li a well-grown cockerel as with a two-year-old cock, especially if the pullets had not commenced to lay before they were eight months old. The best reason for breeding from twc-year-old birds is the rather important one of soundness of face. Many tnat sltow.i signs of white the first year fail sadly in this respect .after the first adult moult. The second season is therefore the best test in this respect, as to their fitness to perpetuate their species, and to fulfil the desired object of alt genuine Minorca fanciers, viz., breeding cut the white faces. Not more than ten hens or pullets should be kept in one pen. It is a good plan, where there is sufficient accommodation, to have one pen for breeding pullets and another for cockerels. Both liens and cocks with the thinnest combs should be selected, for the pullet breeding pen. If the comb of the cock is too thin to keep erect, providing it is well serrated, and ho is good in other points, he will suit for tins pen. By adopting this plan too near in-breeding can he avokled. and the strain kept vigorous without resorting too much to foreign blood.