Text 25. Hints for poultry breeders

Breeding is the most important part of poultry farming, for by good breeding not only the farm, but the whole industry benefits. The wastage in poultry meat and eggs, not only from poor stock but by bad management, is enormous, many people taking it for granted that losses of 40 percent to 50 percent from birth to maturity are normal, and that egg production may be expected to cease altogether in March, April and May. By careful handling and selective breeding, however, this can be overcome.

Strict Culling. The first essential is perfect health and the feeding of a balanced ration. No egg that is less than 2 oz., and is not of sound shell and perfectly shaped, should go into the incubator. No chick that is under-weight, or deformed in any way, should go into the brooder house.

No pullet that does not reach the required body weight before coming into lay, or that does not lay before six months of age, or that does not lay a 2 oz. egg within 30 days of starting, or has any physical defect of any kind, should ever be allowed to become a breeder. No pullet under a year old should be used for breeding.

No cockerel that does not come up to standard at any time before maturity should be allowed to head a breeding pen, for all his faults may be reproduced by hundreds in only one season.

Breeding Points. Here are some points that can be bred into your stock: (1) Longevity, in life and laying; (2) early maturity; (3) good feathering; (4) body size; (5) winter egg production; (6) good fertility; (7) disease resistance. All must be assisted by good farm management.

Here are things that can be bred out: poor health, unproductiveness, small eggs, poor shells, broodiness, blindness, any deformity or colour defect and loss of body weight.

It may take many years to build up a good, sound flock and the introduction of new blood to the stock is one of the greatest problems, and must be done gradually, when it has been proved suitable to individual requirements; for quite different stock is required for egg production and for table poultry, unless you have an all purpose-breed. By special pen matings, it is possible to keep direct blood lines clear for many years.

Trap-nesting. Trap-nesting, full pedigreeing and single pen matings require an immense amount of time and book work, but are very effective in culling out many birds that do not come up to standard. The birds are handled daily when being let out of their trap nests, and the eggs weighed and recorded for the whole year; only the bird that passes all the tests, laying over 200 eggs and keeping her body weight and breed characteristics, goes through to the special breeding pen.

A great deal can be done by monthly handling and culling if all the birds are number ringed, and records are kept as to which birds are in lay, or are broody, molting, going light, etc. Any bird that does not lay in the winter months does not go into the special cockerel breeding pen. This method helps to keep the farm free of all "passengers", as they can be immediately culled if out of lay for any lengthy period.

A properly run breeding farm is a specialist's job and is a paying proposition, but it needs constant observation and hard labour. It requires much more capital and knowledge than either table poultry or commercial egg farming.