In a volume the chief aim of which is to place the poultry industry, which is now conducted as an art, in the realm of technical science, it might seem proper to devote considerable space to the subject of breeding, That I shall not do so, is for the reason that while theoretically I recognize the important part that breeding plays in all animal production, for the practical proposition of producing poultry products at the lowest possible cost, a knowledge of the technical science of breeding is unessential and may, by diverting the poultryman’s time to unprofitable efforts, prove an actual handicap.

For the show room breeder the new science of breeding is too undeveloped to be of immediate service, or I had better say, the show room requisites are too complicated for theoretical breeding to promise results.  For the commercial poultryman, I shall review what has been accomplished and state briefly the theories upon which contemplated work is based.

The objects striven after in poultry breeding are:  1st:  To create new varieties which shall have improved practical points or shall attract attention as curiosities. 2d:  To approach the ideals accepted by fanciers for established breeds, and hence win in competition. 3d:  To change some particular feature or habit as, to increase egg production or reduce the size of bantams. 4th:  To improve several points at once as, eggs and size in general purpose fowls.  This classification is really unnecessary, as the most specialized breeding involves consideration of many points.

Breeding as an Art.

The method by which breeds and varieties of the show room specimens have been developed is essentially as follows:  The wonderfully different varieties of fowl from every quarter of the earth are brought together.  Crossing is then resorted to, with the result that birds of all forms and colors are produced.  The breeder then selects specimens that most nearly conform to the type or ideal in his mind.

Suppose a man wished to produce Barred Leghorns, with a fifth toe.  He would secure Barred Rocks, White Leghorns and White or Gray Dorkings.  Then he would cross in every conceivable fashion.

Perhaps he might have trouble getting the white color to disappear.  In that case Buff Leghorns which are a newer breed might be tried and found more pliable material.  By such methods the breeder would in three or four generations of crossing get a crude type of what he desired.  Henceforth it would be a matter of patience and selection.  Five to twenty years is the time usually taken to produce new breeds of fancy poultry that will breed true to type.  In this style of breeding the principles at stake are simple.  The first is to secure the variations wanted; second, to breed from the most desirable of these specimens.