Show T t. t fARM t POULTRY I CHARACTERISTICS OF NON-LAYING NON CHICKEN August and September are the best hest months In III which to cull flocks Hens lIens that have ha the characteristics of ot good layers and that are la laying Ing In August end and September have been Invariably the thu best producers throughout the year In order to cull a flock properly properly properly prop prop- erly It Is necessary to handle each lien ben and put her through some tests such as the following suggested by G. G A. A Schmidt Colorado Agricultural col col- col- col lege One of the outstanding characterIstics characteristics characteristics character character- of a n non laying hen of the yel yel- el skinned low varieties Is the deep yellow yellow yel yel- low Jow color found on the shanks on the I beak benk around the vent around the Inner Inner Inner In In- ner edge of the e eyelids and on the tho I of th the lobed white l varieties et 1 ears s w nen these inese hens are ore laying ills yet yel yellow Cl low Jow pl pigment ment Is all nil needed to form the egg yolk and none Is deposited on the hod body and consequently the parts Just enumerated are faded or whitish In color The pelvic or pin bones of non lay ers are thick curved In and close to to- gether On In laying hens they are thin straight flexible and wide apart three fingers fingers' breadths or of more Measure each ench hen for this distance between the pin bones when culling When a hen Is hl laying Ing heavily her her body Is deep n a condition brought on onby onby by bJ the enlarged Intestines and egg mass This depth of body Is measured measured measured meas meas- from the pin bones t to the end of ot the keel heel and a good layer shows n a depth of ot more than four linger finger breadths from the pin bones to the keel Test lest each ach hen for this depth have firm Non layers ers generally generall a n drawn up meaty or fleshy abdomen and differ from flom high producers much muchas as ns a n fat beef beet cow differs from a good dairy dally cow Feel the abdomen of ot each hen lIen The vent ent of a good od la laying ing hen Is large Jarge open and moist while that of ot a non non-ln non layer er Is small closed puckered and dry Look at the vent ent of ot each hen ben when wIlen you ou handle handle The comb of ot the non laying hen lien Is dry pale hard and often covered ered with small email scales On a n In laying hen it Isred Is Isred Isred red soft and larger huger Look at nt the combs and feel them Contrary to popular opinion the early m n hn lien should lir 1 be hI mill culled normal j c conditions hens le that l t molt olt- olt early i are not very ry high producers The I early is much like e the cow V I that goes dry three months too soon Mark the hens that start molting first and get rid of them At all times cull a all sickly Inactive Q be hens s. s Good layers are active healthy birds always looking for something to eat In careful culling all nil the thc factors mentioned should be considered and only the best birds held over the winter winter win win- ter for breeding If It flocks nocks are carefully carefully care care- fully tully culled cued each year and If It the birds are given good care egg production can be considerably Increased r. r |