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Show THE UINTAH BASIN FARMER 5 1 that they can produce exactly what many turkeys did not even receive POULTRY CULLING THE POULTRY FLOCK Principal pliable. There is little surplus fat on her body. It is an matter to tell whether a hen iseary at present The pelvis, or pin bones, laying. between which the egg passes will show normally a three finger spread if the bird is laying. If she i3 not, two or even one finger is all that one can place between the bones. These bones are flexible and covered with very little fat In a laying hen, while those of a non-layare thick, stiff and bent in. The distance between the keel bore (the bone you can feel just between the legs of the fowl) and the pelvis bones is an important indication of laying capacity. The high producer has great depth of body. She eats more food than the poor producer, and her ovaries and intestines occupy more space. Therefore, there must be a greater distance between keel and pelvis bones. A width of a hand indicates a good layer, while three fingers or less is r, an index of a or a poor By G. P. BARBER, Boneta-Talmage-M- t. Junior High School Home If one is breeding for egg production, or is anxious to improve the laying qualities of his flock, some method of culling is not only necessary but indispensable. While the trap nest is perhaps the only absolutely infallible index of a hens production, there are a few simple but effective means of determining the laying worth of a fowl which should be in the hands of every The farmer with a poultryman. small flock or the back-yar- d chicken fancier find the principles easily applied and practicable. The trap nest is consuming of time and labor and the Hogan system so difficult of application that an easier and simpler method must in many cases be sougth. In determining the past worth of layer. The Period of Molting. a hen as a layer and her future posMost hens stop laying when they are there three indications sibilities, to molt. The hen that quits begin to be noted. and takes all fall to laying 1. early Color changes due to egg prochange her plumage, should be disduction. She loafs on her job and 2. Body changes in fat and pel- carded. is The consistent layunprofitable. vis bones. er molts late and gets a new coat 3. The period of molting. rapidly. The late molt-e- r The ideal time of the year to cull of feathers will more Winter eggs, as lay is July and August The poor producers are then slackening up and well as Amore spring and summer eggs. good plan is to kill or will soon go into the molt. They sell the fowls to molt, and earliest show clearly the signs of an inactive late the molters for breeding keep of should egg production and period The hen has been that purposes. be discarded before winter approachwill all fall heavily laying es. It wont pay to keep them ov- soiled of plumage and herappear tail er. wil be badly worn late in feathers Culling, however, may be done the fall. The low will any time of the year. Early spring be all spic and span producers in a new fall a is good time just before making suit, but her board bill will not be Cull out up the breeding pens. Fine feathers do not make and breed only paid. the fine birds. Like profrom the next article in the series Breed from the best will(The duces like. be The Best Breeds of Poullayers and constantly improve the try for the Uintah Basin.) It laying qualities of your flock. is not too late to cull now if you are hatching May and June chicks. If you are selecting a breeding pen and want only the best layers in the pen and wish to know which fowls are your best layers, proceed somewhat as follows: and Go into the poultry yard catch and carefully examine each With the three hen in the flock. above mentioned points in mind take note of the following indicators of high laying qualities: Color Changes Due to Egg Production. Absence of yellow color pigment in eye ring, beak, legs and ear lobes. The normabcolor of these parts If the hen has been layis yellow. for a season, the legs heavily ing heak, eye rings and ear lobes will be greatly faded in color and appear much paler than similar points or a low producing bird. As the hen produces eggs the yellow pigment b of the body intensifies in the yolk hy .A the that It is evident of the egg. more eggs she lays the less proleft to right. No. nounced will be the yellow color of 3 Reading from No. 4 2 grade. No. grade. eye Ting, beak, legs and ear lobes. would center bird The When she stops laying the pigment grade. 1 except for the No. have gradede is once more diverted to these parts.- crooked breast bone. The process of fading follow's a First, certain well defined course. TURKEY the eye ring; second, the beak; NUMBER ONE NUMBER A ear PROFIT MAKE the third, the legs; and fourth, in mind LIABILITY A THREE facts these lobes. With of it is possible to determine whichconThe turkey is our big national the fowls have been consistent, have bird and in order to comthat Those holiday tinuous layers. mand the respect and consideration layed long and steadily will show and of an exacting market he must look paleness of eye ring, beak, legs that fowls the fat, clean and dignified when he Is While ear lobes. have just begun to lay will show placed on exhibition in the biga glass viewed by busy absence of color pigment in eye show window to be we to satisfy the are How public. rings only, perhaps. We all want top demands? market Body Changes in Fat and Pelvis but some our for products, prices Bones. meet these never can we that The comb of a laying hen is large, say, know however, demands. Others, full and bright. The skin is soft and er non-laye- non-produce- is required and they go right on do- a maintainance ration and when ing it in spite of the cry that it they were dumped on the market cannot be done. were classed number twos and A number one turkey is a smooth they three3. fat bird, tom or hen, straight breast There are a great many theories with no pin feathers, no injuries to to or the skin bruises the flesh. It about what causes crooked breasts, should be clean, of a yellow color but Lynne Ashton, one of Ashley which Indicates good condition. Toms should weigh no less than 12 valleys old breeders, seems to have pounds dressed and hens not less about as good an idea of this as any one that has come to the writers that 8 pounds dressed. A number two turkey may be fat, attention. He claims that when clean and free from pin feathers ana young turkeys are off feed, or sick, may also be standard weight, but a they sit on the ground, or roost a crooked breast, or injury to the skin great deal and rest their weight on or flesh will cause it to be classed their breasts whereas when they are number two. Under weight may al- well and full of vigor they are on so cause otherwise good birds to be their feet and their breasts seldom classed number two. touch the ground or roost. HowNumber three turkeys are poor, ever this may be, we must concede pin feathers, under weight and us- that good, healthy, strong birds ually crooked breasted. They gen- seldom have crooked breasts. erally look dirty and have skin in. juries and flesh bruises. The one thing that caused such a high per cent of inferior birds from the Uintah Basin last year was lack of feed and care. Due to the good market the year before many people with no previous experience rush-- e dinto the turkey business last year and many who had had previous experience raised far more turkeys than they were able to care for. As a result of lack of feed and care disease got among many flocks ana the losses were heavy. Then as the birds grew their demands for feed increased and many owners found that they had made no provisions for these demands and consequently FOR SALE PURE BLOOD MAMMOTH BRONZ TURKEY EGGS for Hatching 20 cents Delivered per egg. by parcel post on request Arthur Watkins - MIDVIEW UTAH rs top-notche- rs. Big Drop In Harnesses! Harness With 2 Inch Double and Stitched -- Traces at Harness With Double and Stitched Traces at 2-In- ch $65.00 $55.00 Best and Cheapest Harness on the Market. - Newton Stock Saddle at $60.00 If you buy elsewhere you lose money Patron-- , ize Home Industry and keep the good work going. NEWTON BROTHERS Vernal, Utah |