Show P A A. Bird rd in the Rand Hand 1 Special Information I Service United States tates Department of Agriculture SELL THE SLACKER HEN i j je S' S e k I I I S. S v S SA A Well Selected d Flock of Mongrel Layers TIME TO GET RID OF SLACKER HEN HENa Fowl That Begins Molting Early Almost Certainly Poor Egg Producer SEPTEMBER IS BEST MONTH Many Indications Cited by Which FI Flock ck May Be Culled Down to All All- I Year Layers Save Layers Save Exception Exception- ally Good Breeders Get rid of the slacker hen The poultry keeper cannot afford at any anytime ny time to keep a hen that is a poor egg producer and that is particularly true now when feeds are high in price The summer and early fall Is the best time to cull the poor producers from the laying flock fiock It is best to start as early as possible removing removing removing re re- re- re moving those hens whose appearance indicates that they have bave stopped lay- lay tag Ing As a general principle it is wise to cull out about the first of August all 1111 Il hens over two years old unless they are laying or are exceptionally good breeders Hens will usually begin to molt in August The slacker hen is an early and can be readily distinguished distinguished distin distin- at this time The indications of high egg production production tion are most pronounced in September September Septem Septem- ber and if the flock is to be cuile culled l only at one time September is the best month t to select the good producers The better plan however Is to cull gradually beginning somewhat earlier A number of factors have to be considered considered con con- in distinguishing the good from the tho poor layer and certain allowances have to be made for essential differences differences differences differ differ- between the small and the large breeds Cult Gulf These Thess Hens The indications of poor production are as follows Lack of of vigor vigor Indicated Indicated by listless actions dull sunken eye small shrunken shrunk shrunk- en pale comb and long toe nails nalls The poor r producer is usually one of the thela thelast la last t hens to leave the roost in In Inthe the I morning and also goes to to roost early in the evening molt and yellow legs Hens Hens whIch molt before September 1 I especially espe espe- chilly those molting in July and early In are usually poor producers These hens hs will usually have yellow yellowlegs yellowlegs legs les during August and September as thy yellow color returns to the legs after molting The time of molting and the color of the legs are very Important im important important im- im characteristics characteristics' in selecting hens by their appearance Pelvis Points lelvis Points lose dose together only one OIle to two fingers apart depending upon uDon the breed The space between the thep p pelvic points varies according to whether or not the hen Is laying Arch from pelvic points to the end of keel keelor or breast bone only two or four fingers wide Pelvic points either small and hard or coarse covered with fat Vl ut dry and hard A layer In good condition usually accumulates fat on abdomen producing a plump appear appear- ance Other characteristics Comb Comb pale or I dull red small shrunken and covered with willi fine scales or dandruff Ear lobes and wattles pale shrunken hard and dry Ear lobes eyelids and beak yel yel- yel- yel lowish lo Save Th These se Hens The indications of good production aro are as follows Vigor Indicated Indicated by full well devel breast and body general alertness alert alert- D ness floss S bright full eye vell well developed developed broad comb short heavy beak and worn toe nails nalls A hen must have vigor and nd capacity to be a good layer Such Sucha a Ii hen usually has a good appetite and goes of off the roost early In the morning Late molt and bleached legs The The late one that does not begin to molt until after the 1st of September Is Ls usually a good producer During the late summer these hens are notice notice- ible ble b by t their ragged and dirty plu plu- 0 m mage age The plumage of the good producer pro d ducer in the winter and spring is usually usually a ally lly smooth and bright giving a neat at ao t trim appearance to the fowl The legs o of f these good layers will be nearly w white hite with all the yellow gone After Aftel a a ahen hen molts she gets this yellow color b back ack and the color gradually leaves o or r bleaches as the laying season ad ado- v vances ances Pelvis Points wide apart from froni t three to five fingers depending upon t the he breed Arch wide apart from t three to six fingers distance between p pelvic elvic points and end of keel or breast b bone one Pelvic points soft and pliable Other characteristics Comb Comb full fulland fulland fulland and red Ear lobes and wattles red of ot g good size soft and pliable Ear lobes e eyelids and beak of bleached or whitish whit i ish sh app appearance arance i H T H 4 TH H 4 1 J I t HENS THAT HELP ENEMY a i 4 l 4 t Every hen that does not lay 4 i 4 14 except for a little while in the t spring consumes more than she i 4 produces g t Such a hen not only do does s 2 1 I nothing toward winning t tho e 4 i 4 war but actually aids the enemy en- en i 4 emy 4 t In t times of peace and plenty plent t J t the slacker hen might be toler toler- 4 jj i 4 but she must be handled t t ruthlessly now ij 1 Go over your flo flock carefully I and continuously Eliminate i 4 until you have got rid of ell nil ex cx ij the good egg producers S 1 ta Action Against Rats I It frequently happens that losses of ot young chickens attributed to the depredations depre depre- of hawks and to other causes are due to rats There Is no more destructive pest about the poultry yard than these Coming like the thief ef Inthe in inthe inthe the nI night ht and usually leaving no vis visible visible vis- vis ible marks of their ravages they escape escape escape es es- cape in large m measure asure the relentless hunting down that they deserve deserveS Not only are they destructive to yo young ng chickens but they prey upon tile the eg egg supply throughout the year 4 The United States department of agriculture ag ago Ic points out that anyone by care and industry may free his own premises of these rodents but that he be beis heIs is helpless to prevent an early recurrence recurrence recurrence recur recur- recur recur- rence of the trouble unless he lie can secure secure se so- cure the active operation co-operation of bl his hla neighbors The department urges therefore that wh wherever rever possible the destruction of these pests be a n community community com corn undertaking The same effort It Is pointed out that is made by Individuals working Independently if It organized on a community com corn basis will be less less' costly and more effective The department has worked out and tested definite plans for the destruction of cf rats in common com coi- mon with other rodents and information tion concerning the matter can be had bad badby by writing the department Jl j. j I Eggs Before Candle The U. U S. S department of agriculture Issues the following statement a as- asto to how good eggs should look before the candle A good fresh egg should hn have ve a small air space The yolk should not be very plain There should be no black spots or rings Sometimes Sometimes' the eggshell will have fine cracks In It This is commonly known as a check egg and should not be shipped with quality first eggs as It rots very quickly Blood rings are partially Incubated f eggs and show a distinct ring of blo blood d on the yolk They are arc classed as un fit for food food and and should be rejected Cause A fertile egg In which the deve development of ot the germ has bas proceeded proceed proceed- ed until blood has formed but the embryo em has bas subsequently died Ring for for- v mati matlon mation on is not present while the embryo embryo embryo em em- is alive though although blood spots spots' or veins may show Moldy eggs generally have llave cracked racked shells and show black spots before the candle They are unfit for food Cause Field nests nesta or wet nests Holding eggs in dam damp places or destroying destroying de de- shell mucus by washing or F Fallowing allowing eggs to become wet thereby enabling mold spores to enter the pores of the shell and grow Inside the shell Mold can also enter th cracks in the shell I V 1 f j- j r- r l of w J |