OCR Text |
Show ipoiirasr FOWLS FOR BACKYARD FLQGK Not Necessary to Have Hens of Extra Good Standard Quality for Ego Production. For the backyard flock, kept to produce pro-duce eggs only, It Is not necessary to hnvo hens of extra good standard qunllty. Whnt breeders of standard poultry call choice utility hens nre us good ns nny for egg production, nnd cost but llttlo more than ordinary mongrels. Hens of this grade In the medium-sized breeds arc usually a llttlo under stnndnrd weights, nnd havo superficial faults as uasouad-ness uasouad-ness of color, or Irregularity of mnrk-Ings mnrk-Ings or of tho shape of the comb which In no wny affect their laying capacity, but mnke them unfit for exhibition ex-hibition und undesirable for breeding purposes. When buying hens In person, particular par-ticular attention should he given to S" ' ?PfJ!SyJt?WB;W7-'WJsl n ivVs v V, -sJ U '. - -i.i?'Js? Good for Producing Ego the general condition whether tho bird seems vigorous and lively and to tho nppenrance of tho comb nnd tho condition of tho feet. Hcnlthy ' hens hnvo bright red combs nnd bright eyes, assert poultry specialists of tho United States department of agriculture. agricul-ture. A slight pnleness of the comb Is Dimply mi Indication tlmt tho hen Is not laying ot tho time; but a bird whoso comb has either n yellowish or n bluish cast should bo rejected, for these nro Hj'mptoms of Internal disorders. Tho skin nnd scales of legs nnd toe should bo smooth, nnd tho soles of the feet soft nnd free from corns. |