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Show PoislSsymsn Advises Culling oi Flocks to Save on Feeds Because officials of the War Food Administration have indicated in-dicated that sufficient feed and supplies will be available to achieve but not to exceed the increases in-creases in poultry production asked for in 1944, Carl Frisch-knecht, Frisch-knecht, poultryman of the extension exten-sion service, advises that better management practices be a-dopted a-dopted by producers to reach these goals and to obtain a profit from the poultry enterprise this year. One of the best ways to use the labor equipment and feeds that are available is elimination of those chickens in the flock which do not lay enough eggs to pay for the feed they consume, con-sume, and for other expenses associated with their keep. Low-producing, Low-producing, unprofitable birds can be found in the poultry flock at almost any time of the year, and eliminating them from the flock will enable producers to in- . crease the percentage of production, produc-tion, save time and labor, check the spread of disease and parasites, para-sites, reduce feed costs, and provide pro-vide more room and better conditions con-ditions for the high-producing birds in the flock, says Professor Frischknecht. Certain physiological changes in the birds' bodies are associated associ-ated with egg production and the most successful poultrymen are those who observe their birds closely at all times and who practice the habit of culling the flock regularly. Birds that are laying are usually profitable, but those that are out of production, pro-duction, especially at this time of year when feed prices are high and floor space in the laying pens is at a premium, should be eliminated. Several distinguishing marks are also described by the poultry-man. poultry-man. Birds that are in production produc-tion will have combs and wattles that are large and full, bright red in color and smooth and waxy to the touch. Birds that are out of p roduction will have combs and wattles that are i.mall, pale, scaly, rough, dry -nd leathery. The vent of the bird that is laying will be large, full, pinkish-white in color, oblong ob-long in shape, and moist. T he i pubic bones will also be thin, flexible, and the ends will be wide apart. Eirds that are not in produc-I produc-I tion will have vents that are 1 small, contracted, round, dry and yellow, and pubic bones that are thick, rigid and ends which close together. The best-producing birds in the flock will have beaks, earlobes and shanks which are white in color and plumage which is rough, ragged and soiled. |