Show POULTRY CULLING WILL FIT FLOCK FOR WINTER only good layers should be kept for profit by 11 11 II alp poultry extension specialist university of ol 01 illinois service A favorable fall and winter wanter outlook added benefits benell ts for egg prices promises from the careful and thorough culling of the laying flock this fall to get rid of the non layers a and rid other boarders good layers not only will pro produce duce more imore e es eggs s for the favorable markets that are ar e now in prospect but also will pay better returns on the feed they eat since the average hen uses six to seven pounds of feed a month non layers can soon eat cat choir heads off how 0 close to cull the lock flock depends upon its size average production number dumber of pullets available for replacements and other factors in 17 high producing flock the culling cat cai be done very closely since the percentage of non layers will be small on the other h hand and the producer who has only a limited number of pullets coming along may wish to cull rather lightly in order to avoid depleting his flock marking pullets during the culling process this fall is a desirable practice since it will be a simple matter to distinguish the old hens bens next year at least half of the flock should be pullets they lay well during the fall and winter when egg prices are the highest when the flock Is being culled the kind of hens that are laying and that should be saved are those which usually have big bright red glossy combs and full smooth wattles the abdomen is of good size and the pubic 1 bones on either side of the vent are well spread and pliable bleaching of the yellow color on the beak and shanks Is another indication of a good layer in the yellow skinned breeds early holters which lose their feathers in midsummer generally are poor layers while those which molt in the fall usually are the money makers |