JO Dec, 1908.] The " New System " of Selecting Laying Hens. 767 



No matter what width the pelvic bones may be apart, if a hen is over-fat 

 she will not be a heavy layer ; and any reduction in flesh below normal 

 laying condition that has a tendency to interfere with the vitality of the 

 bird will both check her laying, and cause a speedy contraction of the 

 abdominal parts mentioned. However, when once a correct knowledge of 

 the application has been acquired, this combination of fair condition, wide 

 pelvic bones, and pliability of the skin beneath the fluff, will prove a sure 

 guide as to whether the bird handled is laying at that particular time. If 

 hens are carefully looked over at stated intervals, and those found to be 

 not laying are removed, the drones of the flock will soon disappear ; for 

 they cannot possibly escape detection. 



In a disputation that appeared in the PetaLuma Poultry Journal in 

 1906, Mr. Hogan — one of the originators of these " systems "' — is credited 

 with the acknowledgment that the physical conformation of a hen may 

 •change according to her condition as much as 25 per cent. One of his cus- 

 tomers, however, mentions cases where the alteration has been equal to 300 

 per cent. ; and also refers to a " Hoganized ' ' 380 egg hen that went so 

 much " off " in condition that she showed equal only to about 30 eggs 

 per year. This statement is quite in accordance with the writer's obser- 

 vations; and hens that have been proved exceptionally heavy layers by 

 the use of the trap nest do not, in many cases, support their known ex- 

 •ceptioned egg-producing capacity by their structural formation at the time 

 of handling. 



When lifting a hen to examine her condition the most handy way to 

 take hold of her is by placing the hand on her "shoulders" from the 

 front ; and, slipping the thumb under one wing, and the fingers under 

 the other, to grasp them at the butts firmly but gently ; the hen can then 

 l>e handled without any fuss. Then, by placing the other hand on the 

 fluff or rear part of the bird's body from the underneath side, or by slightly 

 turning her over, with the tips of the fingers the two pelvic bones which 

 lie one on each side below and adjacent to the vent can be located. Almost 

 invariably in a low conditioned bird the points of these bones stand clearly 

 ■defined to the touch. As the bird makes flesh they gradually become 

 covered ; till, in an over-fat bird, there is some slight difficulty in exactly 

 locating them on account of the thickness of the overlying tissue. The 

 structure of fowls varies greatly in its formation at this part, some birds 

 having a much larger space between the pelvic bones than others, even as 

 chickens ; and others, when matured, having the points of these bones 

 not more than \ inch apart; others, again, will have them at various 

 widths, even up to 2 inches. To a practical poultryman who understands 

 feeding for condition, and who consequently is well versed in the handling 

 of fowls, the position of these bones, when taken with the bird's general 

 condition, is a tolerably good guide as to whether she is laying or not. He 

 can also determine how long it would take to put a part'cular bird into 

 laving condition if necessary. When from any cause whatever the bird is 

 not laving, there is almost immediatelv a drawing together and tightening of 

 the skin, and a closing towards each other of the points of the pelvic bones. 

 1 here is also a corresponding relaxation in those parts as laying approaches. 

 As size, age, and breed, all to some extent control the structure of each 

 bird, the actual width between the pelvic bones cannot by itself be taken 

 as positivelv demonstrating the laying condition of any hen. Speaking 

 generally, the bird that is fairly wide between these bones may be looked 

 upon as a good layer ; just as one that is wide and deep in the fluff when 

 viewed from the rear is likewise usuallv considered. The condition of 



