480 A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



eyebrows and wrinkled skin at the back of the eye. The extremely 

 long sharp beak is usually possessed by the low producer, while the 

 medium stout, well-curved beak is characteristic of the high producer. 



BODY CONFORMATION 



Perfect Score 30 Points, 90 Eggs 



When taken in the hands, a heavy producer will show, by the sense of 

 touch, great depth of body, especially at the front and rear of the keel 

 bone. The keel must be moderately straight, relatively long and carried 

 well back. The space between the pelvic bones and the keel must be free 

 from excessive accumulations of fat. Birds which are laying heavily 

 can be readily detected by the development of the abdomen. Such birds 

 will show pelvic arches which are widespread and a keel which is forced 

 down away from the pelvic arches so as to give large capacity. 



The poor producer generally shows a shallow body especially at the 

 front of the keel, a small shrunken abdomen, together with all evidences 

 of small capacity. 



HANDLING QUALITY 



Perfect Score 10 Points, 30 Eggs 



The skin of the heavy-producing hen is thin, soft and pliable, es- 

 pecially the skin on the abdomen must be thin and loose. The skin of 

 the poor producer is generally thick, hard and rather coarse to the touch. 

 The thin velvety skin is almost always associated with heavy ovarian 

 activity. 



LEGS AND TOES 



Perfect Score 5 Points, 15 Eggs 



The shanks of a heavy producer are flat, pliable and smooth scaled. 

 In hens at the end of their laying year, or pullets which have been laying 

 heavily for some time, the shanks will be bleached out. The toes should 

 be straight and the toenails show indication of proper activity. The 

 shanks of the poor producer are usually round, hard and rather coarse 

 scaled. 



CONDITION 

 [Perfect Score 15 Points, 45 Eggs 



A bird to be capable of highest sustained production must be first of 

 all healthy. She must show vigor and activity and be well fleshed. Late 

 molting in hens is desirable. Early molting and slow maturing, as 

 shown by the primary feathers, should be cut severely. Late developing 

 and late maturing usually indicate low production. In applying this 

 section to hens, health and molting conditions should be given primary 

 consideration. In applying this section to pullets health and maturity 

 should be given primary consideration. 



Judging poultry products, such as dressed poultry and 

 eggs, is becoming more and more necessary. The score card 

 is not specially recommended for this purpose, the compara- 

 tive method being very generally regarded as the most sat- 

 isfactory. Referring to this point, one authority says : 



