546 



JUDGING AND CULLING FOWLS 



Figures 230-231 are two charts filled out showing how they are 

 used and how the proper disposition to be made of the birds is 

 determined. 



In performing the actual operation of culling a large flock it is 

 not necessary to take the time to plot a curve for each bird, but by 

 the time a few curves are made and a number of birds handled the 



CULLING CHART 



PnODUCTIVITT ■ BY EXTERNA.!. CIIA.RACTBRS 



Oasses Shank, B«k. Ear, Vent 



Plumage Comb 



(I Ivor; 



2 Tinl 



3 Ur* 



4 Y.1I 



Vtr, Moist V.ry Large 

 Moiit Large 



Dry Medium 



Yellow Very Dry Small 



Wide Very Thin 

 Wide Thin 



Medium Mediui 



Narrow Thick 



Very Wide Old all preient Brishl 



Wide Old some abient Dull 



Medium Growing new Dry 



Narrow New throughoul Shriveled 



1 To keep for ipecial matings. 



2. To keep for general laying and brecdinc. 



3. To hold for month or until laying ccaMi. 



4. To sell immediately 



Poor health or 

 Lack of vigor 

 Broken down ] 



DUquaJifi4e0ieHs 



hy.ically as 

 md fall 10 ai 



uH of heavy laying, 

 n the elimination of 



-productive hens, and to aid ia 



Fio. 231. — ^^Showing the judgment curve falling mostly in class 3 and 4, and since the 

 bird is not laying, as determined by the yellow in vent and condition of plumage and 

 comb, by referring to the bottom of the chart we find that this bird should be sold im- 

 mediately for meat. She has not laid remarkably during the year and has now ceased 

 entirely, so the sooner she can be disposed of the less seed will be required for the flock 

 and disposing of her will not in any way reduce the egg yield. 



technique of handling and determination will be so firmly fixed in 

 one's mind that he can run over the various parts mentally and 

 immediately determine what disposition should be made of any 

 individual which he may handle. 



The time of the year will determine somewhat the degree of 

 culling to be made. For instance, in early summer birds will not 

 show evidences of extremely heavy laying as they will later, due to 

 the fact that they have not been producing over such a long period 

 of time. The legs and the beak will not be bleached out to such a 

 complete degree nor will they show the rough worn appearance of , 

 plumage that they will develop during the late summer. 



