228 THE HANDBOOK FOE PRACTICAL FAEMERS 



and to continue late as hens, and last of all these eggs hatch well, 

 there are no better hens to be had anywhere. There are but very 

 few conditions that will warrant trapping all the birds the entire 

 year. 



Culling should be practiced at all times of the year with all 

 the birds, young and old, but the layers are most easily culled 

 during July, August and September. Begin in July and go 

 through the flock every tAvo weeks with a flashlight and cull out 

 all the c|uitters. 



The yellow coloring pigment in a yellow-skinned bird starts 



to leave different 

 parts of her body 

 in the following 

 order when she 

 l)ogins to lay: 



1. The vent, 

 very quickly. 



2. The eye- 

 ring, quickly. 



3. The ear- 

 lol)es,less quickly. 



4. The beak, in 

 a month or two. 



5. The shanks, 

 completely 

 in about four 

 months. 



Fig. 133. — A good capacity bird. 



Body 

 other 



loss of 

 matter, 



changes, 



than the 

 coloring 

 also oc- 



cur as laying pro- 

 gresses and apply to all breeds. The bird that has been laying 

 best will have: 



1. A soft, well-developed abdomen and a large moist vent. A 

 sagging abdomen, however, is undesirable, except in very old 

 birds. 



2. A soft velvety skin and thin pelvic bones due to loss of fat. 



3. A lean, clean-cut head with Avattles fitting up close. 



4. A bright red comb. The comb expands and contracts 

 directly as the ovaries expand and contract. 



5. Good capacity, as measured by length and depth of body. 

 The bird's body should be deeper in the rear than in front (see 



