POULTRY RAISING CHICKENS 



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apart and the tail well spread. Examine the pelvic bones. These are the two 

 rather pointed bones which can be felt in the rear of the hen's body just below 

 and at each side of the vent. The pelvic bones of a good layer are wide apart. 

 If the points of these bones are close together the hen is not laying and she 

 is probably not a good layer. The hen may be considered a good layer if 

 three fingers can be laid between the points of these bones. A good layer 

 shows the pelvic bones well apart even when not in full lay. When the bones 

 are close together and difficult to press apart, the hen is generally a very 

 poor layer. High producing hens molt late, they have pale shanks at the end 

 of the laying season and are heavy eaters. 



Bad Traits Are Inherited. While the chickens are maturing and their 

 distinguishing characteristics are asserting themselves, be on the lookout 

 for bad characteristics and weed out the undesirables. The bully is pressing a 

 tendency that was born in her. She interferes with the contentment of the 

 flock and keeps up a continual state of excitement. This affects the laying 

 and health of the other hens and she should be dealt with drastically. 



No Extra Roosters. Extra roosters take room and feed and yield no 

 profits. Sell or kill them. The hens will lay just as well, or better, without 

 them. 



Keep One Breed. A uniform breed means uniform products and uniform 

 products bring better prices. Such a flock is easier to tend. It is more at- 

 tractive and you will give it better attention. Breed from the best you have. 



Feeding for Egg Production. The problem of feeding is of great im- 

 portance. It should be considered carefully for not only the general health of 

 the birds, but also the economy which promotes success depends upon it to 

 a large extent. This subject should be studied with common sense for there 

 are no hard and fast rules which apply to every case. On should consider 

 the general environment and price of feeds in determining the rations. Hens 

 must be given balanced rations if they produce results. If the ration is prop- 

 erly balanced the hens will make a good profit, but if the ration is improperly 

 balanced they will be kept at a loss. If the hen has considerable range, grain 

 is all that need be supplied during the summer months. In the winter, and 

 also if confined in summer, everything must be provided. It is false economy 

 to expect them to pick their living from the leavings of other stock. Many 

 farmers admit that they feed their hens nothing during the summer. In so 

 doing, they are saving feed but losing money. A productive hen requires 

 from 70 to 80 pounds of feed a year. If she gets only 40 or 50 pounds, she 

 will simply satisfy her body requirements. She will not lay eggs. The scantily 

 fed hen is a poor investment. 



The nutriment in the feed of laying hens serves two purposes; first, to 

 furnish heat to the body and repair waste ; second, to supply the egg-making 

 materials. Only the surplus over what is needed for the body is used for 

 egg production so it is important to feed in sufficient quantities to induce this 

 production. To produce eggs one must have healthy vigorous stock, and feed 

 the material from which eggs are made. 



