POULTRY FOR PROFIT 121 



best laying strains are those with fairly large 

 combs. 



5. The best layer is usually the hen that is small 

 for her breed. Rarely do hens over standard weight 

 prove record layers. There are exceptions to this 

 rule of course, but as a rule the best layers in any 

 flock are those that are under, rather than over, 

 standard weight. 



6. The best layer is almost always a pullet that 

 showed her sex early. If you will take the trouble 

 to band the pullets that first show their sex, you will 

 find most of the best layers in this bunch. 



When the best pullets in the flock have been picked 

 out by these signs, they should be placed in a pen by 

 themselves and the record of the pen kept. If egg 

 production falls below 50 per cent through the win- 

 ter there will have to be more culling. 



These pullets should not be used for breeders till 

 their second year. If they must be used in the spring 

 mate them to a two-year-old cock. 



Using the Trap-nest 



There are many good trap-nests on the market, 

 and they may be readily made at home by a handy 

 man or boy. The principle of all is the same. As she 

 enters the nest, the hen closes the door, and is not 

 able to get out till some one comes and notes the 

 number on her band and lets her out. 



When the object of trapnesting is merely to select 

 the best layers and not to make complete records, the 

 pullets need only be trapnested from November till 

 March. The pullets that make the best records these 

 four months, as has been proved by many experi- 

 ment stations, are the best layers. 



The ten or twelve pullets that make the highest 

 records, mated to the best male you can afford, will 



