THE CALL OF THE HEN. 9 



selection is just as necessary in a flock of poultry as in a dairy herd. 



Now, when you ask if the farmer can afford to keep chickens when 

 grain is so high, if you refer to the usual flock of culls, I will say, "No." 

 Grain is too valuable to be thrown promiscuously to nonproducing hens. 



It may be that you will think when I mention selection that I 

 refer to a lot of scientific and complicated experiments. I simply mean 

 that you should go into your flock, pick out the culls and get rid of them. 

 A hen of low vitality is a menace to the flock, because she is susceptible 

 to disease. She is an expense to her owner because she is a consumer 

 and not a producer. It is a funny thing, but many farmers who would 

 be quick to get rid of a poor cow, will keep two or three dozens hens 

 that never have made a cent for him or never will, no matter how he 

 cares for them. 



HOW TO MAKE SELECTION. 



The rules that govern selection are as simple as A, B, C to any 

 observing person. For instance, a hen that is slow to feather is lacking 

 in vitality. Anyone ought to know that. You cannot stuff her and 

 make her lay eggs. She is by Nature a weakling. Hens do not lay eggs 

 because they want to ; they lay eggs because they are strong and vigorous 

 and egg laying is a natural result which they cannot avoid. That 

 tendency must be bred in them. Why, if the average farmer would 

 give half the attention to his poultry that he does to his live stock he 

 would find the poultry the best investment in many cases. Success 

 comes from being willing to discard. When you have culled out the 

 poor hens and got them clear off the farm, then it is time to begin think- 

 ing about feeding for egg production and, also, let me emphasize, water- 

 ing for egg production, for water is as essential as feed. 



At this time one of the greatest problems facing American poul- 

 trymen is the ratio of profit between the cost of feed and the selling 

 price of poultry and eggs. No poultryman can object to the high 

 price of feed if the selling price of poultry and eggs is proportionately 

 high. Thousands of the more or less inexperienced poultrymen, who 

 were loaded with poor stock, drones and slackers, or who, because of 

 inexperience, haphazard methods, or poor management, have been 

 forced out of business. Many others in the same class are certain to 

 go, but the future promises much for the man who has the goods and 

 who knows how. 



In order to lay well, a bird must have a sound body. As a first 

 consideration, the bird must be vigorous and healthy if it is to be able 

 to lay well. Vigor and health are shown by a bright, clear eye, a well 

 set body, a comparatively active disposition and an indication of good 

 blood circulation. Further, the bird must be free from physical de- 

 fects, such as crooked beak; excessively long toenails; eyelids that 

 overhang so that the bird cannot see well; excessively scaly legs, or 

 anything else that would keep the bird from seeing or getting an abun- 

 dance of feed. 



LOSS OF FAT AND LOSS OF COLOR OF FAT DUE TO LAYING 

 PIGMENTATION CHANGES. 



A laying fowl uses up the surplus fat in the body. Especially, it 

 retnov.s the fat from the skin. In yellow skinned breeds, this loss of 

 fat can readily be seen by the loss of the yellow color. The different 



