126 THE CALL OF THE HEN. 



SELECTING PULLETS. 

 (Leghorns.) 



Perhaps the best time to select layers for a flock is when the pullets 

 are from four to six months old. If all are in a uniformly thrifty con- 

 dition at this time, it is next to impossible to make a mistake. The 

 best pullets at that age should show a width of about 2 inches, while the 

 best matured laying hens should show a development of about 2 l / 9 

 inches. (See cut No. 1.) 



Pullets of Plymouth Rocks and their class should be selected about 

 a month later and then show slightly larger, about 2Vs inches. The 

 best Asiatic pullet, about 2 ^4 inches at seven or eight months old; 

 the Leghorns being earlier maturers. At the end of six years of careful 

 selecting and breeding I found my Leghorn pullets quite as wide and well 

 matured at four months as my first ones were at five months. 



Second-class Leghorn pullets from five to seven months old will 

 show a development of about ! 5 /s inches. (See cut No. 2.) 



At six months old all Leghorn pullets showing only 1 inch or less 

 pelvic development should be discarded, regardless of feather or comb. 

 They will never make layers. (See cut No. 3.) 



All things being equal, the earlier a pullet begins to lay the better 

 and longer will she lay. 



SELECTING MATURE LAYERS. 



The next best time to ascertain a hen's laying qualities is when 

 the whole flock is in the flush of laying in other words, when about 

 all are at work. Those found then to measure about 2Vs inches are 

 extremely good layers. Some flocks have very few of these priceless 

 birds in them; while others have good numbers. From this class of 

 layers, and above that measurement, and from these only, should eggs 

 be saved for hatching. 



Occasionally hens are found measuring as high as 2% inches; 

 these hens, with the best of care, will lay as high as 280 eggs per year; 

 those measuring about 2 3 / 8 inches may be depended upon to go as high 

 as 250. The fact that this kind of hen can be found is ample proof 

 that with proper selection they can be bred in large numbers. 



Hens found at this time measuring from ! 7 / 8 to 2 inches are real 

 good layers, and should not be discarded, if one wishes to build up a 

 large flock, but they should not be bred from hens in the flush of laying 

 measuring only 1J4 to lJ/ inches are poor, and those showing from 

 an inch down should be discarded, regardless of shape or color. 



A large enough flock of the first mentioned hens would make any 

 poor man rich ; the second kind would keep themselves and their owners 

 going; while many of the last-named class would make a rich man poor. 



Poor layers, kept well and fed a large variety of scraps and other 

 foods, will sometimes make pretty fair egg records for a short time, 

 and birds of the best quality, under exceptionally hard conditions, will 

 make poor records. There are also occasional freaks in both extremes 

 of measurements, but they are so infrequent as not to be at all important. 



