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guished, are recommended. These can be purchased in any 

 quantity desired, or in sets of a dozen or more different colors. 

 By the use of colored bands, a separate color for each indi- 

 vidual, one can easily distinguish the different birds without 

 handling, or when at a distance. This is quite advantageous, 

 as it gives one a much greater opportunity to study the indi- 

 viduals than if it were necessary to catch the bird and examine 

 the leg-band number in order to distinguish her from the others. 

 When one is able to recognize each hen, either by leg bands or 

 certain physical differences, there are several important charac- 

 teristics that he is able to study. For example, he will notice 

 the hustlers, the time each hen begins to lay and when she 

 stops, or, in other words, the length of the laying period; the 

 general physical condition of each bird; the length of the molt- 

 ing period; immunity from disease, or the ease with which they 

 are affected; the degree of broodiness; the nature of the eggs, 

 that is, size, shape and color. All these points have an eco- 

 nomic value. The hustling or hard-working hen is usually a 

 heavy layer. There is enough difference between the eggs of 

 hens in the same flock to make those from one worth 10 cents 

 per dozen more than those from another. Again, it is very 

 important that the degree of broodiness of the various hens in 

 a flock be known. By the use of leg bands or any other method 

 of studying the individual the owner is able to determine how 

 long it takes to break up each hen; also how often she becomes 

 broody. In making a study of our college flocks we have found 

 hens that become broody ten to twelve times per year, losing 

 one hundred and fifty or more days from broodiness, whereas 

 some were not broody at all, and others not more than once or 

 twice. Armed with these facts concerning the various hens the 

 owner will not hesitate in selecting a hen for the Sunday dinner 

 or the butcher. It is, therefore, easily seen that a thorough 

 knowledge of a back yard flock may be the cause of one's suc- 

 cess, as the "boarders" or non-productive birds can easily be 

 eliminated. Much interest in the birds themselves usually re- 

 sults from a careful study of the individual, — a factor of great 

 importance. 



