146 SELECTING HENS FOR EGG PRODUCTION 



influenced by the size of eggs laid and by the size of 

 the fowl. 



Heavy production is shown by the quality of the skin 

 and the thickness and stiffness of the pelvic arches. Fat 

 goes out from the skin and body with production, so that 

 the heavy producers have a soft, velvety skin that is not 

 underlaid by layers of hard fat. The abdomen in par- 

 ticular is soft and pliable. 



The sternal processes are very prominent and are gener- 

 ally bent outward. The thicker and blunter the pelvic 

 arches and the greater the amount of hard fat in the 

 abdomen the less the production or the longer time since 

 production. 



One of the finer indications, but yet one of the most 

 valuable in picking a good layer is the fineness of the 

 head and the closeness and dryness of feathering. The 

 head of a high layer is fine. The wattles and ear lobes 

 fit close to the beak and are not loose and flabby. The 

 face is clean cut. The eye is full, round, and prominent, 

 especially when seen from the front. The high layer is 

 trimmer, that is, the feathers lie closer to the body, and 

 after heavy production the oil does not keep the plumage 

 relatively sleek and glossy but the plumage becomes worn 

 and threadbare. 



Changes in Secondary Sexual Characters. The comb, 

 wattles, and ear lobes enlarge or contract, depending on 

 the ovary. If the comb, wattles, and ear lobes are large, 

 full, and smooth, or hard and waxy, the bird is laying 

 heavily. If the comb is limp, the bird is only laying 

 slightly, and is not laying at all when the comb is dried 

 down, especially at molting time. If the comb is warm, 

 it is an indication that the fowl is coming back into pro- 

 duction. 



Molting. When a fowl stops laying in the summer she 

 usually begins to molt. The later a hen lays in the 

 summer or the longer the period during which she lays, 

 the greater will be her production, so that the high 

 producer is the late layer and hence the late molter. 

 The length of time that a hen has been molting or has 



