SELECTING HENS FOR EGG PRODUCTION 149 



BARRON METHOD OF SELECTING LAYERS 



Thomas Barren, of England, was the first to make a 

 careful study of the breeding of hens for egg production. 

 He was very successful in this. His efforts aroused 

 poultrymen throughout the world, and today in every 

 land where poultry is kept there is an unusual effort 

 being made to breed for better egg production. The 

 results of these efforts have shown themselves very 

 plainly in the increased number of eggs per hen laid 

 throughout the civilized world. 



Mr. Barron was the first to present a model in writing 

 describing the physical characteristics of layers. This 

 is his description: 



PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LAYERS 



Size. Medium for the breed, tending toward neither 

 extreme. 



Plumage. Rather tight in feather. 



Head. Skull rather narrow, with full, bright eye. 

 Rather short, stout bill. Comb fine in texture. Size not 

 as important as texture. 



Neck. Rather long, not too thick. 



Body. Breast prominent and rather long. Back long 

 and wide across the hips. Good cushion. In short, a 

 square-built bird with body held at such an angle as to 

 throw the stern much lower than the breast. 



Legs. Medium in length and set well apart. 



Tail. Carried rather high. 



The whole appearance of the bird should be trim and 

 active. 



I also pay some attention to the pelvic bones, the 

 pointed bones, which may be felt just above the vent. 

 These should be well separated. 



The above, in brief, outlines my method of breeding 

 and selecting heavy layers. It is given to the poultrymen 

 of America in the hope that it may be of benefit to them. 



THOMAS BARRON 



