144 THE CALL OF THE HEN. 



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 2 l /& 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 3 /4 

 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 de- 

 pended 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 /s 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 I 1 / 4 to l L /2 inches 

 are poor, and those showing from an inch down should be dis- 

 carded, 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 them- 

 selves 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 exception- 

 ally 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. Approxi- 

 mately 280-egg hens that measure as high as 2 5 /s inches in the 

 flush of laying will show about 3 / 8 to l / 2 inch less when not 

 laying, and this shrinkage in measurement will apply to all 

 other grades in about this proportion. 



SELECTING FOR FALL MARKETING. 



We do not like to kill birds about to begin laying, that 

 are laying, or really good ones that are just through laying, 



