THE CALL OF THE HEN. 117 



The hen with small abdomen is of small account, either as 

 an egg or as a meat proposition, as she lacks the abdominal 

 capacity to digest and assimilate food enough to sustain the 

 every day wear of her system, and at the same time to pro- 

 duce eggs, or flesh, in paying quantities. 



Everything related here applies to the male bird as well, 

 only in a lesser degree. 



The remarks in regards to pullets refer to mature pullets, 

 as Leghorn pullets are at five months old in the New England 

 states. 



My birds in Massachusetts were bred for eggs only, for 

 years, and their type became set and their pelvic bones con- 

 tracted, when not laying, to average about 25 per cent, but I 

 find that hens bred promiscuously contract about 50 per cent. 



The points to be borne in mind in using this system are 

 that selection by the pelvic bones alone is best made in the 

 flush of laying. 



That thin pelvic bones and soft abdomen indicate the egg 

 type. 



That thick pelvic bones and hard, fleshy, fatty abdomen 

 indicates the beef type. 



The size of the abdomen indicates the capacity of the bird, 

 either as an egg or as a meat proposition as the case may be 

 large abdomen, large capacity; small abdomen, small capacity. 



The same rules apply to the cockerel, cock, male bird or 

 rooster, as he may be called. 



In order to determine the capacity of . hen for egg pro- 

 duction by one selection, she should be in normal condition 

 and not more than a few days broody. 



The estimates in this document refer to hens about one 

 year old. As a rule they will lay less each year as they grow 

 older how much less depends on the vitality of the hen, other 

 things considered. 



