118 THE CALL OP THE HEN. 



SUPPLEMENT TO WALTER HOGAN'S SYSTEM. 



If you will get a little one-foot rule to check yourself up 

 while getting used to measuring with the tips of your fingers 

 as in figure 4, you will have no trouble in applying its principles 

 right. You can hold the bird feet up and head down between 

 your knees while you are measuring; then hold as in figure 4 

 and learn to estimate the width right. Anything under one 

 inch will not pay, all over 1 1-2 inches will pay; from 1 to 1 3-8 

 are doubtful ; 2 inches is about the 200-egg type, and 2 3-8 

 inches about the 250-egg type and 2 3-4 inches about the 280- 



Hens measuring from 1 to 1 3-8 inches should be put in a 

 yard while being fed well and looked over once a week at 

 night in the dark for about eight weeks if you wish to make a 

 careful test. Any that come up or down in measurement can 

 be put in the good or bad yards as the case may be. Hens will 

 go up or clown about 25 per cent in measurements as they are 

 in flush of laying or not. The best time to examine hens is 

 after dark while on roost, which should be about 18 inches from 

 the J Aoor. Place left hand on back of hen, lift up tail with 

 thumb of right hand and apply tips of fingers to pelvic bones. 

 With a little practice you will be able to inspect 30 per minute. 

 It is admitted by all Physcians, Professors and Students of 

 Physioiogy that I have talked with in regard to this matter 

 that the abdominal capacity of a hen together with a strong 

 v-tai temperament has everything to do with her value as a 

 laying proposition. The pelvic bones (being a continuation oi 

 the body structure of the fowl and subject to very small 

 changes in the formation of flesh), are, when comparatively 

 straight and thin, an index to the width of the abdomeu and 

 the best if not the only one we have, as they protrude from 

 the body nnd may be easily measured. The depth of the abdo 

 men can be taken by placing the palm of the hand crosswise 

 below, between the pelvic bones and the rear of the breast 

 bone. Somet : mes it will be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 fingers. ( A finger 

 means three-uiviiters of an inch). Also place fingers between 

 pelvic bones and tail bone. Sometimes it will take 1, some- 

 times 2 fingers In this way you can judge the size of tbe ab- 

 domen which with the pelvic development will be a rule as to 

 a hen's value as a layer, except in rare cases of misplaced or 



