THE CALL OF THE HEN. 129 



inch or less pelvic development should be discarded regard- 

 less of feather or comb. They will never make layers. (See 

 Cut No. 3.) 



All things being equal, the earlier a pullet begins to 

 lay, the better and longer will she lay. 



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 meas- 

 ure about two and one-eighth inches are extremely good lay- 

 ets. Some flockr have very few of these priceless birds in 

 them, while ouiers have good numbers. From this class of 

 layers, and above that measurement, and from the<c only, 

 should eggs be saved for hatching. 



Occa^'ctially hens are found measuring as high as two and 

 three-fourths inches. These hens with the best of care will 

 lay as high as 280 eggs per year. Those measuring about two 

 and three-eights may be depended 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 one and seven- 

 eights to two inches are real good layers, and should not be 

 discarded if one wishes to build up an at all large flock; but 

 they should not be bred from. Hens, in the flush of laying, 

 measuring only one and one-fourth to one and one-half inches, 

 arc poor; and those showing from an inch down should be 

 discarded 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 to not be at all important. Approximately, 



