CULLING 101 
body should very clearly have a wedge shape. 
When we reach the hips, or just back of them, 
if we find that the body continues at maxi- 
mum width for a distance of an inch and a 
half or two inches, we have an index of a 
good laying hen; whereas, if we find that the 
bird’s body slopes rapidly or narrows rapidly 
toward the tail, we may be certain that she 
is not a good producer. 
Span. The distance between the back 
end of the breastbone and the pelvic or lay 
bones should be at least four and possibly 
five fingers wide. This indicates capacity 
within the body of the hen for the develop- 
ment of the yolks. It indicates, further, a 
capacity great enough to assimilate large 
quantities of food. 
Lay Bones. The lay bones or pelvic bones 
in a good-producing hen will be wide apart, 
flexible, and thin. If they are thick they will 
indicate a poor-producing hen, because such 
a condition shows that flesh or fat has been 
deposited over the edges or ends and that the 
bird is of a meat type and not a good egg 
producer. The width between the pelvic 
bones is, in itself, no indication of the total 
