THE BHEEDINO OF CIIICKENH 



Ml 



and elasticity oi tlic pcKic hones. Tlie s\ilicut;iiiei)iis fat <»f 

 the alidomen is used m> Ijy laviiit;', so that tht' alxhnniiia.l sl^ill 

 of the heavy producer becomes \('l\cty and the whoh' aluhi- 

 nien soft and tlexilile. Thei)el\ic liones are also tliin, tapering 

 and cLastic. In the non-hncr they are Hkel\' to he thicl-c, 

 hhnit an<l stiff, while the wliole ahdomen is surrounded under 

 the skin with a layer of hard fat if the hird is on fidl feed. 

 The great^layer is slal)-siile(l and det'p, rather than round. 



Projicr way to hold a hen for tiiiding the distance between the pelvic bones. 

 (Courtesy of T. S. T(»vn.sley, Uniyersity of Missouri.) 



Among the most valuable indications of the liea\-y layer are 

 the refinement of the head and the closeness and dr.Miess of 

 feathering. The wattles and earlobes fit close to the beak 

 and are not loose and flabby. The face is clean cut and rather 

 thin Puffiness in the face indicates meat rather than eggs. 

 The eye is full, round and prominent as \-iewed across the 

 tip of the beak. The high layer is trimmer in feathering tlian 

 the pt)or layer, but after i)rolonged heavy i)roduction the oil 



