THE CALL OF THE HEN. 111 
SELECTING PULLETS. 
(Leghorns.) 
Perhaps the best time to select layers for a flock is when the pullets 
are from four to six months old. If all are in a uniformly thrifty con- 
dition at this time, it is next to impossible to make a mistake. The 
best pullets at that age should show a width of about 2 inches, while the 
best matured laying hens should show a development of about 2!/, 
inches. (See cut No. 1.) 
Pullets of Plymouth Rocks and their class should be selected about 
a month later and then show slightly larger, about 21/, inches. The 
best Asiatic pullet, about 2144 inches at seven or eight months old; 
the Leghorns being earlier maturers. At the end of six years of careful 
selecting and breeding I found my Leghorn pullets quite as wide and well 
matured at four months as my first ones were at five months. 
Second-class Leghorn pullets from five to seven months old will 
show a development of about 15/s inches. (See cut No. 2.) 
At six months old all Leghorn pullets showing only 1 inch or less 
pelvic development should be discarded, regardless 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 MaTurRE 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 measure about 21/s, inches are 
extremely good layers. Some flocks have very few of these priceless 
birds in them, while others have good numbers. From this class of 
layers, and above that measurement, and from these only, should eggs 
be saved for hatching. 
Occasionally hens are found measuring as high as 234 inches; 
these hens, with the best of care, will lay as high as 280 eggs per year; 
those measuring about 2°/, inches 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 17/g to 2 inches are real 
good layers, and should not be discarded, if one wishes to build up a 
large flock, but they should not be bred from hens in the flush of laying 
measuring only 114 to 11% inches are 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 themselves 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 exceptionally hard conditions, will 
make poor records. There are also occasional freaks in both extremes 
of measurements, but they are so infrequent as not to be at all important. 
