poor layers. The distance between the pelvic bones has a 

 direct bearing on the amount of energy which must be spent 

 in the act of laying. In judging the thickness of pelvic bones, 

 include gristle and skin. 



Fifth: Pigmentation. (Applies to yellow-legged breeds 

 only.) There is a close relationship between the laying activ- 

 ities of fowls and the amount of yellow pigment in their 

 bodies. If the bird, after being in the laying pen for a con- 

 siderable length of time, has a yellow vent, beak and legs, it 

 is fair to assume that she is a slacker and should be culled. 

 Do not attempt to cull on the strength of vent color alone. 

 Pale legged birds are usually heavy layers. 



Sixth: The Crop Test. It is advisable to visit the hen 

 house after all the birds have gone to roost, following up a 

 rather heavy feed at night, and make a careful note of all 

 birds with light crops. These are usually the poor producers 

 unless temporarily out of condition, while those with full 

 distended crops are of the industrious type and, if the pelvic 

 bones are thin and pliable, are usually heavy layers. 



A check may be made by the use of leg bands, numbering 

 those with empty crops or with partially empty crops as you 

 find them. It is a good plan to remove them from the flock 

 at this time and ascertain the cause of the trouble. 



Another good plan for testing out a hen for laying is to 

 visit the hen house in the early morning before daylight. 

 Remove birds singly from the perches and make this test: 

 turn the bird with the right side down, the shanks or legs 

 in your right hand, the back resting on the palm and fingers 

 of the left hand. Slip the fingers of the left hand under the 

 bird's body, until the fingers touch the pelvic bones, then 

 gently but firmly press the tips of the fingers into the sides 

 of the bird's body, and up under the pelvic bones toward the 

 back. If an egg is present it will be felt as a hard lump. 

 When learning, results can be checked by pushing the fore- 

 finger into the vent Of the hen, and up the oviduct until the 

 egg is felt. This method is valuable for culling non-layers 

 and selecting breeders. 



To further supplement the work of culling the following 

 chart gives a good idea of the characteristics of the produc- 

 tive and non-productive types, and what they signify: The 

 good-laying and productive type is indicated first by the head 

 — neat, fine and feminine with no coarse feature or indica- 

 tion of beefiness. The poor laying and unproductive type 



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