146 HOW I MADE $10,000 IN ONE YEAR 



Designation of Chickens 



We are often asked the meaning of "Hen, Pullet, Cock- 

 erel and Cocks." We do not know the established rule of 

 usage. In the hands of a dealer who is selling live birds, 

 every female is a pullet — if he can get away with it, espe- 

 cially in the fall when only pullets are supposed to be 

 laying. Early moulters answer the purpose most 

 admirably. 



With us they are "Pullets'' until they have passed 

 through their first complete moult ; birds hatched in Jan- 

 uary go through a light moult in their first fall, but they 

 are still pullets with us until the following fall. So, too, 

 is a fall hatched bird. 



After the first full moult they are "I-Iens" ; and if we 

 carried them long enough they would be "Yearling Hens" 

 and "Two-year-olds." 



The same rule applies to the males. They are "Cock- 

 erels" until after the first full moult, when they become 

 "Cocks." 



In table poultry we seldom get beyond the "Broiler" 

 stage. Under lj4 pounds they are usually known as 

 "Squab Broilers;" from \yi up to 2j4 pounds they are 

 "Broilers" and beyond that they become "Fryers" or 

 "Soft Roasters." In the Leghorns especially if a young 

 bird gets into the Fryer class the marketman is partic- 

 ular to see that it is still "soft-boned" — that the point of 

 the breast bone is still soft and pliable. If it is not they 

 are classed as "Stags"^ — so far as paying the producer is 

 concerned; what class they take when sold to the con- 

 sumer is another matter. 



