CULLING THE FLOCK 



231 



Figure 222. — This hen has a spread of 

 three fingers between the pelvic 

 bones, indicating that she is in 

 laying condition. 



laying the ovary and oviduct 

 are of greater size and require 

 more room. To provide this 

 extra room the distance in- 

 creases from the end of the 

 keel, or breast bone, to the pel- 

 vic bones with a consequent 

 increase in the size of the ab- 

 domen. 



In the smaller breeds, such 

 as the Leghorn, a spread of 

 three or more fingers indicates 

 that the hen is in a laying 

 condition. In the larger breeds 

 such as the Plymouth Rock, a 

 hen that is in laying condition should have a spread of four 

 or more fingers. A spread of less than this indicates that 

 the hen is not in a laying condition. 



Flexibility of abdomen. In a good producer the abdo- 

 men is soft and flexible, owing to its increased size, together 



with the fact that there is less 

 tendency at this time to ac- 

 cumulate fat. (Figure 224.) 



As laying ceases the abdo- 

 men becomes smaller, contrac- 

 ted and feels harder and less 

 flexible. When culling the 

 flock, the fact should be kept 

 in mind that it is safer to de- 

 pend upon the agreement of a 

 combination of several of the 

 characteristics as mentioned 

 ^tZln!!^J^len^r^!JZl'J- *ierein rather than to select 

 rtfanTtWeti°efgo%1'|?oducrS: by any one point alone. 



