382 COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



is observed again, and the hens which have Httle or no color in 

 the parts mentioned may be selected as the best layers. 



To prove this, if you observe any birds which are noticeably 

 yellower than the others, transfer them to a separate pen and 

 note if they are not poor layers. If you have trap nests, these 

 ideas are easily verified. 



Conduct and Other Indications. — It is pretty generally estab- 

 lished that pullets which begin to lay early in life, providing they 

 are fully matured, are pretty sure to be the most prolific members 

 of the flock. Ordinarily this means that the pullets which com- 

 mence laying in the fall, before snow flies, are the most desirable. 

 Fowls that fail to start production until after Christmas seldom 

 attain high scores. By high scores is meant records of excep- 

 tional merit, say over 150 eggs a year. It usually follows, also, 

 that pullets continuing to lay late into the fall, thereby post- 

 poning the molt until cold weather is at hand, are almost without 

 exception heavy producers. 



Late Molters. — Hens that have a nice new coat of feathers by 

 July look well, but they are not often profitable. The late 

 molters, those that look ragged and dirty when the others are 

 sleek and clean, are almost always the best layers in the flock. 

 Moreover, it will be noted that the late molters get through with 

 this task very quickly, seemingly, which is an appreciable saving 

 in time. 



The appetite and general conduct of the hen are other indica- 

 tions of productiveness. The heavy layer is the first off the perch 

 in the morning and the last to go to sleep at night. She is active, 

 constantly searching for food, and when observed on the roost 

 after dark, she will be found to have a very large crop tightly 

 packed with food. It is also found that the hens which have the 

 most confidence in their keeper, and are not foolishly disturbed 

 or frightened, are the most consistent performers and the most 

 reliable breeders. 



Importance of the Male. — It is said that the male bird is 

 half of the flock, meaning, of course, that his characteristics will 

 be transmitted to the offspring in equal proportion to the hens, 



