THE PROBLEMS IN MATING AND IN EGG PRODUCTION 115 



feathering with heavy layers of fat underneath the skin is 

 indicative of meat type. 



Skin Texture. — Thin, soft, phable, oily, and loosely fitting 

 on body, indicating good condition and activity. No change 

 in the skin color as in the female. 



FEMALE 



Condition. — Good health. An excessively purple, pale or 

 yellow comb indicates poor health. Drooping tail denotes 

 poor condition. Free from parasites. 



'Carnage. — ^High producers tend to carry body so that back 

 is horizontal, not erect. 



Activity, Intelligence, and Friendliness. — Elusive but not 

 flighty. Poor layers are sluggish or wild. Good layers are 

 active, hunting for food, and are tame and friendly when 

 handled. 



Head (Including Comb, Wattles and Ear-lobes). — ^Head 

 and face fine, free from wrinkles and fat deposits. Not thin 

 enough to give crow-headed appearance or indicating low 

 vitality or sickness. Comb should be full and firm, prefer- 

 ably firm enough to be waxy, an indication of heavy laying. 

 It is usually pale red during or just following heavy laying. 

 Medium to large in size as there is a certain amount of rela- 

 tion between size of comb and size of the egg the hen lays. 

 Wattles should be in proportion to the comb and well up 

 toward lower part of beak. Ear-lobes should be full and 

 smooth. 



Body. — Large enough for good capacity. Broad and deep 

 enough to afford room for good sized digestive organs. A 

 triangle from front to rear. Not excessively long. 



Legs, Toes, Wings, Neck and Tail. — Legs well apart, 

 sturdy but in hens thin and fine on the back side, denoting 

 production. Plump on pullets. Toenails worn short by 

 work, the length depending upon nature of henhouse floor. 

 The wings should be held up well to denote production. The 

 neck moderate in length. Excessively high tail a matter of 

 breeding and undesirable. Tail Hable to be pinched during 

 laying period. 



