Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1920 — TIPS FOR THE POULTRY GROWERS [ARTICLE]

TIPS FOR THE POULTRY GROWERS

Culling the flock of poor laying hens should be done by daylight, when yellow and white can be readily distingulshed,~accbrdlhjg E. Jones, poultry specialist for the extension service of the Connecticut Agricultural college, at Storrs. No one need hesltate to catch and handle hens in daylight if they are not unnecessarily frightened. A convenient and easy way of holding a hen for examination is to place the breast bone in the palm of the hand, with the fleshy part of the legs held firmly each side of the forefinger. The feeling of the breast bone in the palm of the hand at once Indicates the quality of the hen. With the other hand it is easy to measure the distance between the pelvic bones, and from the pelvic bones to the breast bone. While doing this, look at the plumage, comb, shanks, beak, ear lobes and vent, and the examination is complete. It is nbt safe to judge a hen by any one of the indications of production or non-production alone, advises Mr. Jones. There are exceptions to all rules, and it is only by giving each point due credit that a correct conclusion can be reached.