The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1917-12-14
TREASURE STATE FARM AND Invest 0GM
KIDDING FLOCK OF SLACKERS

1t is important now, in order that
feed may be conserved and the best
results be achieved in management
of the farm and family flocks, that
every effort be made to eliminate the
slackers in the poultry yard.
BY getting rid of the slackers the
poultryman not only cuts down the
consumption of grain, releases labor
for more profitable avenues and in
creases the meat supply of the coun-
try. Severe culling will not work
any hardship on the poultry keeper.
1t will increase his profits and inn
prove his flocks. Culling will per-
manently remove the "slackers
from the breeding flocks, so that fu-
ture generations will be more pro-
ductive 1t will also force home the
lesson that few hens, we'll selected
are the most profitable.
The selection of pullets for layers
depends upon their vitality and Wig
or. If they lack these qualities they
had better be sent to the fattening
pens. Late-hatched chicks which are
only partly grown have no place on
the present poultry plant. These
pullets will not lay before spring,
and then only in desultory manner.
They lack the constitutional vigor
necessary for heavy egg production
and it must not be forgotten that egg
production is heavy drain upon the
constitutional yigor of the fowl. Be-
sides, the pullet intended to produce
large numbers of eggs must be so
constituted that it is able to eat and
assimilate large quantities of food.
Shape Tells Tale.
Constitutional vigor cannot be
measured, but it has close relation
to the shape of fowl. By shape is
not meant those characteristics
which separate our birds into breeds
and varieties, but general confor-
nation that is adaptable to pullets Of
any breed or variety.
Those nearest standard weight
should be selected. There are many
reasons why those that are diversified
or understood should not be chosen.
The former are inclined to be mac
tive and non-productive. Understood
birds should be rejected, as their ten
dercy is downward so far as size is
concerned.
From a careful selection as to
size and stamina, it is we'll to select
the pullets for individual perfection.
From some standpoints the head Of a
specimen is not considered very i'm
portant, but from other viewpoints it
is extremely So The head is not only
a fine index to the general health OF
the specimen, but it shows alertness
and general vigor which are SO essen
tial. If the head is small and refined
it usually indicates lack OF vitality.
Reliable Head Points.
The best specimens should possess
a medium-size head, with short, stub
by beak, indicating strength. The
beak should be fairly we'll curved.
short face, short from the eye to the
end of the beak, is best The face
should be broad between the eyes,
with comb set fairly we'll upon the
head, and rather thick at the base.
The eye should be large, bright and
snappy and should protrude like
ball. The face should have character
in it's appearance, with plenty of col
or.
The neck should not be too long,
but fairly short and we'll curved. This
denotes strength in fowl, and the
curving neck should be so set that it
brings the head we'll back over the
breast, giving the pullet thick-set,
heavy appearance. The wings should
be short, we'll tucked or tightly held
against the body. The back should
be broad and straight, not only broad
across the shoulders, but the breadth
should be carried back to the tail.
One of the greatest weaknesses in
birds is the narrowing of the back
from the head to the tail. Avoid the
arched back or the long, narrow
back. The back of the pullet is one
of the best methods of determining
her future usefulness and is very i'm
portant in making a selection. The
back virtually forms the framework
of the body. The reproductive organs
are just below the back, and as it is
essential that these organs should
have plenty of room to perform their
functions, this portion of the pullet
should be long as we'll as broad. 1t
is not desirable that the length
should be in greater proportion than
the breadth, thus giving it narrow
appearance. And it should not be
understood from this that short,