Norwich bulletin., 1917-11-01
GULL YOUR BULLETS.
Before They Start on Their Worthless
 Career.

Why should outlets be put in the laying houses for winter production and fed high priced feed when their present external characteristics indi- cate that they will at best be only indifferent producers? There are such outlets in every flock. However eeod the majority may be some are
 It has been plainly demonstrated by the poultry department of the Con- necticut Agricultural College that the siackers can be culled from a flock of stacker hens from focks totaling 1856, resulted in a very slight drop iit the average egg production from the delenstsatiens @ to ons soss sexs peloer oer day the week after the demonstra- tions. The drop was no more than should normally be expected at this time of year.
 be slackers before they start their worthless career? It is not possible to culi flock of bullets as closely and accurately as the same flock could be culled at the end Of the laying year, but many of the inferior birds can be removed to the decided advantage of the owner.
 Methods of selection are similar to ttose used in culiing old hens ex- cept that moult and color of shanks, peak and earlobes cannot be consid. eied. Visor, vitality. maturity, ca pacity Srd quality count. Vigor, vii tality and maturity can really be con- sidered as one. Birds that are strong, grow rapidly and mature early are the most vigorous. Such birds are usual ly characterized by & rather short head, bright red comb. prominent eyes, pump body ard strong carriage with legs reasonably well apart.
 Capacity is absolutely necessary be- fore a bullet can make anything like profitable production. As the bullet pears laying condition, the develop considerable room in the body cavity The digestive tract must also expand l1 both size and length in order to digest and assimilate the addi- Guired for both maintainance and pro auction. The bones of the body being soft and loose jointed. allow the breast bone to be force downward and forward. The pelvic bones are also forced apart by the contents of the body. measurement of this capac- ity may be had by considering the distance between the pelvic bones and the distance across the abdomen be- tween the pelvic bones and the rear end of the breast bone. The exact measurement will vary with different breeds but a bullet ready to lay should show a width of two to three fingers between the. pe;vic bones and three to
 
 ard the breast bone.
 Quality is that thin soft skin tex ture and pEable condition of the bones which indicates health. A profitable bullet must be in good condition. A reasonable amount of flesh or reserve energy is necessary to carly a bird through cold weather production. Quality is easily distinguished by the co ndition of the skin over the breast bone and abdominal cavity. Also the pliableness of the pelvic bones and inc prominence and pliableness of the two lateral processes of the breaet bone which lie either side of the breast bone and help to suport tine abdomen.
 The bullets which lay first may, be picked out by the general development described above and bS the width and color of the vent The vent color Re sins to fade out white before any other part of the body and a few days productions will make a considerable change.
 Given flock of bullets all the same age and reared under favorable con