Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-21
use latest METHODS OF
HEN CULL|NG REVIEWED
! Shanks, Bcak, Vent and Comb Taken
Into Account as Indications OF
Z Laying Ability.
TRIED OUT IN NORTH CARE LIMA
thousand Dollars Well Spcnt-Valu-
able Information Was Obtained,
a2sand Is Being Made Use OF by
Many Poultry Breeders.
Il4. BY DIR. n. F. KAUPP,
Poultry Investigator North Carolina
= Experiment Station.

ifS,; BY DIR. n. F. KAUPP,
- Poultry investigators North Caroline
- Experiment Station.
A thousand dollars was recently aD.
- propriated by an experiment station
for the purpose of getting together the
workers of the various experimen,
stations. OF tbs UNITED States which
have for n,tny years been ,rapncstins
and breeding layinh; hens and study
high egg production Ten days were
consumed in MISREPRESENTATION of data.
iasins hens, Fo rsH 't this confer.
y ence the noteS which are contained in
J, the following paragraphs. were adapt
: ton of Insfructors and Investigators
ain Poultry llusbandry:,, -
In order TO lay we'll a bird must nus
rous and healthy. The bird mus, be
free from physical defects, such as
nails. eyeIids overhanEihe so that the
any thing that would keep the bird
ance of feed.
When hen is in q non-laying state
she stores up fat and with il yellow
is associated with the green colorns
mater Of Plants Some p Plants fon ,h.m
.o, G " saeh S tender green tops as
those Of alfalfa and other c!overs con.
tain much pigment. while rape and
COW peas contained a less amount.
ment in the fat. following laying
period, then depends upon the kind and
amount OF green feed obtained by the
bird. The disappearance of fat applies
to all breeds. but the yellow indica-
ons appy only to ihesf which no hswe
Reds and on.
How rart. Lose Color.
The different parts of the body tend
to lose their pigment and become white.
according TO the amount of fat stored
up in the parts and the amount Of
circulation of blood through the parts
The changes occur in the following
order:
- /, The vent changes very quickly with
egg production. so that white or pink
vent on Il yellow skinned bird Ecner-
ua ally means that the bird is laying and
and moist. Whereas, if the vent is
hard. small. dry and yellow. it irdi-
Gates that the bird is not in a laying
condition.
The eyering. the edge of the eyelids.
bleaches out a trife slower than the
vent. While the laying of three eggs
will bleach out the vent. five eggs arc
required to bleach out the eyering.
When fifteen eggs have been laid
, by a LeEhorn il is noted that the yell
low pigment has gone out Of the base
Of the upper mandible. BY the time
twenty eggs have been laid the yellow
has gone out of the lower mandible.
After twenty-five eggs have been laid
the yellow goes out Of the middle Of
eggs have hcen laid all the yellow has
disappeared from the tip OF the beak.
This follows the order of abundance
OF blood supply.
Shnnks Bleach Last.
THE shauks are the slowest to bleach.
The yellow goes out Of the scales OF
the front OF the shanks when about
sixty eggs have been laid. This applies
for such breeds as the Rhode Island
Red. Later the yellow disappears from
tho sides OF the shank, finally from the
heel
noted that the sides of the shank are
full. due TO the deposition OF fat: but
as she lays the shanks lose this round
ed appearance and become fiat later
due TO the loss of fat Otherwise,
the fat from the other parts alluded
TO has become pale blue TO the dis?
appearance of the fat. and with il the
: yellow pigment in the layinrp rocesses.
This fat is used in forming the egg
yoik. and the yellow pigment is used
and yellow pigment drawn from the
body depends uoon the efficiency OF the
feed in regard 10 these substances.
Consideration in judging fowls for egg
production One must know the meth
obs OF feeding.
The yellow tinse and fat return to
the vent, evenings, carlohes. hcak and
shank IN the same order in which they
went out. ~. l.
Body ChnhgrA Due to InyinE.
AS hen comes into laying condi-
= undergo change. The ovary. form
erly about the size Of ones thumb,
now forms yolks and becomes half
as large as mans fist. The oviduct,
inches lonE and also increases in
diameter. Tho intestines also become
Z. longer. Increasing as much as 80 TO 40
. per cent.
The increasetn tho size of the egg
forming parts is to prepare to form
eggs. The abdomen becomes dstended
The distance from the postcrior end
: Of the sternum or breast hone TO the
pelvic arch increases In hen Of
high cao'ctt", it should have four
The lay bones located on the lower
edge OF the pelvic arch become wider
apart. and in a high producing hen
should be three inches apart. The egg
passes between these bones. The more
eggs "A hen is going to lay during the
-, ensuing week the larger will be
the abdomen and the greater Will be
these measurements.
Havy egg production is also shown
by the quality Of the skin. AS laying
!. progresses: the fat gradually goes out
and piiable, kid 6 lovc-likc TO the touch.
Changes in SexunI Characters.
- The comb wattlcs and car lobes on
large or contract depending upon the
enlargement or contraction of the
= ovary and ociduct In other words
=. these organs are sex organs and in
dictate definitely just what the egg
- producing organs are doing. II the
comb. wattles and ear lohcs are large
fun. smooth. soft and pliablc the bird
Is laying heavily. BY observing these
ia,ine. "'" mems are
II the comb is limp and congcstcd
the hen is laying only slightly II the
comb is shrunken. hard. rought and
. covered with white scales the hen is
not having. II the comb is warm and
congested to the tips, the hen will la,
an egg that dav.
When bird stops laying in III,
summer she usually starts melting. II
she Is poor producer and finishes hel
years laying in July, she is not likel,
to resume laying until the following
= spring. Such bird should be sold fol
meat. This is true providing the bird
have been properly cared for and fed
IT does not apply to birds which hay,
a been neglected. The later A hen Law
into the summer the greater the cs,
production FOR the year. The poor pro
ducfr II the early molter; the hirI
prOdUcer is the late moltcr Rv ,poIta