The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1920-01-09
POINTS TO CONSIDER -.
-..z IN SELECTING BREEDERS i Z;

and vitality. These are shown w. Sya
bright, clear eye, a we'll set bodY. Inn,
active. disposition, well. matured, 4.
bright comb and. wattles, and nd IN.
the legs denoting good circulation.
The bird must be free from physical
defects such as crooked beak, exces-
sively long toe nails, excessively sealy
legs, or anything else that would pre,
vent the bird from getting an abund-
ance of feed. Free from mites. and
lice. .
QUALITY: Heavy production is
shown by the quality of the skin. Fat
goes out from the skin and body
with production so that the heavy
producers have a soft, velvety skin
that is not underlaid by heavy layers
of hard fat. The abdomen is particu-
larly soft and pliable. Quality is al
so shown by a fine texture Of comb
and wattles.
HEAD: The head Of good layer
is fine. The wattles and ear lobes fit
close to the beak, and are loose and
flat. The face is clean cut. The eyes
are full, round; clear and pro ainent,
especially as seen from the 'front.'
Body: The body should be OF good
length, breadth and depth. The breast
should be deep, broad and full; the
keel straight, long: and we'll feshed;
the back. wide and long, showing good
depth from rear of keel to center OF
back; the wings carried closely to
the body and held firmly in place; the
tail carried high and we'll spread; the
lay bones soft, pliable, thin, and well
spread; the capacity large, as lndl-
Gated by the distance from lay bones
to end Of keel or breast bone.
LEGS. The legs should be medium
in length, straight, strong, set well
apart, with red showing in the VEINS
which indicates vigor and stamina.
MATURITY: Breed only from
birds which matured rapidly, were
the first to lay, and have never Deen
known to be sick. Use only the oese
layers as breeders. A few years Oh
breeding, never using anything eA-
cept high producing hens and mae, n
from high producers, will materal!
increase the egg production: In ST.
lecting the high layers pick tnose
which started laying first and, In IN !iat
yellow skinner varieties, those tAds
have the least yellow in vent, oeaA
and shanks.
FEATHERING: The high layer Is
trimmer and always ant to be some
what more. angular, that is, the 1ea y
ers lie closer to the body than on .lie
poor layers; and after a heavy pr,
duction the oil from the base OF inc inc
feathers does not keep the plumase
relatively so sleek and glossy as u. on
a poorer layer, but, on the o. nd
hand, the plumage becomes wofn '''0
threadbare. oov y
ACE OF BREEDING STOCK; IL
is best to use hens as breeders au,
ing their second or third laying e. 81
son. At this time they have reacneu
maturity, have attained their ma MAJ
mum development, and the ol lsaro
has had the opportunity OF stua H,and
them during their pullet year a IN.
has consequently eliminated tne linz, ~
desirable birds. As a rule, yeaIu ne
hens do not lay as heavily during .h t.;r
fall and winter, consequently ..,
eggs hatch better and produce ssly I1a5s
er chicks than do the eggs OF P p md
which have laid heavily all 1all o. aa
Good results may, noWJ '1iets
be obtained from the use OF pune havo
and cockerels, provided they :, n n,s.
been Matched early and are wen . avid
tured, and have good vitality '
stamina,