Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-10-11
FARM EDUCATION
BY DIR. ANDREW M. SOULE

continue, to grow feathers and come
back into production, but one very
seldom finds a hen that drops her
feathers and continues to lay. ! 1t
has been found that almost imme-
diately upon stopping to lay, the hen
will begin to drop her primary wing
feathers. These feathers, ten in
number, are dropped and put back
in a definite order. 1t takes about
six weeks to completely grow any
one of these feathers, consequently,
when they are dropped at two
weeks intervals, they return to the
wing two weeks apart.
The first primary to disappear is
the one next to the wing division or
the smallest main wing feather
auxiliary feather). 1t will be noted
that the poor producer will drop
these feathers one at a time and
take a long time GA weeks in some
cases. to complete her mott. The
high producers may drop and restore
only few new primary feathers
and then begin to lay, keeping the
old primary feathers another year.
The longer the melting period, the
shorter the laying period. Conse-
quently, we draw this conclusion:
The later the mott, the higher the
producer. The hen that produces
over the longest period not only pro-
duces eggs during months when the
poor producer is melting or resting,
but she produces more eggs during
the months the poor producer is
laying. 1t now should read: The
longer the laying period, the higher
the egg yield. Hens that have quit
laying and have restored most or a
good part of their wing feathers by
the first of September will usually
be found to be poor producers and
should be disposed of.
Capacity of hen is usually
spoken of as the distance from the
point of the breast bone to the pelvic
bones lends of the backbone), and
the distance between the pelvic bones
lends of the back, also the position
of the little bones projecting out
from each side of the breast bone,
known as ischem. These two little
bones along with the breast bone
form the floor of the abdomen.
High producers usually have a
very angular body. Large capacity
in laying hen is shown by a body
that is deeper at the rear end of the
breast bone or keel than at the front
end. The under line of the hen
should be fairly straight, and the
back should be comparatively level
or horizontal. The heavy laying
hen shows a slightly deeper body
at the rear than in front. The poor
producer stands erect, and the body
-
high producer is soft and pliable
While that OF the low producer is
hard and not very pliable. In the
heaVy breeds, roll Of fat in the
abdomen gives that part of the body
very hard and lumpy feeling.
A good producers abdomen will
be deep, and the distance between
the pelvic bones lends of the back
bone) will be good. The abdomen
Will be soft and pliable. The pelvic
bones will be thin, thus showing
that the food consumed goes into
eggs rather than into fat and meat,
The general intelligence of the
mead is good indication of pro.
duct1veness. The long, narrow head
with eyes sunken and partially GOV.
cred with folds of skin presents an
ideal non producer. The comb, wat.
ties and earlobes are undeveloped
and they are loose and OF Door tex.
ture
The ideal head is one that has
length, depth, and width, in which
are set clear, bright, and alert eyes.
The Wattles and earlobes are of fine
texture, and they fit closely and
nicely to the head. The comb
should be nicely developed for the
breed under consideration.
Inc good producer is the one that
is easy to handle. She is the one
that comes closest when anyone is
in the pen. The Stacker STAYS on
the edge of the flock and is shv.
When the good producer is handled
she is usually quiet and offers no
Lisnt, out the poor producer is
llghty, struggles. and suuawks
When handled. When turned loose
she makes for some hiding place
away from the flock.
The good producer Is a worker
she can be found around the feed
hopper most of the time or busilv
engaged in scratching for food. The
1oenalls or such a hen are short and
Diunt. The nails Of the poor nro.
queer are long, thus showing lazi
ness or no disposition to scratch for
living. Also, the poor producer
does not have to have large
amount of food, and she usually
stays on the roost or in some Sc.
GUIDED place during the day. The
men that is constantly going broodv
should be disposed OF. Place LEG
bands on the broody hens in order
20 check the number of times She
goes broody.
IN conclusion. it might be stated
mat culllng can be done very ac
curately when birds have been given
proper care, feed, and management
But when flock has had no care
no system of proper feeding, and nc
mana cement, then the best results
from cull1ng can not be obtained.