Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1925-03-26
"LAino" Hens

The above caption was the subject
of Prof. o. L. Young's talk before
the Scientific and Historical society.
last Thursday night Mr.. Young is
at the head of the vocational agricul-
ture department of M. & M. hign
school
In the beginning Of his talk he
asked the question why do hens
cackle,' and answered it by stating
because the hen feels that she has
added something well worth while to
the world, and she cackles to let the
world know ito advertise the
fact But there are other hens
which also cackle-these the speak
er branded as lying hens, - because
they make believe that they have
done something, when they have not
just like many people who lie
about their achievements, when
things really worth while are done
by others.
The record hens production of
eggs for a year is 335-the record
being held by the White Leghorn
The 335 is by official count 1t IS
true. Mr., Young stated, that we hear
of where hens have produced 365
eggs on regular years, and 366 eggs
of leap years-but the figures are
not official. A laying hen must lay
from 80 to 100 eggs per year to be
profitable. The records show the
average to be about 70 eggs per year
hens that produce less than that
number are "liarS''-and some hens
lay but II or Is eggs yearly, these
"liars" should be gotten rid of as
soon as possible. Paraphrasing
the old maXim-''an apple day
keeps the doctor away" Mr.. Young
stated he heard of a poultry raiser
who kept his flocks busy by putting
up the sign in his chicken yard
An egg a day keeps the hatchet
away"
What causes lying hens?" The
speaker answered by giving several
things First heredity-or breeding
as it is spoken of usually. Breeding
standard to which flock is capable
of rising. Among other factors is
enyironment-suc as feeding Mr.
Young stated that hens can't do their
best laying when their diet is princi-
pally corn, which produces fat, and
only little material out of which they
can make eggs. Another important
environment is housing. Their
house should be warm, dry and
properly ventilated, in order to pro-
duce best results. Neglect any one
of these, the production goes down
Give a hen the things to work with,
and if she can't do the work, the
thing to do is to get rid of her.
How can the '1iars' be dis
from the layers? The
former are not heavy. Laying hens
go about the day singing and happy
the liars" don't; they are sullen
and cross. The "liars" are the nicer |
looking-have nicer feathers, and |
their beaks. ears and legs are color |
ed up in the latest style. The lay |
ers haven't time to be so dolled up,
their feathers are more or less brok- |
en-, and they have the appearance of |
honest toilers. The liars" are |
5quawkers-pick one up and she |
squawks for dear life; and they |
shake and tremble and are very
nervous, and f1op-and are apparent
y self conscious that they have been
lying" or loafing on the job. How
aver, the speaker said, don't blame
/ hen too severely if she "lies"-
he owner can do very much to-
wards making her either "liar" or
/ layer.
Prof. Young made his talk very
interesting, practical and humorous.
Ind was deserving of a very much
arger audience than was accorded
lin.